The Panorama Ridge hike had been on my bucket list for a long time and on our way back from a trip to Vancouver Island one summer, things finally aligned and we were able to secure two nights at the Garibaldi Lake campground to complete this stunning hike.
You’ve probably seen pictures and videos of the incredible views from the Panorama Ridge hike and I can tell you, it is even more insane in real life. A bird’s eye view of the one of the largest, bright blue lakes, few hikes compare. Garibaldi Lake is surrounded by huge mountains and glaciers. Whichever way you look from the ridge, it is beautiful. This is why you won’t have the trail to yourself, but the hard grind to get to Panorama Ridge is absolutely worth it.
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Stats For Hiking To Panorama Ridge
Distance: 31.5km return
Elevation: 1525m
Difficulty: Hard. This is a full day hike with plenty of elevation gain. Expect this to take a full day.
When To Hike: Mid June to late September, depending on the snow levels each year.
The Panorama Ridge Hike
There is no way to sugar coat this, the Panorama Ridge hike is tough! It’s a long hike with plenty of elevation to go along with it. The views make it absolutely worth it but you’ve really got to earn this one!
We hiked the Panorama Ridge trail in mid September, the mornings were crisp and the days never too hot, which was ideal for the amount of hard work required.
The trail starts out fairly easy with long switchbacks through the forest helping you gain elevation. Although the switchbacks help you easily gain elevation, they really do go on for a long time! With no views for distraction, it can get a little monotonous.
Eventually the trail gets to a junction, we followed the trail to Garibaldi Lake since we were camping there for the night. Past the junction the trail views open up a little bit and there are some great views as you approach the lake. If you are doing the Panorama Ridge hike in one day, pop into the campground if you need to use the outhouse (you’ll need your own tp) or if you want a scenic spot for a break.
For the shortest distance, take the trail towards the Taylor Meadows campground to reach Panorama Ridge. The trail from Taylor Meadows ties in with the trail coming from Garibaldi Lake eventually on the way to the ridge.
From the campground we headed back across the lake outflow and rejoined the main trail, it slowly gains elevation opening up to views of beautiful meadows. We did see a bear along the trail, so make sure to have bear spray and know how to use it. The bear was not bothered by us and kept to itself.
The trail levels out as it breaks out of the treeline. There is a trail which shoots off to the Black Tusk lookout, however for the Panorama Ridge, keep straight. The views along this section are beautiful!
Eventually you reach a junction, the main trail keeps going through the valley, the Panorama Ridge hike heads right and starts to gain elevation very quickly. The final ascent to the Ridge is very steep, there are loose rocks, and a little bit of a scramble to make it up to the top. We really appreciated having hiking poles for this section although at one point I had to use my hands.
Once at the ridge the views are insane. There is a trail which goes a short way along the Ridge. When we were up there, it got quite windy, I was happy to have some extra layers to throw on to keep me warm while I enjoyed the views and had a break before heading down.
When we did the Panorama Ridge hike we got to the Ridge around 10am, this was the perfect time, after the sunrise crowd had left but before the day hikers had really arrived. So we had the ridge to ourselves for twenty minutes.
The return from Panorama Ridge is all downhill, however it starts steep, so it’s important to go slow and keep an eye on where you are stepping. Once back on the main trail it is easy going although can be very busy.
Securing A Permit
If you plan on doing the Panorama Ridge hike, you’ll need to get a pass. We chose to backpack and camp at Garibaldi Lake and therefore that was our pass. You can book your camping spot four months in advance through the BC Parks Website.
If you are planning on just doing the Panorama Ridge hike as a day hike, you’ll need a day pass in the summer month. This can be reserved 2 days in advance, starting at 7am. These are not reserved through the camping website but through a separate day use website. Passes are free and required from mid June to early September daily. From early September to late October, a day use pass is required on weekends and holidays.
Backpacking The Panorama Ridge Trail
It is possible to complete the Panorama Ridge hike in a long day, however there are also two backcountry campgrounds which can be booked if you want to split up the trip. We camped at the Garibaldi Lake backcountry campground, a stunning spot right next to the lake where you can see the ridge above. This is a large backcountry campground and was not the most peaceful experience but the location was truly stunning.
It is also possible to book a spot at Taylor Meadows which is on the way to Panorama Ridge, when we hiked the trail, the Taylor Meadows campground was closed due to a bear in the area. However it is also a large capacity backcountry campground in a beautiful setting.
Note that these backcountry campgrounds have limited facilities, there are outhouses, cook shelters and bear hangs but no potable water.
We booked two nights at Garibaldi Lake, arriving at the campground on day one, hiking to Panorama Ridge the following morning. From there we could easily have hiked out but we stayed a second night to relax and enjoy the area before hiking out on the third day.
Trailhead
The Panorama Ridge hike starts from the Rubble Creek trailhead. It is clearly signed from Highway 99 and is around 37 kilometers from Squamish in the south and 28 kilometers from Whistler in the North.
Things You Need For The Hike
Day Pack – You’ll want a reasonably sized, comfortable day pack if you are doing the Panorama Ridge hike in one day.
Hiking Poles – We were so thankful to have hiking poles for the steep sections just before the ridge.
Hiking Boots – It’s a big day, a comfortable pair of grippy hiking boots are a must, especially for tackling the last rocky sections.
Water Filter – We like to carry a small water filter, this allows us to carry less water and fill up instead.
Bear Spray – We had a very positive bear encounter on the trail however it is still important to carry bear spray and know how to use it just in case.
Spots To Stay Nearby
Alice Lake Park Campground – We stayed at the BC Park managed Alice Lake campground the night prior to taking on the Panorama Ridge hike. It was a short drive away but such a beautiful spot with great showers and amenities.
Whistler Lodge Hostel – I’ve stayed here on a separate trip to Whistler, it is a wonderfully maintained hostel with everything a single or money conscious traveler may need.
The Howe Sound Inn & Brewing – Located in downtown Squamish this old inn is packed with character and serves up awesome beer made onsite!
