Tricouni Ridge

Tricouni Ridge sits north of Squamish, up a long and rough forest service road that already filters out most casual hikers. The full out-and-back route is about 28 km with over 2100 m of gain, topping out around 2056 m, so it’s a serious objective even before you leave the truck. This one is solidly in the “extreme” category and feels like a full-day or overnight mission, not a quick outing.

Once you’re actually on the Tricouni Ridge trail, the scenery earns its reputation. The route winds past creeks, forest, meadows, and a chain of lakes, including Reflection Lake, with options to camp along the way if you’re backpacking. Past the main lakes, the terrain steepens, with boulder fields and some scrambling and route-finding toward the ridge and summit area, where views stretch over the Tricouni area and into Garibaldi country.

Right now, the main story is access and lingering snow. The forest service road to the Tricouni Ridge trailhead is in rough shape with a massive sinkhole; recent hikers report that even SUVs like a RAV4 are getting stuck, so a high-clearance 4WD pickup is basically mandatory, and walking the road in is long, steep, loose, and not recommended. On trail, expect mud and snow still hanging on near the summit, making the upper slopes tricky and forcing some parties to turn around at the first lake. Aim for a solid summer window from July to September, start early, bring poles and microspikes if snow remains, and be honest about your comfort with long days, rough roads, and off-route travel.