Watersprite Lake Hike Information

The Watersprite Lake path is among the many many most attention-grabbing Squamish hikes and among the many many many most attention-grabbing hikes close to Vancouver.

It’s a protracted hike that requires a 4×4 (or a minimal of a automotive you don’t care about) to get to nonetheless the view of Watersprite Lake is so worth it.

It’s among the many many best hikes close to me that I’ve accomplished thus far! For people who’re looking for additional info on among the many many best Vancouver hikes take a look at this knowledge to the Watersprite Lake hike.

You’ll have a tenting reservation for tent tenting (absolutely completely totally different from reserving the hut). It could worth $15. Now you can guide Watesprite right here.

Watersprite lake

The hike to Watersprite Lake differs from North Vancouver trails in that you just simply get a implausible view of a wide range of the path. You’ll have the flexibleness to see Mount Garibaldi and completely totally different peaks from the southern house of Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Whereas the hike is extended, it’s a reasonably gentle incline as BC hikes go and solely the final word portion has any excessive climbing via elevation.

Nonetheless, due to the path is open, it’s very important that you just simply take quite a lot of water and picture voltaic safety in summer time season.

Correct proper right here’s every little issue you want to know regarding the Watersprite Lake climbing path in Squamish.

Easy methods to get to Watersprite Lake BC

Watersprite Lake is in Squamish, BC, and is among the many many most attention-grabbing hikes spherical Vancouver, BC.

To get to the Watersprite Lake trailhead takes about 2 hours and as well as you’ll ought to take a 4×4 or a minimal of have the skills to drive one issue with excessive clearance and good suspension on very rugged, often steep, terrain.

The Watersprite Lake highway shouldn’t be tried inside the event you’re in a low-clearance 2-wheel drive automotive!

That is the case for loads of hikes spherical Squamish.

The trailhead lies spherical 20 km up a bunch of Forestry Service Roads east of Squamish and it’ll take you the proper a part of an hour to solely do the logging highway half.

From Vancouver, drive Freeway #1 westbound inside the course of Squamish, merging on Freeway #99 at Horseshoe Bay. Observe the Sea to Sky Freeway till you the Sea To Sky Gondola.

1.5km after passing the gondola, flip right onto the Mamquam River forestry service highway. This turnoff is simply before the crossroads by Possibilities On line on line on line casino and the gasoline station. For people who’ve handed it it’s good to use this junction to level out spherical.

Journey the forest service highway for merely over 13km. At this diploma, it’s largely satisfactory in a typical automotive nonetheless you’ll quickly see why you’ll be glad you’ve taken a 4×4!

At 13.2km, flip left and drive over a bridge crossing the Mamquam River. Correct proper right here you’ll go a car parking zone for a kayak put-in after which cross over a second bridge.

After the second bridge, you’ll quickly come to a junction with two enormous indicators in your left. Make a left flip and go between the 2 indicators. At this diploma, you’re now on the Skookum Dam forest service highway.

Keep it up driving till you attain an infinite steel air vent after which go left at this junction to the mannequin new trailhead for Watersprite Lake. The highway continues by means of a comparatively flat half before climbing up a extraordinarily steep hill and coming down fairly quickly after.

When you’ve descended the hill it’s a fast drive to the place there’s an enormous car parking zone by the Skookum Dam. Park correct proper right here on the Watersprite Lake car parking zone and start the Watersprite Lake hike by the steel gate.

There are some pit bogs correct proper right here, nonetheless none on the path till the tip so income from them!

Know before you go

• The Watersprite Lake path is managed by BCMC. Use this Fb Group to verify Watersprite Lake path situations before you go.
• As of summer time season 2022, you will have a tenting reservation for tent tenting (absolutely completely totally different to reserving the hut). It could worth $15. E-book Watersprite right here.
• At all times adjust to depart no hint ethics. Unsure what these are? Get a refresher right here.
• Carry bear spray with you on all BC climbing trails. Get additional bear security choices correct proper right here!
• Refresh your reminiscence about climbing security with BC Journey Good.
• Canine are allowed on a leash nonetheless actually unlikely helpful as a result of delicate ecosystem.
• There’s no cell service earlier the 17 km mark of the Mamquam forest service highway
• There isn’t a implausible Squamish climbing trails map that I will uncover. Ensure you’ve downloaded the AllTrails map to your cellphone before setting out and switching the battery-saving mode/turning off knowledge to stay away from dropping battery.

Watersprite Lake Squamish hike

The present summer time season path to Watersprite Lake was achieved in September 2016 by the BCMC and is due to this actuality easy to regulate to and appropriately maintained. The route follows deactivated logging highway routes before crossing a boulder house inside the course of the tip.

From the car parking zone, go earlier the steel gate and modify to the outdated gravel highway which veers off the perfect up a slight incline.

You’ll go the Skookum Dam beneath and to your left before the path narrows and joins up with an outdated logging highway.

On this a part of the path, you’ll go a variety of creeks and a bridge which matches over Skullhead Creek. In some components, there are platforms that may help you cross over the sections which get a bit boggier. Use them as not doing so will harm the vegetation.

All through the 30 minute mark of climbing, you’ll make a slight left on the path and descending shortly before making up for the misplaced elevation by climbing by means of the forest.

