Taylor Meadows

Taylor Meadows is technically in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler, not Squamish, but you’ll drive up from the Sea to Sky and start at the Rubble Creek trailhead. The Taylor Meadows trail is a 13.8 km out-and-back with about 925 m of gain to around 1505 m, rated challenging and usually taking around 5.5 to 6 hours. It’s a grind, but once you break out of the forest into the open meadows, the payoff hits fast with big views toward Black Tusk and the surrounding peaks.

The hike itself is mostly shaded switchbacks through dense forest for the first 7–8 km, a steady, never-ending incline that can feel monotonous when you’re tired or carrying an overnight pack. Barrier Viewpoint is the only real lookout on the way up, then the terrain opens into Taylor Meadows with creeks, boardwalks, and that classic alpine feel, plus side trips to Garibaldi Lake, Black Tusk, or Panorama Ridge if you’ve got more in the tank. The trail is well marked, not technical, and the campground has outhouses, shelters, bear hangs, and tent pads, making Taylor Meadows one of the best basecamps in Garibaldi.

Recent hikers report the trail in great shape, snow-free by mid-July most years, but early season (June) can still mean buried tent pads, patchy snow, and the occasional need for spikes past the Garibaldi Lake junction. Expect a long, consistent climb, lots of energy burn, and very aggressive mosquitoes in summer, so bring strong bug spray, a head net, and your own toilet paper. Start early as the Rubble Creek parking lot fills by around 8 a.m., storms can build quickly in the alpine, and black bears are occasionally seen in Taylor Meadows, usually minding their own business and eating berries—give them space and stick to the boardwalks to protect the fragile terrain.