This was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done. It also was our first backpacking experience with our dog, Odin, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon we recently adopted. The trail is rated intermediate. It isn’t too tough if you do it without an overnight backpack, however it’s more challenging than expected if you’re hiking with a large pack. The trail is only about 12 miles round-trip, so you could easily do it as a day hike, however I highly recommend spending a night or two at the campground. The bright turquoise lake is set dramatically against a stark, pointy peak. I believe you can rent a cabin, but tent camping is really fun. The hike is gorgeous and provides stunning views of the Mamquam River, peaks in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Martin Peak, Dreadnought Peak, and the Watersprite Creek Valley. Dogs are allowed, and we allowed ours off leash the entire hike. Once you arrive at camp, there are bear boxes (so you don’t need to haul your own), and plenty of area to climb and scramble around in the nearby peaks. You also can cool off in the lake, but it is literally freezing, so don’t expect to swim or lounge for long. We went in July, and although it was upper 80s in the surrounding area, the temperature around the lake was upper 60s or low 70s during the day, and low 50s / upper 40s at night, so bring layers regardless of the season.
