Garibaldi Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park is a nature reserve in the Coast Mountains north of Vancouver, featuring diverse terrain with mountains, forests, glaciers, alpine meadows, and multiple lakes throughout. The landscape changes dramatically from lower valleys to high elevation areas, creating different environments to explore.

The name comes from Mount Garibaldi, which Captain George Henry Richards named in 1860 after Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi during a surveying expedition. This naming marked the beginning of its official European recognition and use.

The Squamish people have deep ties to this land, using it for hunting and gathering for generations. Their traditional names and practices shape how the region is understood and valued by those who live nearby.

The park has five main access points from the Sea to Sky Highway, each leading to different trails and camping areas. Visitors should book camping spots ahead of time and check conditions seasonally, as access and weather vary significantly throughout the year.

A natural lava dam called the Barrier holds back one of the lakes, a rare geological feature that formed through volcanic activity long ago. This unusual structure is part of what makes the area so geologically distinctive.