Wedgemount Lake Hiking Trail and Campsite, Whistler, BC

Kat from North vancouver writes:

I did this hike Oct 5th! It was pouring with rain when we started...and by the time we got to the top..snow began to fall. About 6 inches dumped while we got up there. So just be warned if its raining it might snow on you! Besides that. One of the best hikes I have done in awhile. Regular running shoes, sweater, rain jacket and lunch. You are good to go. Have fun!!!

Posted: October 17, 2011 08:18:47 PM PST

Lynda from Vancouver writes:

I am planning on hiking to Wedgemount Lake, Sat Oct 15th, approx 10:30am (dependent on traffic from Van), my hiking buddy cancelled on me - anyone going to be on the trail? - maybe we can meet up? Would be nice to know there are other hikers in the vicinity.

Posted: October 14, 2011 11:06:39 AM PST

Arun Paul from Vancouver writes:

I did the hike to Wedgemount lake on October 2nd.

You could comfortably hike till the glacier without any ice or snow on the trail. But you will find it slippery while coming down.

I could hardly see any people on the trail and I had the ultimate solitude experience around the lake and the glacier.

Posted: October 3, 2011 01:06:09 PM PST

Nuwan from Vancouver writes:

It can be done with normal running shoes, but I recommend hiking boots. We did this hike yesterday (17th Sept). Some parts of the trail are very slippery, but one of us managed it with normal running shoes.

Posted: September 18, 2011 07:05:42 PM PST

Edgars from VANCOUVER writes:

Easy - I saw some guys in flip flops :)

Posted: September 14, 2011 04:46:44 PM PST

ashley from vancouver writes:

Just wondering if this hike can be done without hiking boots. thanks

Posted: August 30, 2011 02:49:47 AM PST

Mike from Burnaby writes:

thought i would add my experience with this hike. I did it with a couple of friends on August 21.i think the temperature was around 18-20 degrees with alot of sun.

Driving from Burnaby to the base took us just under 2 hours. we started the hike at 9:30 and got up to the lake around 2:30 or 3. Getting back down took us a little bit less time than going up.When we came back down it was getting pretty dark around 8:00.

First off, I am not a very experienced hiker and i found this hike to be a good workout but definately not as tough as i had expected. My fellow hikers werent in very good physical condition and so thats why it took us as long as it did. So, if someone reading this is interested in doing this hike but has doubts because of their fitness levels, its still do-able, but just plan on a whole day of hiking and a good calf and knee workout!

There are a few spots where there were rock slides and a couple of spots where youve got to pull yourself up a bit because its either too high of a step or the dirt is too loose. the last 100 metres or so is the toughest of the climb. But once you get to the top, and you look over the other side and see the lake, it makes it all worthwhile.

I recommend doing this hike in shorts and tshirt and bringing a sweater as there was a bit of wind when we were sitting by the lake enjoying our lunch.there is also an outhouse and places to setup tents at the top.bring sufficient water as there is nowhere to fill up until you get to the lake (there are a few slow-moving creeks but i didnt hear about how suitable they are for drinking).also, theres ALOT of mosquitos and black-flies pretty much the entire time.

hope this information helps some of you. i tried to be a little bit more detailed than some of the other reviews i've read because just saying "you need to be in shape" is a relative statement and doesnt mean much unless you say why. the only other climbs ive done are the grouse grind and the chief. and i think if you could do the grouse grind without any major problems, then you'll have no problem at all on this hike! i also think one could make it up to the top in between 2-3 hours. Enjoy!

Posted: August 23, 2011 02:58:08 AM PST

J D from Van writes:

We hiked this trail today, August 15. Its a great hike and I highly recommend it! Took us (3 fit young guys) 3 hours to get up and 2.5 to get down, with about 1.5 hours at the lake. I like this hike a lot because of its varying terrain and scenery (every few minutes there's something new to check out to keep you interested - rockslides, waterfalls, streams, etc.) and because of its physical challenge, which was tough, but not *too* tough. The end result, the lake, was also gorgeous! There are also some cute marmots who play around near the top that you can get ridiculously close to without them getting scared off!

