Watersprite Lake – Prettiest Hike In Squamish, BC

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Hands down one of the best and most visually impressive places I’ve ever camped is the namesake lake of this Squamish backcountry hike – Watersprite Lake. As magical and captivating as the name suggests, this is one hike that needs to be done if you’re visiting British Columbia.

The sometimes challenging hike is not to be undertaken lightly despite the heavenly reward. Getting to the trailhead is half the battle in itself. However, all that will be forgotten when you lay eyes on the captivating delight that is Watersprite Lake.

Where is Watersprite Lake

Watersprite Lake is just outside of the town of Squamish, Canada, about an hour from downtown Vancouver. The road to the trail is off Northbound Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway.

This previously hidden gem has become a lot more popular in the last few years – one look at this lake and it’s not hard to see why. Not only is the lake itself stunning but there are tons of views along the way. Mount Garibaldi and Mount Mamquam are just a couple of the epic peaks to be seen on this trail.

Many people keep going towards Whistler for outdoor activities, but Squamish is a place that shouldn’t be missed. As well as this beautiful trail, there’s also the epic Stawamus Chief hike in the same area.

How long should I allow?

The trail can be done in one day but it’s a long one. 19 km out and back (11.8 miles) makes for a full day of walking and honestly not enough time at such an extraordinary lake. Most people do the hike in 3-4 hours each way. That said, there are a number of boulder fields and a steep push at the end that could slow you down.

We took longer to get there as it was raining and some of the trail, and boulders, were slippery. I’m therefore happy that I didn’t attempt this in a day and instead planned to stay at Watersprite Lake. Many people stay for one night, I however chose to spend two with a nice full day of relaxation at the lake. This was the perfect amount of time.

Top Tip: Watersprite Lake campground used to be first come first served however as of 2022 there is a reservation system for the summer months. Yes, even for a tent site on the recreation camping area. If you can visit mid-week you’ll have a better chance of availability, otherwise plan early. Tent sites are $20.

Getting to the trailhead

As the crow flies the trailhead doesn’t look too far, but the road to get there is not easy. With little cell service on the road, I’d suggest downloading the route map in advance. We lost signal and ended up going too far before having to backtrack to find the turnoff.

From Highway 99, before Squamish, turn onto Mamquam River Forest Service Road and continue for about 13km. You’ll go over two bridges crossing the Mamquam river. After the second one look out for a road to the left with some large signs. This is the Skookum Dam service road that you need to take.

Along the Skookum Dam service road is where the road gets really rough. Take it nice and slow and plan your route carefully as you go. At one point there’s an option of a higher road and a lower one. On the way there we took the lower road, on the way back we took the higher road. Both are difficult but the higher road was a little better.

Eventually you will reach the parking area and trail head when you see the outhouse and gate stopping you from going further. Now you can begin the hike.

The right vehicle for the trail

I cannot stress this enough: you need a good vehicle with high clearance to access this trail. After attempting this in a Subaru Impreza which was a little too low to the ground, I can tell you we won’t be trying it again in that car.

We bottomed out on that car a little too often – the all wheel drive was maybe the only saving grace. There are some steep climbs along the way, and some big rocks and dips to go over. A truck or SUV with high clearance is essential. Your friendly neighborhood Honda Civic will likely not make it here in one piece.

What you’ll need for this hike

I completed the hike in summer, at the end of August. With the weather as temperamental as always in BC, it rained most of the way there. So always pack waterproof gear, a dry bag to keep your clothing from getting wet, and some thicker clothing for the evenings as well as the hiking essentials.

If you are visiting June-September there may also be a fire ban in effect, so don’t rely on having a campfire. For overnight stays at Watersprite Lake here are some camping essentials you may find useful.

Handy Info: Watersprite Lake campsite has an outhouse toilet. While nothing pretty, it is better than your usual camping bathroom options. There are also a number of large metal bear cache bins to put any food items in overnight. Bears are in the area so do not leave food in your tent at night. Check out these other bear safety tips.

