Panorama Ridge

Take the Sea to Sky Highway (HWY 99) north from Vancouver up towards Whistler. Turn off the highway about 30 minutes before Whistler Village onto Daisy Lake Road. There are signs along the highway indicating the Garibaldi Lake turn off. The trailhead is located at the end of Daisy Lake Road. There is day and overnight parking available here ($10 for overnight parking).

The trail is very well marked and graded. On a sunny weekend expect lots of other campers. It is advised to leave early in the morning if planning to stay the night as spots are limited and fill up quickly on most weekends. There are no reservations.

The first 1.5 miles / 2.5 km of the trail follows the river valley at a consistent uphill gradient. From here, the trial climbs up at a steep gradient over a series of 20+ switchbacks. At the 6 km (3.7 miles) marker, the trail flattens out and you reach a fork.

From here you have the option to hike (1.9 miles / 3 km) to Garibaldi Lake Campground to have lunch and a swim before reconnecting with the Panorama Ridge trail. This adds approximately 1.25 miles / 2 km to the trip.

The fastest way up Panorama Ridge is to take a left at the folk and head towards Taylor Meadows Campground (1.5 miles / 2.5 km). At Taylor Meadows, drop your pack and set up camp. You’ll want to stake out a spot and have it ready for when you return that night. Pitching a tent is not as fun in the dark. You also have the option to set up camp at Garibaldi Lake Campground.

Having set up camp, continue towards the Black Tusk – Panorama Ridge Valley. The thick forest opens up into the alpine meadows. The views of the Tusk, the mountain flowers and Tantalus Range will have you wondering if the hike could get any better than this. Well, it does.

There are a number of forks between Taylor Meadows and Panorama Ridge but each fork has a post with arrows pointing which way to go and the distance remaining to each destination.

Finally after 7.5 miles / 12 km you’ll find yourself at a fork at the foot of Panorama Ridge. Take the right and follow the ridge line to the top of Panorama Ridge. The gradient is relatively steep, climbing 1100 ft / 340 m over 1.9 miles / 3 km. Be sure to follow the beaten trail on your way up as there are steep drop offs to the climbers right.

Once at the top, there are plenty of places to explore and find a secluded spot. The views are incredible! The massive glacial fed lake lies below you and the iconic Mt. Garibaldi towers in the distance.

Campgrounds

Taylor Meadows Campground

Garibaldi Lake Campground

Photography
As the sun starts to set you’ll want to find a good spot to frame your shots. There are limitless options here. The cairns and little rock outcrops are great to add for foreground compositions. Point your lens towards the sun for some cool silhouette shots. The light during the golden hour are best for landscapes and will leave you with unreal shots. Make sure to stop and soak it all in every once in a while…maybe even enjoy a beer with the view.

Depending on your energy level (and warm clothes) stick around for the stars to come out. The city lights from Vancouver are visible in the sky and can give your night shot some interesting color. If not, pack up your gear and carefully make your way back down to Taylor Meadows. A head lamp is essential for the hike off of Panorama Ridge. Make your way back to camp and pat yourself on the back for being awesome.

Safety Note
During winter months and sometimes later on in the year there is snow on Panorama Ridge. The terrain along the ridge and at the top is very exposed and steep in some areas. During these conditions, crampons and an ice axe are recommended to summit the ridge.