To address comments on the trail being poorly marked - its a lot better now. We met a park ranger who was busy putting up lots of new markings, so no one should have a problem with that anymore.

Bugs are indeed bad along the way up, but if you keep moving you'll be fine.

Be sure to bring warm clothing (and mittens!) for the top, as snow is still scattered around and, on a cloudy day like it was today, it was absolutely freezing up there!

Happy hiking!

Posted: August 15, 2011 10:02:38 PM PST

Harjot from Burnaby, BC writes:

Hiked up to Wedgemount yesterday (Aug 14), took us 4 hours to get up, 3.5 hours to come down. It was cloudy near to lake and the temperature dropped significantly, make sure you take along a jacket/long pants. Otherwise, well worth the trek!

Posted: August 14, 2011 07:01:42 PM PST

Edgars from Vancouver writes:

Did it today on August 7 - an awesome hike! Pretty steep and challenging. Snow is gone. We got up in 2,5 h and took around 2 h to get down but we spend 2 h to enjoy the epic view. No bugs or we had a great bug spray :)
So it is easy to access not many people on the trail. Can stay overnight in the small house or in your tent.

Posted: August 7, 2011 10:10:31 PM PST

Lauren from Vancouver writes:

Hiked up to the lake on August 1st and the trail is totally passable. I would recommend hiking boots, especially since there are some patches of snow. Whatever you do, make sure they are comfortable or bring a blister kit - the trek up is very steep and can be hard on the heels if your foot moves around in your boot. The view is beautiful and the lake is mostly clear with some ice on it. There is some snow kicking around but the tent pads are clear if you intend to overnight there. Bugs were bad on the way up, especially if you stop moving, but I didn't actually get any bites and there were none once you got up to the lake.

All in all - fantastic hike and highly recommend it!

Posted: August 2, 2011 05:38:11 PM PST

Jorge from Vancouver writes:

Hiked to the lake on July 27th. The trail is steep all the time except in between km 3 and km 4 where it is essentially flat. Last kilometer is covered with snow and given the steepness of the route one can keep sliding at every attempt to move forward. Better to scramble through the boulder strip running next to the main path during this last stage of the hike. At this point you will be able to enjoy an amazing view of the valley below. You can see a part of Green Lake which is near Whistler.

Once at the top, Wedgemount Lake is still almost completely covered by snow but some areas have melted already and you can see the characteristic turquoise tone typical of the glacier lakes of the area. If you are lucky you may see ducks swimming in the lake, I guess they were ducks but it was difficult to be certain from the distance. What is more likely that you will see around the BCMC cabin are marmots, not too shy, they let you get close as long as you don't make sudden movements.

The whole view of the glacier and the mountains around the lake is impressive. The feeling is cozier in this lake than in Garibaldi Lake since the former is much smaller and the mountains around it are closer than in the latter. The hike down can be more grueling than the one up since the steepness will cause a lot of strain on your knees. Beware of the mosquitoes.

Posted: July 29, 2011 08:29:35 PM PST

Tanner Kindred from Langley writes:

Hiked this trail yesterday (July.24.11) with my brother. It was an amazing trail to hike; quite difficult though compared to other trails in the area so be prepared.

There was still quite a bit of snow near the top; therefore I suggest anyone wanting to hike this to wait a few weeks more till the snow melts. The snow is hard enough to walk on but makes it very slippery in some spots and be prepared to fall through the snow in some spots as well. Boots are a good idea if you're planning on hiking to the top, when there is still snow. The snow of course is melting, which is causing pools of water to form on the trail and creating a huge spawning ground for mosquitoes. Therefore, bring bug spray because if you stop on the trail for a break (without using bug spray) you will be swarmed by them; ask me how I know.

Other than the snow and the bugs, I highly recommend this hike. The view of the lake, glacier and surrounding mountains are absolutely amazing; let alone to view of the valley below when you look backwards from the top.

