Black Tusk hiking trail, Whistler

The dark, jagged edges of Black Tusk make it one of the most scenic and unique hikes in southwestern British Columbia. Located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Black Tusk is the most spectacular mountain in the area.

While many hikers do complete this trail in a day, the distance and elevation gain make for a very long day. For this reason, some people prefer to hike to Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows and camp over night, and then hike to Black Tusk the following day. Is it up to you which you prefer, however if you do decide to do this in a day, make sure to leave plenty of time to return to the parking lot during day light hours.

Start your hike from the wooden steps in the upper section of the Rubble Creek parking lot. The dirt trail climbs steadily for the first 6km until just after the 6km, you reach a junction. Going right takes you to Garibaldi Lake, so take the trail to the left to head up towards Taylor Meadows and eventually on to Black Tusk.

The trail continues to climb gradually eventually emerging from the forest and into more wide open space as you enter into Taylor Meadows. Continue along the trail as it enters into the Taylor Meadows campsite area. Pass the camping area and continue along the trail as it meanders through the meadows. In the late summer and early fall, the alpine flowers are in full bloom and their beautiful colors are scattered across the land like a beautiful piece of art.

Eventually, you arrive at a junction with a map and wooden bench. Continue going straight along the trail for a short distance and watch for a sign and trail on your left that point the way to Black Tusk. Take this trail and immediate, start your uphill trek.

The trail climbs quickly, passing over small runoff streams and evidence of rockslides that have occurred over thousands of years. As you gain elevation, look back occasionally at the view of Garibaldi Lake below.

As the trail continues, the trees and vegetation become fewer eventually giving way to a completely rocky terrain. The trail emerges onto a small ridge at a BC Parks sign with a full of Black Tusk ahead of you. From this point on, BC Parks does not maintain a trail, however evidence of a path is still visible from the many hikers who trek through here each year.

The next section of trail is a scramble over loose shale towards the base of the Tusk. Pass the BC Park sign and begin the steep uphill climb. The loose shale slides with each step you take making it seem like you slide back one step for every two steps you move forward.

The trail eventually emerges onto a ridge next to the base of the Tusk that offers a scenic view of the entire area surrounding Garibaldi Lake. Be careful on the loose rock as some of the cliffs in the area are high enough to case very serious injuries or even death.

Most hikers end their day at this point, however it is possible to make it onto the peak of the Tusk. This is very dangerous and should be attempted by experienced hikers. To reach the chute that you can climb to the top through, follow the base of the Tusk, stepping carefully to make sure you don’t slide down the hill. The shale is very loose and pulling yourself up through the chute generally pulls all the rock off the Tusk. If you do attempt this, keep in mind that you have to come back down this same route.

After enjoying the view, it’s time to head back down the way you came. Without a clear trail or markings, watch for warn areas of the trial where other hikers have been and aim for the large BC Parks sign that you passed on your way up. Once at the BC Parks sign, the trail markings appear and as well as the vegetation. Continue back down the path towards Taylor Meadows and go right when you reach the junction of the main trail.

Back at the Taylor Meadows junction, it is possible to do a side trip to Garibaldi Lake and return a different route to the parking lot if time permits. If you’re short on time, go straight through Taylor Meadows, back the way you came to the first junction. However, if you have a bit of extra time and energy, go left towards Garibaldi Lake. After a bit more walking through the meadows and a downhill section through a series of switchbacks that heads down to the lake, a trail appears on the left. Follow the trail as it merges with the river and cross the bridge to the other side. Walk along the lake side to the clearing to see a full view of the lake and glacier. On a hot take, the cold water of Garibaldi Lake can feel nice to dip your feet into. After you have rested and taken in the lake view, head back towards the bridge crossing the river and back up the steep dirt trail. Turn left at the sign and continue for the next 3km, passing two smaller lakes before reaching the first junction.

From this junction, continue straight for the next 6km back towards the Rubble Creek parking lot. The sound of Rubble Creek far below starts to get louder as you near your destination.

How to get to Black Tusk

Estimated Driving Time from Vancouver: 1 hour 45 minutes

To reach the Rubble Creek parking lot, the start of the trail to Black Tusk via the Garibaldi Lake area, take Highway #1 (the Trans Canada Highway) west towards Horseshoe Bay. Just before the ferry terminal, watch for signs to Squamish and merge onto Highway 99 North (the Sea to Sky Highway). Continue driving along the highway until reaching the town of Squamish 45km later. At this point, it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough gas, water, and food for the day as there are no other places to stop between here and the trailhead.

Continue along Highway 99 north bound towards Whistler for another 32km. Watch for Garibaldi Provincial Park signs on your right. The turnoff is a small, paved road on the right of the highway that is easy to miss. If you pass over a bridge with a large dam on the right, you have just passed it and will have to find a place to turn around and head back.

Once on the Rubble Creek Road, continue for a couple of kilometers until you reach the parking lot. Make sure to buy a ticket from the parking meter before beginning your hike.

View a map of Driving directions to Black Tusk.