Lake Lovely Water

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GETTING THERE

From Seattle, take I-5 north to the Canadian border. From there, take the Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 west to BC-99 north in west Vancouver, Canada. Continue on BC-99 north to turn left on Squamish Valley Road (signed for Squamish Valley/Paradise Valley) in Squamish-Lillooet. Reset your odometer when you leave BC-99. After 2.3 miles, just past a bridge over the Cheakamus River, the road forks. Stay left to continue along the Squamish Valley Road.

At 3.67 miles from BC-99, turn left onto an old gravel road that may require a high-clearance vehicle. If an “11 mile” sign is observed, the turnoff was overshot: double back roughly a quarter-mile. The road crosses under power lines and reaches a cable car crossing (see below) after 1.24 miles. A convenient boat launch site along the riverbank lies 0.31 miles upstream along the road. Parking at the launch site may require paying a modest fee to the Squamish Nation. Vehicles must be carefully secured as vandalism has been reported.

NOTE: Access to the east bank of the Squamish River is on the traditional lands of the Squamish First Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw). After crossing the river, the trail begins on private property. It is recommended to reach out to the band office (communications@squamish.net) and ask for permission  before crossing this property.

The trailhead is located on the west side of the Squamish River. It is poorly marked for the first 1.25 miles. Local businesses such as Squamish Canoe Rental rent canoes, kayaks, and rafts. The Squamish River flows very quickly, so crossing in a personal watercraft may be difficult, as well as finding a spot to safely moor watercraft until the return crossing. Other river crossing options are:

• Boat: Some individual, private operators will drive clients to the riverbank and ferry them across the river. Their rates and contact information are posted on sites such as Alltrails. Squamish Watersports offers transportation via jet ski.
• Air: A list of companies that currently have Park Use Permits to provide air taxi service is published on the Tantalus Provincial Park website.
• Last, some parties rig a Tyrolean traverse using a cable that crosses the river. However, the cable is owned by the provincial government and used for water surveying. Using it to cross the river is illegal trespassing.

The hike to Lake Lovely Water can take 4-6 hours (one way) depending on fitness, hiking ability, and pack weight. The trail to Lake Lovely Water is generally considered too long for an out-and-back single day hike, so most hikers camp at designated sites along the lakeshore. The ACC’s Tantalus Hut may also be reserved ahead of time, but only the whole hut can be booked at a nightly cost of $2,000 CAN on Friday-Sunday or $1,700 CAN on Monday-Wednesday.

on the trail

(If not traveling to the lake via air) The hike to Lake Lovely Water is typically described as steep, particularly in the last two miles before reaching the lake, but is not exposed. An early start is advised, as well as bringing bug repellant. Be careful to follow the trail on a GPS or map to avoid time-consuming detours. Watch for orange trail markers on trees. Some hikers warn of wasp nests near the trail at an elevation of approximately 3,250’.

NOTES

• There are multiple camping options at the lake. Camping on the beach is not allowed. Upon reaching the lake, the trail forks, with the trail to Niobe Meadows leading to the left and the trail to the ACC Tantalus Hut to the right. The ACC hut is a little more than a quarter-mile up the trail. There are about 15 wooded campsites near the ACC hut, as well as an outhouse that is not stocked with toilet paper. The Niobe Meadows campsite is 30-45 minutes up the trail. There are several campsites on a small lakeside sand spit beneath the Niobe-Pelops Basin. Camping in Niobe Meadows itself is prohibited. 
• If these campsites are full, an alternative is to hike to Russian Army Camp. From the ACC hut, descend to the lakeshore. Hike 0.12 miles to a small lakeshore rock slab. Head into the trees and pick up a lakeshore trail that eventually heads steeply uphill, crests over a rise, and reaches Lambda Lake about 1 hour’s hike from the ACC hut. From Lambda Lake, the trail climbs steeply through trees to a ridgecrest (4,650’); then down to the Russian Army Camp (4,528’) in a large basin. There is ample good camping.
• Food storage is only available at the main campground near the ACC hut. Visitors should bring bear-proof canisters for food, hygiene products, etc., and store them away from their tents. Obey the BC Parks general guidelines for responsible recreation.
• Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia (2005) by Matt Gunn is a useful reference to climbs and scrambles from Lake Lovely Water. This book is out of print. However, it may be possible to borrow a copy or obtain scanned images of relevant pages.  Some updates are published here.
• There may be restrictions on watercraft allowed on Lake Lovely Water. Available sources are not authoritative, so contact Tantalus Provincial Park for confirmation beforehand.

INFORMATION FOR LEADERS

• Considerations for travel to Canada

  • Start by reviewing the latest regulations. Look for information on border crossing and travel to Canada on these websites:
    
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)
    • Government of Canada
  • Everyone must have a passport or other valid ID like a NEXUS card.
  • NEXUS cards can save a lot of time but only work if everyone in the car has one.
  • Make sure your vehicle insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Make sure your health insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Border crossing regulations are strict in both directions. Know what you’re allowed to take and declare everything to avoid problems.
  • You may be able to save time by checking alternate border crossings.
  • See the Travel Industry Council of Ontario's  9 Travel Tips for Crossing the Canadian/U.S. Land Border blog post for some good tips on traveling to Canada.

• Suitable Activities: Backpacking, Climbing, Day Hiking, Scrambling
• Seasons: July, August, September
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Strenuous/Very Strenuous
• Length: 3.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 3,866 ft
• High Point: 3,771 ft

• Land Manager: Tantalus Provincial Park
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12