Garibaldi day passes are free, released 7am PT two days ahead, and a camping reservation replaces them. How to book Garibaldi Lake, Wedgemount and Elfin Lakes, fees and refunds.
Last checked: October 2026. Rules are from BC Parks pages as of that date. 2027 dates hadn't been announced; anything for 2027 is expected, based on 2026.
Garibaldi is the big backcountry park between Squamish and Whistler. In summer you need either a free day-use pass or an overnight reservation to use the main trailheads. The overnight reservation is the better deal if you can get one: it covers your parking too.
Day-use passes
From BC Parks' day-use passes page:
- Free, booked online on BC Parks' day-use pass site.
- Released at 7am PT, two days before your visit.
- Vehicle passes at Diamond Head and Rubble Creek; each vehicle can carry up to 12 people.
- Cheakamus: one pass per time slot, per day.
- A valid overnight reservation replaces the pass.
| Trailhead | Leads to | 2026 pass requirement |
|---|
| Rubble Creek | Garibaldi Lake, Taylor Meadows, Panorama Ridge, Black Tusk | June 12 to Oct 12, 2026 (Fridays to Mondays and holidays, per our research notes) |
| Diamond Head | Elfin Lakes, Mamquam Lake | June 12 to Oct 12, 2026 (Fridays to Mondays and holidays, per our research notes) |
| Cheakamus | Cheakamus Lake | Daily June 13 to Sept 7, then Fridays to Mondays and holidays until Oct 12, 2026 |
The 2025 dates on the Garibaldi Park page followed the same Friday-to-Monday pattern at Rubble Creek and Diamond Head. For 2027, expect a similar mid-June to mid-October season; it hasn't been announced. Wedgemount isn't on BC Parks' day-pass list.
Backcountry camping
BC Parks: reservations are needed for any overnight stay in Garibaldi (backcountry reservations). They're made on camping.bcparks.ca under BC Parks' three-month rolling window, from 7am PT. See BC Parks 2027 reservation dates.
| Campground | Tent pads | Trailhead |
|---|
| Garibaldi Lake | 50 | Rubble Creek |
| Taylor Meadows | 40 | Rubble Creek |
| Elfin Lakes | 35 | Diamond Head |
| Wedgemount Lake | see BC Parks | Wedgemount |
Fees (2026): $25 per adult per night, $5 per youth, free under 6, tax included. BC Parks says fees are increasing. Transaction fees are charged per pad, per night (up to three nights, max $18 per pad), and there's a $5 surcharge for phone bookings. A $20 non-resident fee is listed for visitors from outside B.C.
Garibaldi rules worth knowing: no fires and no hammocks, and no camping at or near the Garibaldi Lake parking lot. If you just need a place to sleep before an early start, BC Parks points to Alice Lake, Brandywine Falls and Nairn Falls.
The Elfin Lakes shelter
Beside the Elfin Lakes campground there's a shelter with bunks. BC Parks says it's the only backcountry hut bookable through its reservation service, and reservations are required year-round (BC Parks backcountry shelters). It sleeps 33. Check the current per-person fee on BC Parks' site; third-party guides quote different numbers.
Nearby: Kees and Claire Hut
The Kees and Claire Hut on the Spearhead Traverse is in Garibaldi Park but is run by the Spearhead Huts Society, not BC Parks. It books on its own system, with a 60-day rolling window for the public, 90 days for some club members, and up to six beds per booking, according to our research. Check the Spearhead Huts site for current rules.
Cancellation rules
Garibaldi has its own row in BC Parks' cancellation windows:
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|
| More than 7 days before arrival | Camping fees for cancelled nights, minus $6 per tent pad |
| Within 7 days | 1 night's fee per person deducted, plus $6 per pad |
| On arrival day | 2 nights' fees per person deducted, plus $6 per pad |
Transaction fees are never refunded. Because the penalty is per person, a group of six that can't go saves a lot by cancelling before the 7-day mark. That's when we'd expect the most pads to reappear, around 8 days before each date. More in the BC Parks cancellation policy guide.
Watching Garibaldi for a cancellation
Canada Camp Alerts watches Garibaldi Lake, Wedgemount Lake, Elfin Lakes and the Kees and Claire Hut. Set a watch on the facility page for the nights you want. We alert you when a night goes from booked out, or not yet released, to open, meaning any pad (or bed, for the hut) is free that night. Each night is judged on its own: we don't check that the same pad is free for consecutive nights, and we don't match party size. Open the link and check before you pay. You book on the official site yourself.
- Free: one watch for one night, email, 15 minutes after pass holders.
- Season pass: C$25 once, 12 months, no auto-renew. Up to 10 watches, date ranges, instant email, Telegram and browser push.
We don't watch Garibaldi's day-use passes, and we don't send reminders for their 7am release.
FAQ
Do I need a day pass for Garibaldi?
For Rubble Creek, Diamond Head and Cheakamus in the pass season, yes, unless you have an overnight reservation.
When are Garibaldi day passes released?
7am PT two days before your visit. They're free.
How far ahead can I book Garibaldi Lake camping?
Three months, from 7am PT, under BC Parks' rolling window.
How much is Garibaldi Lake camping?
$25 per adult per night in 2026, plus transaction fees. BC Parks says fees are increasing.
Can I cancel?
Yes. More than 7 days out you get camping fees back minus $6 per pad. Inside 7 days you lose one night per person; on arrival day, two.
Can I sleep at the trailhead?
No camping at or near the Garibaldi Lake parking lot.
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