Hike to the Black Tusk Lookout Point

The Black Tusk is a distinctive landmark just south of Whistler (the remnants of an old volcano). There is nothing else like it, and it is visible from all over the Sea to Sky area.

Depending on your experience and fitness level, you can either: climb right to the top of the Tusk (expert hiking/scrambling ability), hike up to the base of the Tusk (intermediate hiking ability), or go to the Black Tusk viewpoint (intermediate hiking ability).

Climbing to the Black Tusk summit involves a scary 4th class scramble to get up a 330ft chimney, which is a narrow chute full of crumbling rock and exposure. Hands are required to ascend the chimney! If this is of interest (it’s amazing afterall!) it should be attempted only by experienced hikers/climbers, as the rock is extremely loose and creates a rock fall hazard if anyone is above you. Make sure you follow the flagging to find the right starting point!

For the purposes of this adventure, let’s just say you’re heading for the base of the Tusk, under the chimney, which is still an incredible objective.

This hike can be done in a long day from Rubble Creek, or you can half the time and elevation by camping at Taylor Meadows or Garibaldi Lake. The camping areas have 90 sites between them, and fill to capacity on summer weekends ($10/person/night). As of 2016, online camping reservations are required for Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake, Elfin Lakes + Taylor Meadows, instead of the pay at the parking lot way it used to work.  Online reservations can be found here.

To reach the Rubble Creek parking area (paved, 2WD), follow HWY99 north from Squamish until you see Provincial Park signs for Black Tusk on your right, about 20 minutes up the highway. The trail is a well worn series of switchbacks, wide enough to hike 2 people across the whole way up.

The terrain at the top of the trail is otherworldly, as you'll be hiking on volcanic debris, making you feel as though you are on a different planet altogether. There is excellent signage and distance markers all throughout the park, so just follow the signs at the few trail junctions you come to.

A large Parks sign indicates that you've arrived at the Lookout point. From here you'll have stellar views of Garibaldi Lake, Panorama Ridge, Mt Garibaldi and the perfectly flat Table Mountain. If you're comfortable hiking a bit higher to the ridge, a look over the other side, will give you a close-up view of the spires that make up the Tusk. It is a unique and beautiful mountain, and an experience you'll never forget.