Last updated on May 18th, 2022 at 02:14 am
The backpacking trip to Lillian Lake and Ribbon Lake, for me, was all about redemption. I have tried to backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake previously and had snow as my enemy, either falling from the sky in September before I’ve even started or blocking my path over Guinn’s Pass in July. However, finally the stars aligned for me to complete this trip and I am so glad I did. Even in the smoke the views were incredible, the lakes stunning and I assume due to the smoke both the Lillian Lake and Ribbon Lake campgrounds were over half empty each night!
Backpack To Lillian and Ribbon Lake
Day One: Galatea Creek Trailhead to Lillian Lake Campground
Distance: 6.3km
Elevation: 475m gain
Parking at the Galatea Creek parking lot, it’s a short and sharp descent down to the river and across the bridge to start the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake, from here the trail winds through the trees, slowly gaining elevation. Views come during the openings as the trail crosses old, washed out river beds. The trail starts to climb more steeply coming out into a large run-off path affording views down into the valley below with the river running through.
The old growth as the trail re-enters the forest is intimidating to say the least. The trail crosses back and forth across the creek using a series of bridges , showing off the more hidden side of Mount Kidd.
The last bridge crosses higher up above the creek and is followed by what we lovingly refer to as ‘the hill of death’ this is the last steep hill before you finally glimpse Lillian Lake. When i say it’s steep, I mean steep. Poles are handy regardless of whether you are tackling this hill up or down. It doesn’t last long though, the trail levels out and shortly after the first glimpses of Lillian Lake are seen.
The trail follows along the right side of the lake and the first night of the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake is spent at the Lillian Lake campground which is located at the far end of the lake. There are a mixture of lake front sites, on raised platforms and tent pads in the trees. Lillian Lake also plays host to one of the best backcountry outhouses I’ve had the pleasure of using. There is a small cooking area, which has signed areas for greywater and the water source so you really can’t go wrong!
Day Two : Lillian Lake Campground to Ribbon Lake Campground Via Guinns Pass
Distance: 3.1km
Elevation: 395m
There is no easing in to day two of the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake. From Lillian Lake campground you head straight up, the trail is signposted from the main trail entering the campground, or it can be picked up behind the outhouses! It’s a short, steep stretch up to the junction for Guinn’s Pass and Galatea Lakes, stopping and turning back to take in the views of a shrinking Lillian Lake, making for a great moment to catch your breath.
We headed out to the far Galatea Lake to dip our feet in the icy water, enjoy the views and have some snacks before tackling Guinn’s Pass. Galatea Lakes are a beautiful spot, bright blue lakes, surrounded by towering peaks. They are a popular spot for day hikers and backpackers alike.
Back at the junction, it’s time to gain more elevation! The trail to Guinn’s Pass is above treeline from here and cuts across and up, giving incredible views, even on a smokey day like the one we did it on. Once at the pass the views are incredible! For the stronger and braver, you can head right from the pass, following a clear trail to summit an outlier beside the pass. For us we took a long break before the gusting wind had us running down the trail on the other side of the pass.
The cairns signal the path down from the pass, it is very steep, I really appreciated my poles but still the going was slow! This is pretty much the trail all the way to the campground, it gets a little less steep as the treeline arrives. Eventually the trail pops out at a creek with a sign, the right takes you down to Ribbon Lake, the left fork will take you to the Buller Pass trail.
Heading towards Ribbon Lake, the trail follows the creek for a short time and then heads through thick and tall brush, which is luscious green. We saw a lot of bear activity along this stretch of the trail and apparently a bear had been spotted exploring the Ribbon Lake Campground a few days before. The Ribbon Lake Campground was where we spent the second night of our backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake, however if you can’t get a reservation at Ribbon Lake you can continue on past the lake and 2km further is the Ribbon Falls Campground.
The first sign that you’ve reached the Ribbon Lake Campground came with a water source sign, it isn’t the closest water source I’ve ever used but not crazy far away either. Shortly after there is a campground map, there are campsites spread all over, some offer more privacy, others have great views out over Ribbon Lake. There are 20 tent pads in total, with two toilets and a kitchen area complete with bear lockers.
Day Three: Ribbon Lake Campground to Ribbon Creek Day Use.
Distance: 10km
Elevation: 625m loss
We spent a slow morning in camp, reading and fishing at the lake, knowing that the last day of the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake was mostly all downhill back to our car. However we did rather underestimate the trail back, including the notorious chain section.
The trail back to the parking lot followed the lake shore, before starting it’s descent. It is a steep but beautiful section of trail. We stopped and took lots of pictures and enjoyed the waterfalls and views down the valley.
Shortly after starting the descent, the first of the chain sections appears. This is probably the easiest of the chain sections, They get harder and there are four chain sections in total, so don’t celebrate too early! The last two sections are by far the hardest and you really have to put faith in the chain and some small footholds. This is not a trail for people with a fear of heights and will be considerably easier to tackle for anyone who has experience with hands on scrambling.
After the chains the trail continues downwards and shortly Ribbon Falls becomes visible, the trail passes right by the falls, there are a couple of benches to take in the views along the way too. Within a kilometer the trail runs through the Ribbon Falls campground, a cute little creekside backcountry site, which, when we passed through, only seemed to be home to one person for the night!
After the campground the trail is mostly a gentle downhill and the trail itself is pretty wide, making for easy kilometers back to the car. It mostly follows the river and allows for some beautiful views of small waterfalls and canyons. As the trail nears the parking lot, there are lots of trails spurring off, there are maps at the bigger junctions which provide an excellent resource to stop you from getting lost. Before we knew it, we were back at the car, packs off and flip flops on, we had finally completed the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake.
Need To Know
- The trailheads for the backpack to Lillian and Ribbon Lake are considerably far apart, we shuttled cars. I also saw some people who had obviously biked, between trailheads to save the need of a car.
- Book your campsites as early as possible. Alberta Parks lets you book backcountry campgrounds 90 days in advance. This is a popular trail so it is best to book early or hope for a cancellation. You can book online here.
- As of 2021 you’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation pass in order to park at either trailhead. It’s $90 annually and you can register up to two vehicles, buy your pass online here or pop into the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre to get yours on the way.
- The distances stated vary between trail signs, the Alberta Parks website and the maps along the trail, sometimes by a few kilometers.
- You can fish in Lillian Lake and Ribbon Lake, however you must have an Alberta Fishing License and follow all the regulations within the park. You can find out more here.
