Climb over rocks, up steep wooded terrain, and make your way to a stunning glacier lake. While Whistler is full of epic trails, Wedgemount Lake stands out for its rugged climb that takes you to one of the prettiest turquoise lakes in BC! If you’re up for a challenge, then this is a worthy one. 🙌🏻
Wedgemount Lake is a gorgeous turquoise glacial lake that sits under the spectacular Wedgemount and Armchair Glaciers. To the South, you’ll find the tallest peak in the park Wedge Mountain. This breathtaking landscape is truly worth the climb.
Wedgemount is a popular day hike and backpacking trip in the area. At just under 6 miles, it may seem like an easy trail. But, the elevation and terrain is no joke. It’s incredibly steep gaining more than 1000 feet or 300 meters per mile (1.6 km) 😱. So, you have to be prepared before you go.
We had the fortune of backpacking this trail, and it was a stunning night spent under the mountains. It’s truly a place that I will never forget.
So, I’ve written this guide on hiking Wedgemount Lake with everything you need to know. It includes when to visit, what to pack, and what to expect on the trail. That way you can be ready for this remarkable trail!
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Planning Your Wedgemount Lake Trek
Wedgemount Lake Hiking Stats
Distance: 5.6/9 km to Wedgemount or 7.6 miles/12.2 km to Tupper Lake
Elevation: 4200 feet/ 1280 meters
Type: Out and Back
Length: 4-7 hours or 1-2 Days as a Backpacking Trip
Difficulty: Hard (Incredibly steep trail)
Where is Wedgemount Lake
Wedgemount Lake or “Wedge” as many of the locals call it, is just outside of the town of Whistler in BC Canada. It’s located in the beautiful Garibaldi Provincial Park, which is home to other fantastic hikes like Panorama Ridge.
This trail is just 20 minutes from the town, so it’s a great hike to take on if you’re staying in the area or if you’re in Vancouver. Whistler is only a 90 minute drive from Vancouver, up the Sea to Sky Highway.
Things to Know About Wedgemont Lake
💵 There is no fee to day hike Wedgemount Lake, but if you plan to camp there you will need to make a reservation in advance and there’s a $10 per person fee per night.
☀️ Weather changes quickly in the mountains, make sure to check it before you go. Thunderstorms can be very dangerous at high elevations.
⛺️ There are 20 designated campsites at Wedgemount Lake. You can book a reservation in advance on BC Parks. You can read more information about that below.
🐻 The Whistler area is bear country, so make sure to stay bear aware and make loud noises when hiking on the trails. Pack Bear Spray as well and use the BC bear storage bins for your food.
🗑️ There are no trashcans along this trail. You must pack in and pack out everything that you bring.
🦮 Pets are not allowed along this trail because of the fragile alpine environment.
🅿️ Parking gets EXTREMELY CROWDED on nice weekends in summer and fall. If you do park along the road, make sure you leave plenty of space for cars driving. When we were there a bunch of cars almost got stuck!
⚠️ While, the trail is technically open year round. You must be an experienced mountaineer to access it in the winter with the proper gear. So, you should have crampons, ice axes, and snowshoes.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
How to Get There
Getting to Wedgemount is fairly straightforward, but you will have to drive along a Forest Service Road that has some divots and rough areas. I recommend a car with high clearance if you have one, but even a standard sedan will be fine in the summer as long as you take your time and go slow.
From Whistler, you’ll take Highway 99 for 13 kilometers to the North. Then, you will turn right across a BC Rail train track. This is an uncontrolled railway crossing, so you must make a full stop and check both directions before going forward.
From there, you’ll continue along the forest service road for 2 kilometers, until you get to the parking lot at the top. There are two large parking areas, but once those fill up people will park along the road as well.
Best Time to Hike or Backpack to Wedgemount Lake
The best time to hike Wedgemount Lake is when the snow has melted in the summer usually from mid-July to early September.
That way the trail will be clear of snow and ice, and the conditions are suitable for most visitors. In the late summer, you can see wildflowers on the trail and in the early Fall you will start to see some beautiful Fall colors! 🍁
Although you can technically hike it year round, you should take proper precautions.
In the spring, snow starts to melt and avalanches occur. So, you should have knowledge about avalanche safety and be an experienced backcountry hiker to attempt this trail.
Also in the winter, snow covers the landscape and only experienced mountaineers should attempt to hike this. You will want all of the proper gear like ice axes, snowshoes, and crampons. ❄️
Wedgemount Lake Backpacking Tips
Even experienced backpackers should know the specific regulations about Wedgemount Lake. So, here are the backpacking tips you need to know before you head out:
- There are 20 tent pads at Wedgemount Lake and you can only camp in these designated spots. 10 on the ridge near the backcountry hut and 10 by the lake near the inlet from the Armchair Glacier. In the winter, you should use the upper tent pads.
- There is a pit toilet outhouse by the upper tent pads and by the lake, but it’s only there during peak season. You must bring toilet paper and pack it out.
- Each area has a bear storage container for you to keep your food and any products with scents.
- You must get a reservation for a spot on the BC Parks Website and bring proof.
