The Black Tusk

Description

The Black Tusk is one of the most iconic summits in Garibaldi Provincial Park and the entire southwestern region of British Columbia. At 2,319 m in elevation, the Black Tusk is a stratovolcano formed about 200,000 years ago, characterized by its dark, irregular, and rocky appearance that rises above the neighboring mountains and stands out as one of the most imposing geological formations in the region. Along with Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake, the trail to Black Tusk is among the most popular trails in Garibaldi Park, traversing coniferous forests, alpine meadows, and turquoise-colored glacial lakes, culminating in an impressive volcanic formation that offers a panoramic view of 360°. The hike to the summit demands a lot from the hiker, especially in its final stretch to the base of the summit, where the trail becomes quite steep and occurs over gravel slopes and loose rocks, in poorly marked sections. Despite its nearly 30 km length, many visitors complete the hike in just one day, often combining it with a visit to Garibaldi Lake. Another option is to split the journey into two days, using the camping areas at Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows. Photos by Vicente Leal E. Fernandez.

Activities

Activity Hiking
Time 12h 0m

Guidelines

Extension: 26.2 Km
Access status: Open
Difficulty Hard
Orientation Easy
Signaling Level Complete
Conservation Excellent
Risk Exposure Medium
Sun Exposure High
Hydration Point Available
Climbing No climbing required
Minimum Altitude: 584m
Maximum Altitude: 2031m
Negative Unevenness: 1746m
Positive Unevenness: 1746m

Attractions that the trail offers

Peak
Lake
Rock Formations
Flora
Fauna
Viewpoints
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Tips

A good option is to take a circuit. After navigating the zigzag curves at the beginning of the trail, at the fork between Taylor Meadows and Garibaldi Lake, follow the path to Taylor Meadows. Further along, ignore the detour to Garibaldi Lake and continue on the Helm Creek trail towards Black Tusk. On the return, use the access to Garibaldi Lake before heading back to the parking lot via the main lake trail. This way, you can experience the main attractions of the area in a single hike, reducing the repetition of sections. Website for camping reservations and additional information: https://bcparks.ca/garibaldi-park/

Map

Guidelines

Extension: 26.2 Km
Difficulty: Hard
Orientation: Easy
Signaling Level: Complete
Minimum Altitude: 584m
Maximum Altitude: 2031m
Negative Unevenness: 1746m
Positive Unevenness: 1746m

Route

The trail begins at the Rubble Creek parking lot. As with the other trails that start from this parking lot, the first 7 km correspond to the most demanding and least attractive part of the hike. The route consists of a long continuous ascent through a dense forest, with no major points of interest or panoramic views. After a series of switchbacks, you reach a fork where many hikers take a break for rest and food. At this point, there are two main paths: one leads to Garibaldi Lake, while the other, which leads to Black Tusk, continues toward Taylor Meadows. From there, the trail continues to ascend for a few hundred more meters through the forest until reaching the alpine fields of Taylor Meadows. In this section, the terrain becomes nearly flat, and part of the route is made on wooden walkways, making the hike easier. Further along, a new fork appears: to the right, the path descends toward Garibaldi Lake; continuing straight, the trail continues along the Helm Creek Trail. After a short stretch, there is another division. Most visitors head toward Panorama Ridge, while access to Black Tusk continues along the specific trail that leads to the volcanic massif.

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