Russet Lake & Singing Pass in Garibaldi Provincial Park
Though Russet Lake is not terribly impressive in terms of size or colour, the valley around it is remarkably beautiful. The colours change from moment to moment in and extraordinary way. The distinctive colour of the Fissile and the stark grey of the mountains around contrast amazingly with the blue of the lake and green grass in the valley. So many different factors fill the place with colour. There are several ways to get to hike Russet Lake. The Singing Pass Trail from the base of Whistler Mountain near the Whistler Gondola. The Musical Bumps Trail that begins near the top of the Whistler Gondola. The High Note Trail that begins at the top of the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain. There is an increasingly popular route that begins from Blackcomb Mountain. And finally, a very infrequently In short, the three ways to get to Russet Lake are 1. Musical Bumps (direct route and beautiful), 2. High Note Trail (a bit longer but even more beautiful), and the Singing Pass Trail (not as nice as the previous two and constantly uphill, but no expensive gondola charge). All three routes are have signs and well established trails. None are very difficult with the exception of being long trails. Though each can be done in a day, 28 kilometres of hiking in one day is quite a long way. Russet Lake is a beautiful place to camp. It has a wonderful hut available to use by anyone. It is a basic wooden hut with no facilities, but surprisingly comfortable. It holds up to 12 crowded or 8 comfortable. There is also an outhouse and a beautiful stream that runs along the massive camping area. There are no tent platforms but over a dozen tent clearings. There is a considerable amount of exploring available in the valley around Russet Lake. The fissile is a difficult but very feasible hike from Russet Lake. Below Russet Lake is a very accessible glacier as well
The trail has considerable elevation gain and loss though. The trail is well marked with signs directing you along the Musical Bumps trail. You won't see Russet Lake signs until you reach the trail junction at the Singing Pass Trail. This route is a very popular trail running route in Whistler. From the Roundhouse to the Village is 24k, and much of it downhill. To find the Russet Lake trailhead take the Whistler Gondola up to the Roundhouse Lodge. Walk out The Musical Bumps trail next takes you to Flute Summit. At Flute Summit follow the signs to Singing Pass. The signs on this route are sometimes confusing as some get destroyed during the winter. Just be sure to aim for Flute Summit, then Singing Pass, then Russet Lake. From Russet Lake, you can return to Whistler Village the way you came, or via the High Note Trail, or via the Singing Pass Trail, which brings you back to the Village. Village to Russet Lake via the High Note Trail(14.5k)
The incline of the ride is extreme, so steep as the breathtaking scenery cannot even distract fully from the nervousness you will surely feel as you glance down, 20 metres to the boulder field below. Then you arrive, the peak of Whistler, what a magnificent way to start a hike. You are still four hours from Russet Lake, but the adventure is well underway. From the top of the Peak chair, follow the signs for the High Note Trail and Singing Pass. The trail is 14.5k with several ascents and descents on the way. The High Note Trail eventually joins with the Musical Bumps Trail part way along and continues to the junction of the Singing Pass Trail. Left goes to Whistler Village and right goes to Russet Lake (3k). Village to Russet Lake via Singing Pass(14.5k)
This area has caused some confusion in recent years as for a time the Whistler Info Centre mistakenly called the Singing Pass trail closed because of this section. Also, in recent years there have been cases of bridge damage along the trail, however, parks staff quickly repair the bridges. Keep this in mind when hiking this trail, certainly in June, you will find extensive damage to the trail left over from the winter. Usually just fallen trees criss-crossing the trail, but don't be surprised if you come to a washed out bridge that has to be scrambled across with some difficulty. After this the trail is well maintained with small bridges over cute creeks. At 10.5k it finally opens up to the alpine. The views immediately become magnificent. The junction at 11.5k splits the trail. Left goes to Russet Lake (3k), and right goes to Whistler Mountain via the Musical Bumps Trail. If you are confident in making the Whistler Gondola during open hours, returning to Whistler by this route is a beautiful option. Russet Lake in Garibaldi Park Camping
If you want to stay in the Russet Lake hut you simply buy a campsite pass and if the hut has an empty bed when you arrive, you take it. There are no reservations for the Wedgemount Lake and Russet Lake huts and the rule is simply first come, first served. The second big change this year for Garibaldi Park is that for the first time you can legally register and pay to camp in the backcountry beyond the official campsites. Wilderness camping permits are available to mountaineers, climbers, ski tourers, and other visitors with advanced skills in wilderness travel and camping, within the wilderness camping zone. The areas you can wilderness camp is quite restricted in an effort to not overrun the park and maintain some control over the massive numbers of hikers in the park. Backcountry Camping Permits for Garibaldi Park cost the same as the campsite fees: $10 per person, per night. Children 6-16 years old pay $5 per person, per night and kids under 6 years old are free. There are two ways to book a reservation to camp in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Reserve online 24 hours once the inventory is available for booking. For mobile devices, scroll to bottom of page and click “Switch to Full Site”. Or via the Call Centre (an additional $5 surcharge applies): 1-800-689-9025 (toll free Canada) +1-519-826-6850 (International) 7:00 am-7:00 pm seven days a week. Some of the Garibaldi Park trailheads don’t have reliable cell coverage, so don’t forget to book your reservation before you start hiking! When you book online or by phone you will need the following information. Your arrival date, your desired campground, your group size. Then you have to pick the number of tent pads your party requires. At tent pad is 10 feet by 10 feet and usually accommodates one tent. Each tent pad can fit a maximum of 4 people. For Elfin Shelter choose one “tent pad” per party (up to 4 people). Choose your itinerary for each night. Click “reserve” Fill in the permit holder and camping party information. Pay for your reservation with your credit card. Singing Pass Trailhead Directions
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