Search for the orange tree markers till you attain a junction at a giant path. Go right on the big path and proceed climbing.

After crossing one totally different bridge, the path goes sharply left as quickly as additional and climbs up a steep, rocky space before making an accurate and popping out to a distinct segment. Merely earlier this clearing, you’ll cross one totally different small creek subsequent to a waterfall.

600 metres on from the creekbed, you spherical a nook and may be came upon to a ridge usually referred to as “The Prow Lookout”. Revenue from the valley views correct proper right here; they’re attractive!

This ridge seems down so far as Mamquam River Valley and Squamish. You presumably could even spot completely totally different hikes in Squamish, BC resembling The Chief (one totally different of the proper hikes in BC)!

For the following couple of kilometers, you’ll be handled to good views of the encircling mountains and the Watersprite Creek Valley space beneath.

Then, you’ll attain a rockslide space which is able to gradual your tempo a bit. It’s not too troublesome to traverse nonetheless do take some further care to not slip.

After the boulder house, you’ll come by means of a forested half and a second boulder house. This closing (and steep) climb is the final word half before you come out to the lake.

The views of this attractive turquoise lake with Watersprite Tower contained in the as soon as extra, Martin Peak and Dreadnought Peak are higher than undoubtedly nicely definitely worth the effort in climbing these boulder fields!

Watersprite Lake path statistics

• Downside: Reasonably priced/strenuous (extended and steep on the tip)
• How extended is water sprite lake hike?: 18 km
• Elevation: 660 m
• Watersprite Lake hike time: 6-7 hours
• Notes: There is not a such issue as a required Watersprite Lake day go as this lake doesn’t sit inside Garibaldi Provincial Park. Nonetheless, must you need to maintain in a single day, you will have a Watersprite lake reservation for each the hut and campsite spots.

AllTrails is my go-to climbing app for locating, planning, and navigating whereas I’m out on the paths. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you probably may be assured you’re nonetheless on track, even with out cell sign.

Watersprite Lake Cabin

The Watersprite Lake hut is a fantastically constructed hut just some steps away from the lake. It’s owned and managed by the British Columbia Mountaineering Membership (BCMC) and it is very important order on-line.

Reservations may probably be made by non-members of the BCMC, nevertheless it completely’s a implausible group to affix and I’d terribly counsel doing so inside the event you’re an house.

The Watersprite Hut sleeps 8 and pets aren’t allowed contained inside the Watersprite Lake cabin.

The cabin should be booked by one group at a time for a price of $300/night time for your entire cabin and $600/night time for your entire cabin per industrial.

Watersprite Lake tenting

Tenting is permitted at Watersprite Lake and there’s a reservation system.

For people who want to do some Watersprite Lake backpacking and stand up on this attractive spot, you possibly can!

There are 20 tenting spots on the lake they usually worth $20 per night time. Watersprite Lake campground is open from July 1 to Thanksgiving extended weekend in early October.

You should guide Watersprite tenting upfront right here.

When tenting at Watersprite Lake, don’t camp too near the lake, this breaks the depart no hint suggestions and doubtlessly pollutes water that everybody on the path is utilizing for consuming.

What to pack for the Watersprite Lake hike Squamish

What to pack for this hike is about by what season you’re climbing in.

• Try my day hike packing itemizing correct proper right here.
• For people who’re climbing in summer time season it’s good to pack sunscreen, shades, layers, water and bug spray together with every little issue contained in the 10 necessities for climbing itemizing.
• Correct proper right here is what to positioned on climbing in scorching native climate
• Do that submit on the proper leggings for climbing or what to positioned on climbing in summer time season for additional particulars and my gear choices.
• For people who’re climbing in winter after the snow has began falling you’ll want microspikes on the very least. If there may be a wide range of snow you could most likely want snowshoes.
• You moreover should take quite a lot of layers together with a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are furthermore essential together with a good backpack to maintain up every little consider.
• You moreover should pack water and a few snacks too to maintain up you going as they’re a part of the 10 necessities for climbing!
• Planning a climbing date? Try what to positioned on on a climbing date nonetheless nonetheless look cool.

Necessities for this hike: suncream, hat, shades, digital digital digital camera/cellphone, bear spray, heat layers even when it’s scorching on account of it’s often chilly by the lake.

Ultimate ideas on the Watersprite Hike Squamish BC

For people who’re looking for varied native hikes and additional of the proper hikes in Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler take a look at these climbing guides.

The Watersprite path is among the many many most attention-grabbing hikes in Squamish and BC nevertheless it completely does require a 4×4 to get there.

The highway is difficult, and extended, and can’t be accomplished. in a small, low-clearance 2WD. Make buddies with somebody with a 4×4 after which you’ll go and revenue from the path!

For people who’re looking for additional superior hikes shut by, it’s good to undoubtedly take a look at my itemizing of the most attention-grabbing hikes close to Vancouver.

They embrace some attractive climbing trails resembling Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake together with Black Tusk (inside the event you need scrambling – I beloved this one!)), Elfin Lakes, Opal Cone and Mamquam Lake and Rampart Ponds together with the Stawamus Chief.

Additionally it is potential to browse over 150 climbing guides from all world extensive.