- Always pack in and pack out everything that you bring!
- There is a hut at Wedgemount Lake for emergency purposes. It must always be available for emergencies and should only be used for that reason.
- It can be used to shelter from inclement weather.
- There are also bear caches inside to store food away from bears.
How to Get a Wedgemount Lake Backpacking Reservation
In order to camp overnight at Wedgemount Lake, you will need to get a backpacking permit in advance year round.
Reservations for peak season are released on the BC Parks Website 4 months in advance at 7 am Pacific Time. So, if you want a reservation for August 15th, then you can get them on April 15th.
I recommend that you set up your BC Parks Profile in advance, so that you are ready to go when the reservations are released. They are usually snatched up very quickly, especially for weekends!
There are 20 tent pads in Wedgemount Lake. Reservations cost $10 per person per night and each tent pad can hold up to 4 people.
When we went we had a group of 10 people and we got 5 tent pads, because we all had 2 person tents.
Packing Guide
When you are packing for a day hike to Wedge, you will want to bring waterproof layers, comfortable hiking shoes, and trekking poles. This hike is incredibly steep, so the poles will help save your knees! I seriously recommend them for everyone.
A thunderstorm rolled in quickly on our trip even though there was only a 10% chance of rain, so it’s always important to be prepared! ⛈️
Then, make sure you have plenty of food and water as this trail is a lot tougher than it seems. You will need the proper fuel to get to the top of the hike. Below is a list of gear you’ll need for backpacking itself.
Packing List for Backpacking Wedgemount Lake
- Backpacking Tent
- Sleeping Pad
- Sleeping bag
- Backpack
- Water Filter
- Bear Cannister
- Bear Spray
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Hiking Poles
- Jet Boil or Cooking System
- Quick Dry Towel
- Satellite Phone
You can read more about my backpacking gear guide here.
Wedgemount Lake Trail Description
While the Wedgemount Lake Trail is short, it’s anything but easy. This trail is one of the steepest hikes that I have ever done and it’s not great for beginners!
Read more about the trail below, so that you are mentally prepared for the challenge before you begin.
Through the Forest
As soon as you get on the trail, you’ll start to climb up. So, there’s not a real warm up before the tough parts begin.
For more than half the trail, you’ll be climbing steadily through dense forest, navigating over roots and branches the entire way. So, most of the trail is very shaded but it can get muddy or slick after a large rainfall.
We actually stopped after just 30 minutes to eat lunch because it was already so tough! Luckily, there are little pull-offs to the side where you can take breaks, catch your breath, and drink water.
As you keep going up through the forest, you’ll find that there are different areas with switchbacks as well. This section feels endless at times, but every switchback brings you closer to breaking out of the trees and reaching the dramatic boulder fields.
Up the Rocks
Once you get to the top of the forest, you’ll see a stunning cascading waterfall. This gorgeous waterfall is a gorgeous sight to stop at and it also marks the end of the forested section.
Just above that viewpoint, you’ll get to the boulder fields. From here, you’ll be climbing over rocks to get to the top. First, navigate across the bolder field, and then you’ll look up to the rock fall that you have to climb.
After the boulder field comes the steepest push of the entire hike: a rocky scramble that feels almost vertical in sections. There’s no flat ground to recover on, so it’s more of a mental battle than anything. You just have to keep climbing upward, one step at a time.
But, on the bright side, this is also where the hike becomes a lot more scenic. Marmots love to play around and lay on these rocks. So, you can watch them as they scurry about, there are bushes covered with berries in late summer, and behind you are stunning views over the mountains.
Just over this rockfall, you’ll get an immediate reward with stunning views of the lake.
Wedgemount & Tupper Lake
Finally, you will come over the rocks and you’ll get your first views of Wedgemount Lake and the glaciers that sit above it. If you go during peak season, you’ll get magnificent vistas with the outhouse in front.
This may be the most scenic outhouse I’ve ever seen.
Continue towards the outhouse and you’ll see a sign that indicates the tent pads. At this upper area, you’ll find 10 tent pad areas or continue just a little further down to get to the lake and the lakefront tent pads.
We stayed by the lake and it was super peaceful there, so I definitely recommend it. If you’re brave enough, you can even dip into the ice cold waters of the glacial lake! 💦
If you have the energy, you can continue for half a mile to get to Tupper Lake, which is a small turquoise lake just above Wedgemount.
Just remember, you will need to get back down the trail and it’s no easy feat! This is where I recommend having hiking poles, to help take some of the pressure off your legs.
Although it’s a difficult hike, it’s definitely worth doing and seeing this amazing landscape!
Final Tips for Hiking the Wedgemount Lake Trail
Wedgemount Lake a great hike, but it should not be underestimated. Make sure that you have the proper gear, that you bring plenty of food and water, and that you are mentally prepared.
Honestly, the downhill part may seem even harder than the uphill portion. So, have trekking poles and take your time as you go.
This trail is incredibly steep and rugged. I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner hiker. But, for individuals that don’t mind taking on a challenge, you will rewarded by this incredible landscape. I hope you have a wonderful hike! 🥾
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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