Lake Lovely by Kevin Plumb (& Phoenix)
Squamish River to Lake Lovely
3-5 hours suggested - it can take longer then this-depending on your fitness level (this is a faster time).
Elevation gain-1165 m (3822 ft)
10 Km's rtn
Access to Alpha Mt., Mt Pelops, Mt Niobe and many more.
From the hut to Russian Army Camp
Goes the right side of the lake
You will be going up and along the lake shore for a bit. 1 hour from the hut is Lambda lake- long 1-2km
From Lambda you climbing steeply to a ridge of (1390 m-4560 ft)
From the ridge climb even steeper to Russian Army camp (1380 m-4528 ft) about 1 hour from Lambda Lake.
Firstly the hardest part is getting to the trail head. The cable car is all locked up because part of it is on Native Land and they do not like people going through their property. So it is in dispute with the government and the Natives. It's not going to get resolved anytime soon. You can risk parking close to it and bring a canoe with you. I suggest you lock and hide your canoe & paddles for your return trip. Hide all your valuables in your car as their have been some recent break-ins in the Squamish trail-head areas. Ways to get there, canoe, Jet Boat, Helicopter. There are few places that can take you to the trail head.
- Please Note: The dirt road access to the trail-head for Lake Lovely Water currently has land access issues. BC Parks does not recommend using this road at this time. Trail access to Lake Lovely Water is from the west side of the Squamish River.
I got taken there by Jay at Squamish jet boat. He dropped me off just past the cable car little bit further up the trail. Then later picked me up at the cable car and canoed me across and drove me back to my truck.
The trail is very well marked, with orange diamonds and orange flagging. There is also the old markers and they are silver. I found the trail easy to follow just have to keep your head up at certain parts. At the beginning steepness is ok but then quickly you start to climb steeply for a while. Then it levels for only a bit with a few long switch backs but then you get back at the steepness and start climb. This trail gives you no breaks. Along the trail you will come across 3-4 decent size waterfalls, just be careful as each one is slippery.
It took me 2 hours from the river to the hut but I was moving fast. It is suggested that it would be 3-7 hours to the hut depending on your hiking ability and how much weight is in your pack. I got dropped off at the same time as 4 other guys. I hiked to the hut and lake- then went to Russian Army Camp and came back and started to head down the trail and they were still coming up. We started at 11:15- I started top head down the trail at 4:45 and those 4 guys were still on the trail coming up as I past them going down.
There is multiple hikes you can do up there or just hang out by the lake. All the mountains have Greek names and then there is the Russian Army Camp. Kind of does not fit with the rest of the range. I was told that it was called that because it is so big it can fit the Russian army. It is a pretty big place.
You can see Garibaldi and the Black tusk when your heading up the trail.
I had reception and data from the Squamish River all the way up to the hut and then it gets spotty. There is a little reception by the hut and the heli pad.
This can be a very busy place.
There was lots of people/club members camping at the Russian Army Camp. They flew in Porta Johns and big large wedding type tents.
At Lake Lovely, I talked to a lot of nice people from other countries, to hiking club members- all round really awesome people. Excited about the hike, excited about being there. Got to see helicopters, float planes, and a pilot doing aerobatics in the air with his plane while I was there.
The lake and surrounding mountains are absolutely stunning, been on my bucket list for the longest time. All in all everything went smoothly.
All photos: Kevin Plumb
"I got Phoenix 3 years ago coming up in November, I took him on his first hike the first week I got him and never looked back. He smiles a lot in general everywhere but when we're on hikes it just gets bigger. I always been a go, go person. Phoenix is able to keep up with me but some days it is me trying to keep up with him. Always been a real active person and hiking, it's just fun. My favorite thing is to read is trip reports, I find them very interesting. I usually have a real good sense of direction wherever I go." Kevin Plumb