Black Tusk Trail

Accessible: July - October

Distance:
From Rubble Creek Parking Lot: 27km (16.8 miles) round-trip
From Taylor Meadows Campground: 14km (8.7 miles) round-trip
From Garibaldi Lake Campground: 14km (8.7 miles) round-trip

Elevation Gain:
From Rubble Creek Parking Lot: 1740 meters (5709 feet)
From Taylor Meadows Campground: 800 meters (2625 feet)
From Garibaldi Lake Campground: 850 meters (2789 feet)

Estimated Time:
From Rubble Creek Parking Lot: 11 hours
From Taylor Meadows Campground: 5.5 hours
From Garibaldi Lake Campground: 6 hours

The unique jagged, black rock, which is thought to be remnants of volcanic activity, makes Black Tusk one of the most recognizable mountains in the region. The hike to Black Tusk generally starts from the Rubble Creek parking lot and 27km (16.8 miles) route, with 1740 meters (5709 feet) elevation gain is a very difficult day-hike. A more enjoyable option is to camp at either Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows, then hike to Black Tusk the following day, giving you plenty of time to explore and enjoy the view.

From the Rubble Creek parking lot, follow the trail through the switchbacks for the first 6km until you reach a junction. Go left at the junction towards Taylor Meadows and pass the campsite. Continue past a 2nd junction and look for a trail and markings that lead to Black Tusk shortly after on your left.

The first section of the trail climbs gradually but the vegetation thins as you enter the alpine where you eventually reach a point where the land is all rock. Follow the worn path in the rocks making your way to the base of the "Tusk".

You can walk around the base to the other side where there is a chute that leads to the top. Climbing up this chute should only be done by experienced climbers with the proper gear as the loose rock and sheer drop are extremely dangerous.