Field Sessions: Echo Lake
Echo Lake is one of those BC gems that pops up in a viral video, racks up millions of views, and somehow nobody knows exactly where it is.
It had been on our list for a few years, ever since one of those videos put it on our radar. Carved granite, waterfalls, cliff jumping, a hike steep enough to hurt in the best way, and an alpine lake at the top that makes all of it worth it. It had a hold on us.
Last month the chance to hike it with friends came up, and we jumped on it. Karen and Jess are both climbers, always looking for an excuse to get into the backcountry. None of us actually live in Squamish, but all of us call it our backyard.
The day started by inflating a portable canoe and loading the three of us and all our gear into it to cross the Squamish River. Most day hikers paddleboard it instead. Standing on top of the water, the current is manageable. A canoe loaded down with people and gear sits low, and the current will pull you downstream faster than you'd expect. If you’re packing gear it’s worth dropping in further upstream than the day hikers do.
On the other side, you're at the mouth of a smaller river fed by the waterfalls and the lake above. From there you pick your way through a wide riverbed, mostly dried up this time of year, until you find the actual trailhead. It's easy to lose your bearings in this section. Just river rock and sparse trees in every direction. A few trail markers, if you're watching for them, will get you across.
Back in the trees is where the real hike starts. Steep and technical, but rewarding the whole way. It's well marked from here, a tight single track that's hard to lose. The first 600m of elevation are the best part, winding past a dozen waterfalls with plenty of chances to jump in and cool off. Best to start early. The sun leaves the river by early afternoon, and there's nothing better than a cold swim followed by drying off on a sun-warmed rock.
Technical means exactly that in parts. Rock ledges inches wide with a real consequence if you fall. A few sections where you're pulling yourself up by chain, which is actually a welcome change from having your legs do all the work.
Around 900m the trail flattens out as Echo Lake comes into view, and it's the kind of spot that makes you stop talking for a second. The water is cold and clear enough to see straight to the bottom. On our night there the air was perfectly still, just the occasional bird call and the sound of water settling after the climb. We sat with our feet in it for longer than we probably needed to. There’s only a few flat spots to pitch a tent. We were lucky enough to be there on a Monday with the place to ourselves.
This one's a must-do if you're fit. Fast hikers can be at the top in about two hours. If you want to actually play in the river and the falls on the way up, give yourself four. Coming down takes about an hour and a half, so the whole thing can be done in a day. But an overnight is the move. Take your time, swim more at the top, fall asleep under the stars.
