Elfin Lakes
Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia · backcountry campground
Elfin Lakes shelter and campground near Squamish: 33 bunks, BC Parks' 3-month window at 7am PT, fees, refund rules and how to catch a cancellation.
Availability on 24 Oct 2026
- 180 open nights
- 0 of the next 180 nights fully booked (0%)
- Next open night: 24 Oct 2026
How booking works here
- Campsites and backcountry sites open on a 3-month rolling window at 7am Pacific on the matching date. Group sites open 12 months ahead.
- Berg Lake opens its whole peak season on one day at 7am Pacific.
- Cancelling more than 7 days out is refunded in full (14 days for Berg Lake), so nights come back just before those cut-offs.
- Bookings are made on BC Parks; we never book, hold or resell sites.
Official booking page
About
Elfin Lakes is the Diamond Head side of Garibaldi Provincial Park, reached from Squamish. It's two small lakes on a ridge with views of Mount Garibaldi, an 11 km walk (or bike ride) from the Diamond Head parking lot along Paul Ridge. In summer it's a hiking and swimming trip. From mid-November to April or May it's a classic intermediate-to-advanced ski-touring and snowshoe trip, with the route marked by orange snow poles from Red Heather to Elfin Lakes.
The draw for many people is the Elfin Lakes shelter, a heated building beside the campground. It's the only roofed place to sleep on this side of the park.
The sites
From BC Parks' backcountry shelters page, the shelter has:
- 33 bunks (11 double and 11 single), chosen on arrival, first come, first served
- A propane heater on a timer and thermostat
- Eight propane burners (BC Parks supplies the propane), counters with two wash sinks, and big pots for melting snow
- Solar lights that may not work in poor weather, so bring a headlamp
- Five picnic tables and pit toilets
Next to the shelter is Elfin Lakes Campground for tents. It's user-maintained, so keep it clean, and open doors and windows when stoves are running (carbon monoxide is the main hazard). Fires and dogs aren't allowed in Garibaldi Park. Swimming is only allowed in the swimming lake, and bikes must stop at the shelter.
How booking works
Book on camping.bcparks.ca or call 1-800-689-9025 (toll-free in Canada and the US).
- Window: three months before arrival, opening at 7am PT on the first day. It rolls forward a day at a time.
- Same day: bookable until 5pm PT on the arrival date if space is left.
- Shelter: up to six bunk spaces per reservation. The named occupant must be 16 or older and present for the whole stay.
- Shelter fees (as of October 2026): C$30 per adult per night and C$10 per child 6–15, plus a C$6 transaction fee. Non-residents of BC pay a C$20 non-resident fee.
- Tent camping follows the Garibaldi backcountry rates on the reservations page.
Print two copies of the permit: one stays with you and one goes on your bunk. Last checked: October 2026.
When it sells out
BC Parks calls the shelter "extremely popular", and reservations are required all year, in ski season as well as summer. Expect weekend nights, holidays and powder-season Saturdays to go first. Midweek nights are your best bet.
How to get a cancellation
Garibaldi's cancellation windows apply. More than 7 days out, you get a full refund of camping fees minus C$6. Within 7 days you lose one night's fee per person, and on the arrival date two nights'. Cancellations close at 5pm PT on the arrival date. In winter, avalanche forecasts and storms add a burst of cancellations in the last few days.
Watch Elfin Lakes on Canada Camp Alerts and we'll alert you when a booked-out night opens. A night counts as open when any bookable spot in our Elfin Lakes listing is free. We don't count bunks against your group size, and we don't book or hold anything. The free plan is one watch with email alerts 15 minutes late. The season pass (C$25 once, 12 months, no auto-renew) gives up to 10 watches and instant alerts by email, Telegram or web push.
Tips
- In winter, check the Avalanche Canada forecast before you go. Avalanche and glacier hazards exist in the park year-round.
- The Diamond Head road is 16 km from the highway. Use the parking lot or pull-outs during snow clearing so you don't block the plows.
- A camping or shelter reservation replaces the Diamond Head day-use vehicle pass.
Nearby alternatives
Questions
Do I need to book the Elfin Lakes shelter?
Yes. BC Parks says the shelter is extremely popular and reservations are required year-round, on camping.bcparks.ca or by phone at 1-800-689-9025.
Does a shelter reservation get me a specific bunk?
No. Bunks are first come, first served on arrival, and BC Parks warns you may share a double bunk with someone outside your group.
How far is it to Elfin Lakes?
BC Parks lists 11 km from the Diamond Head parking lot, 600 m of elevation change, and three to five hours one way.
Will an alert hold a bunk for me?
No. We tell you a booked-out night has opened; you book it yourself on camping.bcparks.ca. We don't check how many bunks are free.
Nearby places we watch
- Garibaldi Lake — Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia · 180 open, 0 of 180 nights booked out
- Kees and Claire Hut — Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia · 31 open, 3 of 91 nights booked out
- Wedgemount Lake — Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia · 180 open, 0 of 180 nights booked out
Set a watch on Elfin Lakes
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