Posted: July 25, 2011 05:07:22 PM PST

Leon from Vancouver writes:

Just hiked this trail for the first time last saturday with 2 of my friends on July9th 2011. Its a very beautifull and natural but challenging trail. Much of trail marks have either faded or placed very far apart. Its hard to follow, especially when you are all focusing on your steps. We got lost 1/3 of the way up. We walked off the trail thinking we were on the right track. We end up spending almost an hr trying to hike straight up from massive cut off logs to another marked point.

2/3 of the way up its all snow. Much of the snow layers have started to melt and thinned. Be very carefull and try not to put your full weight on one step. I fall through the snow plenty of times, especially the snow plie beside a rocks and trees.

The last slop before the Lake is still fully covered by snow and it gets steeper. Hiking boot is definatly a recommand if you want to reach the lake. Unfortunately, we never made it to the Lake this time. We manage to hike up to 3/4 of the last slop. However, one of my friend wore a trail runner instead of hiking boot. She couldn't help herself but keep sliding down hill.

It was a great hike! I am definately going back up again soon before end of July.

Posted: July 13, 2011 04:29:10 PM PST

Julian from Austin writes:

Has anyone recently hiked up wedge glacier? How were the conditions up there and how much gear was needed?

Posted: June 23, 2011 08:34:47 PM PST

Glen from Edmonton writes:

Hoping to hike Wedgemount Lake the first week of July - but read that the snowpack around Whistler and Blackcomb mountain trails had delayed the opening of trails there. Anybody know if we'd face similar issues on the Wedgemount hike?

Posted: June 17, 2011 07:39:55 AM PST

Adrian from North Vancouver, BC writes:

Hi Sarah, the 'times' on this site are return, not one-way unless specifically stated.

Are you coming over from the UK on vacation soon ? Such an awesome part of the country to visit and hike in.

We have completed many of the hikes on this site over the years and you can see more photos at www.vancouverstuff.blogspot.com.

Adrian

Posted: April 22, 2011 09:20:56 PM PST

sarah from leeds, UK writes:

Hi

Just a general question- do the timings on this site for point to point walks include the return trip or just one way?

Thanks

Sarah

Posted: April 20, 2011 05:23:43 AM PST

Todd from Burnaby writes:

Be careful of wasp nests near the ground. There are no markers anymore. They have been there for a few years already. We met 4 groups with at least 1 person stung. Other than that, it was terrific. When you're at the really steep part, don't use your poles. Sometimes they're just going to be a nuisance to you and even a safety hazard.

And about the road up there, we managed to get a 12 year old Ford up the hill.

I did this hike with running shoes which was a BIG mistake. My whole lower body (feet, ankles, legs) were completely sore.

Bring some after-bite too. :P

Posted: September 26, 2010 01:28:48 PM PST

Lars from White Rock writes:

Started the hike with my wife on Saturday 31st of July, camped overnight at wedgemount lake and returned on the 1st of August. The trail is snowfree and so are all the campsites. The trail is tough but the view will overcompensate the efforts it has cost you.
I parked a few metres below the bumpy part (as described in an earlier comment). It just adds about 1 more kilometer to your hike.

Lars

Posted: August 2, 2010 03:55:58 PM PST

Alex from Vancouver writes:

Yes, amazing views! Definitely worth it. The climb is pretty tough, but the couple flat areas crossing boulder fields come at good spots to let you catch your breath. The final 300m climb at the end is the steepest, most difficult part - and you're fully exposed to the sun and wind (bring a hat!).

The road on the way up has a really tough section to get through with a normal car. About halfway up the road (1K or so?). 10-20m of it is really rough, I barely managed in an all wheel drive car but several people got stuck trying to navigate it (tow trucks were blocking the road on the way out, some people in the ditch). If you don't have a 4X4 then probably park alongside the road before you hit that bit!

Posted: July 26, 2010 03:12:22 PM PST

Drew from Maple Ridge writes:

Did the trail July 10th. WoW! Amazing visual rewards once you summit. Next time I do this hike I'm going to overnight it. It's a real grind in the summertime to do an up/down. Cooler weather would be preferable in the spring or fall but then the snow becomes a major factor.