Hiking to Watersprite Lake

You made it to the trailhead over possibly the worst road ever, now the real fun begins! The hike to Watersprite Lake begins with a gradual ascent through a forested trail. Raised wooden platforms help you navigate the often marshy area underfoot. The forest soon gives way to more exciting vistas of the valleys below and the high mountains all around.

The first half of the hike is pretty easy going, although you might have to occasionally fight your way though tall plants and overgrown bushes. There’s a sign about halfway reminding you to be prepared and that from this point on it’ll likely get cooler with the elevation change. A good place to rest and refuel.

The pretty wildflowers dotted all around make the walk even nicer, that is until you get to the first boulder field. That’s right, I said “first”, meaning there is more than one! Take it slow and you’ll be fine. Test rocks underfoot before putting your weight on them – especially with the added instability of a large backpack.

Watch out (and listen out) for the cute little pikas who seem to laugh at your climbing skills as they effortlessly dart from rock to rock. The second boulder field involves a bit more scrambling as some of the boulders are larger.

After a little more bushwhacking you’ll reach the final ascent to the lake with lots of tree roots to navigate during the almost vertical trail. It can get quite muddy so hold on as you climb.

Reaching Watersprite Lake

After the final slog the trail flattens out as you approach the lake. The first thing you’ll see is the 10-person Watersprite cabin perched atop a rocky area above the trail. The BC Mountaineering Club cabin is bookable for groups wanting somewhere indoors to stay. Availability is a limited in the summer so book early if you want to stay here.

Unless you’ve booked in here, keep going until you start to see the faint glimmer of Watersprite Lake coming into view. After the arduous journey, this is a welcome sight, and no matter whether it’s raining or brilliantly sunny, this ethereal lake is perfection. There aren’t many lakes I’ve seen which have more shades of blue and turquoise than Watersprite Lake.

If this is a day hike for you, this might be the best place to stop. Take a wander down to the waters edge and stare down through the crystal clear lake while marveling the impressive backdrop.

Camping at Watersprite Lake

If, like me, your plan is to stay at this wonderous location for more than a quick dip and a couple of photos, there is an additional challenge before you reach your final destination. You see, the campground is on the other side of the lake. Which means to get to it you have to climb over surprise boulder field number three!

As you approach Watersprite Lake the trail to the campsite veers off to the right, up and over the boulders which form a loose path to the meadow-like area on the other side. Unfortunately this will likely add a further 30 minute to your hike time.

Once you’ve traversed what you can only hope is the last boulder field you’ll see in a long time, find a spot to set up your tent at your reserved spot. Camping right next to the lake is not allowed (there are signs for the campsite boundary).

Spending a day at Watersprite Lake

The best part of camping at Watersprite Lake for me was waking up next to the lake. The constant rain of our hike had been replaced by an early morning sunrise and a cloudless sky. Although chillier than many other camping locations due to the elevation, you can’t find many better spots.

Plan for a couple of nights here, and a completely free day relaxing. Swimming in the lake is just one fun activity – we also saw people who brought lightweight inflatable kayaks or paddleboards.

I was perfectly content laying on one of the large boulders by the lakeshore reading my book in the late summer sun. Peaceful doesn’t begin to describe Watersprite Lake, and if ever there was a place you’d want to unwind for a day, this is it.

If you’re getting restless, hike up one of the surrounding peaks for some even better views. We chose one of the easier and shorter scrambles where we could look down on the lake. But you can go further in a couple other directions if you want. Just be careful as it’s steep and there are a lot of loose rocks and earth.

Is Watersprite Lake worth the effort?

A thousand times yes! There aren’t many hikes I’ve done that have had such an unbelievable reward as Watersprite Lake. And so close to Vancouver. The trail is long and there were more obstacles than I was anticipating, but it was worth the hike.

Seeing the phenomenally serene lake up close and spending a couple days camping here was amazing. If you are prepared you shouldn’t have any issues hiking this trail. Don’t rush when you might be tempted to, and don’t worry if it takes you longer to reach the lake.

Since we were camping there for a couple of nights we probably also packed more than we usually would for a hike like this. But let me tell you, carrying in the 6-pack of beer to enjoy with that view is not something I would change.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you hiked Watersprite Lake before? How many nights would you want to stay here?