Plain of Six Glaciers vs Garibaldi Lake: Which Should You Hike?
Choose Plain of Six Glaciers if you want a half-day outing with a tea house stop, no permit and a moderate climb. Choose Garibaldi Lake if you want a longer, bigger mountain day, or an overnight where you camp by the lake and go on to Panorama Ridge with a light pack.
Plain of Six Glaciers and Garibaldi Lake at a glance
Plain of Six Glaciers is a day hike from the shore of Lake Louise in Banff, climbing past the end of the lake toward glaciated walls and a tea house. Garibaldi Lake climbs forested switchbacks in BC's Coast Mountains to a lake, with Panorama Ridge as the continuation. Both are classic Canadian mountain hikes, which is why people weigh them against each other.
| Plain of Six Glaciers | Garibaldi Lake | |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Canadian Rockies · Alberta, Canada | Coast Mountains · British Columbia, Canada |
| Distance | 14.2 km (8.8 mi) round-trip | ~30 km (18.6 mi) round-trip from the Rubble Creek trailhead (day-hike to Panorama Ridge, passing Garibaldi Lake en route) |
| Elevation gain | ~591 m (~1,940 ft) | ~1,520 m (~4,990 ft) |
| Difficulty | Moderate (moderately strenuous in the upper switchbacks) | Strenuous / difficult as a single day; moderate if broken into an overnight from Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows campground |
| Route type | out-and-back | out-and-back |
| Official season | June to September; snow lingers on higher trails into early summer | Typically July to October, once the snow melts (snow can linger into summer) |
| Managed by | Parks Canada | BC Parks |
Effort and difficulty
Plain of Six Glaciers is 14.2 km (8.8 mi) round-trip with about 591 m (~1,940 ft) of gain, rated Moderate, and moderately strenuous in the upper switchbacks. Garibaldi Lake with Panorama Ridge is about 30 km (18.6 mi) round-trip with about 1,520 m (~4,990 ft) of gain, rated strenuous or difficult as a single day. Garibaldi is clearly the bigger commitment: the distance and climbing are far greater, and the final push to the crest is steep, gravelly and occasionally scrambly. Splitting it into an overnight makes it moderate.
Season, permits and booking
Plain of Six Glaciers is listed as best from June to September, with snow lingering on higher trails into early summer. Garibaldi Lake is typically best from July to October, once the snow melts, though snow can linger into summer. Neither day hike needs a permit, but Banff requires a park entry pass and Lake Louise access runs through Parks Canada transit or reservation. Overnight camping at Garibaldi needs a BC Parks reservation for a specific site and date. Confirm current rules with each managing authority.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Plain of Six Glaciers if…
Pick Plain of Six Glaciers if you have a half-day, want a steady climb rather than a grind, and like the idea of a tea house stop at the top. It suits hikers with moderate fitness and anyone who prefers to keep a trip simple, with no overnight planning. Start early or use the shuttle, since lakeshore parking routinely fills first, and carry cash in case the tea house is limited.
How to hike Banff — Plain of Six Glaciers & Lake LouiseChoose Garibaldi Lake if…
Pick Garibaldi Lake if you want a full mountain day or a two-day trip and are comfortable with long, sustained climbing. Day hikers can stop at the lake, while stronger hikers can continue to Panorama Ridge, usually leaving at dawn. If you can secure a camping reservation well ahead, an overnight makes the ridge far more manageable.
How to hike Garibaldi Lake & Panorama RidgeWhat the two have in common
Both are out-and-back routes that start with a well-used approach and then climb into open mountain country. Each has a tea house or lake as a natural turnaround for most visitors, and each offers a longer option for stronger hikers. Both also sit in bear country or protected parks with rules to check first, and snow can linger on the higher trail into early summer.
How your choice changes what you pack
Plain of Six Glaciers is a half-day, so a small daypack with layers, water, food and bear spray is generally enough. Garibaldi Lake as a single push calls for a bigger daypack with extra water, food and warm and rain layers for a long day. If you camp, add shelter, sleeping and cooking gear, and remember the tea house on Plain of Six Glaciers should not be your food plan.
Common questions
Which hike is harder, Plain of Six Glaciers or Garibaldi Lake?
Garibaldi Lake with Panorama Ridge is harder. It is about 30 km (18.6 mi) round-trip with about 1,520 m (~4,990 ft) of gain and is rated strenuous as a single day, while Plain of Six Glaciers is 14.2 km (8.8 mi) and rated Moderate.
Which is better for first-timers?
Plain of Six Glaciers is the gentler choice. It is a shorter half-day outing rated Moderate, with a tea house near the end of the maintained climb. Garibaldi Lake is a long climb even to the lake, so beginners may prefer to start with Plain of Six Glaciers.
Do I need a permit for either hike?
Neither day hike needs a permit, but Banff requires a park entry pass and Lake Louise access is by Parks Canada transit or reservation. Overnight camping at Garibaldi needs a BC Parks reservation for a specific site and date. Check each authority before you go.
Can I do either one as an overnight?
Garibaldi Lake is commonly split into an overnight at the lake or Taylor Meadows campground, which makes it moderate, but it needs a reservation. Plain of Six Glaciers is usually done as a half-day, though strong hikers with a full day can combine it with the Lake Agnes trail.
Sources
- Parks Canada — parks.canada.ca: official information for Plain of Six Glaciers.
- BC Parks — bcparks.ca: official information for Garibaldi Lake.
Conditions, permits and access rules change without notice — confirm current information with each managing authority before you go. See our editorial policy.