Cheakamus Lake hiking trail, Whistler

One of the easier hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Cheakamus Lake offers beautiful views of a turquoise lake surrounded by towering mountains and lush forests.

Walk towards the sign at the far end of the parking lot and take a look at the BC Parks map. Look past the sign for a view of the Cheakamus River far below. Start your walk along the trail as it gradually heads up hill and into the trees.

Just over half an hour into your hike, you reach a sign that points the way to Helm Lake. For a short side trip, walk down this trail towards Cheakamus River and onto the bridge for a view of the rushing river below. After taking in the roaring sound of the river, walk back up towards the main trail and turn right to head towards Cheakamus Lake.

As you near the lake after walking just 3km, the turquoise river appears to the right of the trail. Another short distance along the trail and you have reached the north end of the lake.

Just beyond the first views of the lake is a camping area where campers can set up their tents along the shoreline. Continue walking along the lake for another 4km towards the Singing Creek campground at the other end of the lake. Here is a rocky area along the side of the lake that offers beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding scenery.

After enjoying a lunch break in the beautiful lake surroundings, follow your footsteps back along the trail where you came from towards the parking lot where you started your walk earlier in the day.

How to get to Cheakamus Lake

Estimated Driving Time from Vancouver: 2 hours 15 minutes

Cheakamus Lake is located just south of Whistler. To reach the trailhead, drive west along Highway #1 towards Horseshoe Bay and take the Highway #99 (Sea to Sky Highway) turnoff north bound towards Squamish and Whistler. Continue along Highway #99 passing the town of Squamish and driving towards Whistler. As you near Whistler, watch for BC Parks signs pointing the way to the Cheakamus Lake turnoff. At the first set of lights in Whistler, turn right and after driving a few hundred meters, turn left onto a dirt road. Continue for 6km along the dirt road until you reach a parking lot where the trail to Cheakamus Lake begins.

View a map of Driving directions to Cheakamus Lake.