The trail is in excellent condition. The "midway rockslide" is captivating and a good place to refresh with the meandering glacier stream. Once we cleared the alpine treeline up top and faced the snow covered bowl and distant ridgeline, it truly was a guessing game as advertised. The trail markers are small, faded, and difficult to find. If it wasn't for previous tracks we could have wasted an hour looking for markers. Don't be discouraged by this though, as we discovered on the way down, once you are in the bowl any path up will get you to the lake.

Finally, people, wear proper footwear!Don't attempt this hike in a pair of running shoes. It's not the Squamish Cheif or the Grouse Grind.

Posted: July 23, 2010 10:35:15 AM PST

Lars from White Rock writes:

Anyone who did his trail very recently? Looks like beautiful trail but would like to do it when the roads are snowfree.

Thanks,

Lars

Posted: July 17, 2010 01:42:37 PM PST

Kevin from Vancouver writes:

June 6 2010. I hiked with two friends to ski the NW Couloir and it was beautiful. The trail is in rough condition due to winter storms so be prepared to climb under and over trees in mud scrambling up the constant elevation gain and keep the orange tag in your sight. Thank you BC Parks for the roomy hut to camp out in at after long hours of hiking. There is plenty of beautiful spring time snow to ski so be prepared with everything you need:)

Posted: June 8, 2010 09:17:23 PM PST

Brian from Delta writes:

How difficult is it to drive to the trailhead with a regular car?

Posted: May 15, 2010 10:11:07 AM PST

Kevin from Richmond, BC writes:

Did the hike just this past weekend. The view is brilliant and for sure one of the most rewarding hike out in BC. The lake and water is turquoise blue and absolute a stunning view of the glacier with the lake.

The difficult part of it is definitely quite match the description. It does feel like the Grouse Grind all the way up for about 3.5 hours. Hiking poles on the way down is definitely recommended and especially very steep going down near the viewpoint. It's pretty chilly up at the lake so bring something warm up there if you are staying up there for a bit.

*Caution* - I got stung a couple of time by wasps. There are a couple of ground level wasp nests along after the water fall and slightly huge one after the 2nd rock slide. ( Both marked. Watch for the signs on the trees. ) Long pants and long sleeve is suggested for the hike. Watch for the markers and don't stomp on the ground.

Posted: August 24, 2009 05:55:25 PM PST

Rachael and Clay from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA writes:

We just completed this hike this past week. It was certainly a difficult climb to the top with almost a constant elevation gain. The last 20 minutes of the hike provided a steep ascent up rocks and crannies. However, the view at Wedgemount Lake was gorgeous. The lake looks just as blue-green as in the picture on this site.

When we arrived, no one was sleeping at the hut. However, there were at least three other campers who brought tents and camped around the area (on the lake shore or away from the shore). We also set up a tent and found ourselves to be the only ones sleeping on one of three wooden platforms at the top of the mountain near the hut.

Snow still capped the mountains even in mid-August. The temperature was cool but not unbearable. The water was too cold for us to swim in (but then again, we come from balmy Florida).

Overall, the trail seemed well marked. Several trees were down, but all had been cleared from the path. I would certainly recommend this hike!

Posted: August 21, 2009 10:27:12 PM PST

Dwayne Doornbosch from Forest, Ontario writes:

Just wondering if any one could tell me if there is still snow past Wegdemount Lake heading up to Mount Weard? We are planning a hike there this weekend.

Cheers,

Dwayne

Posted: July 17, 2009 10:21:53 AM PST

Doug from Vancouver writes:

We went up to Wedgemont on July 6th, 2009 and it was absolutely brilliant. Its a grueling trek, but by far one of the most rewarding hikes in the area. It was completetly snow free and seeing the lake and the glacier was incredible.

Make this hike a priority!

Doug & Elyse

Posted: July 6, 2009 11:40:53 PM PST

Becky Lacroix from Whistler writes:

The trail to Wedgemount Lake is snow free now. There were quite a few trees down blocking the trail but there is obvious path around or over each one.

I did this hike back in 2004 and it looks like the glacier has receded even further, despite this past winter being colder then normal. It will be a sad day when the glacier is no more.

Posted: July 14, 2008 09:02:16 AM PST