Comments

Mar from Burnaby writes:

We hiked this trail Jul 2024, and loved it. Parking at Murrin was full, as it was a hot sunny day, so we drove 1.6km further north to another lookout point and walked back to the trailhead along the west side of the highway.

The trail was varied and interesting throughout - rock scramble, mossy forest, inclines and declines, small forest road, it had a great cadence. Someone has even taken the time to make big arrows out of rocks to help with directions at junctions.

The temp of lake was surprisingly mild - we were delighted! We went for a swim at the top, and wish we would have packed our lunches and spent more time up there.

Total moving time for our group was 4hr return trip.

Posted: July 21, 2024 07:42:57 AM PST

Lisa Duncan from Squamish writes:

Hiked to Petgill lake today with my 8 year old daughter.
A fair but of snow and ice on trail starting around 300 m elevation mark. But easily passable in our hiking runners.

Just a friendly note re: parking: it's not called Murrin lake...it's Murrin Park and the lake there is Browning.
Happy hiking

Posted: November 14, 2022 05:59:38 PM PST

Caroline Chao from North Vancouver writes:

We did this hike June 18, 2021. We had an "exciting" start to the hike. I had remembered reading here the trailhead was 100 m north after crossing the highway. At 100 m, we saw some flagging tape on the trees leading up the bank but the trail was pretty sparse. We decided to go for it only to find ourselves scrambling up a SUPER STEEP slope. Once we got to an open area, the trail ran out. We got our GPS out and determined we were NOT on the trail so we returned to the highway. The trailhead is in fact 200 m north, not 100 m. There is a WOODEN SIGN to mark the trailhead.

The actual trail was up and down and up and down. There were places where I had to use my hands to scramble but nothing too crazy - not like our false start!

Posted: August 16, 2021 11:52:37 AM PST

Zen from Vancouver writes:

GREAT little lake is your reward for this hike. Only saw 2 groups of 2 hikers on their way up while I was returning.

4.5hr hike round trip with a couple short breaks on the way up. A few nice lookouts of Howe Sound & The Chief.
Definitely NOT your classic "all uphill" and 'all downhill'. A few rocky areas to hike through that you need to use your handholds.
The mantra on this hike is too KEEP RIGHT (especially at the fork in attached pic). Until you get to a 'TRAIL' sign on the left (a few kms later). Otherwise just follow the orange trail markers.
.... Hike Safe & Enjoy.

Posted: August 11, 2021 05:39:40 PM PST

Tomasz from Coquitlam writes:

HELP! Today, on Father's Day I lost my beloved Tilley hat on this trail. I think it might have slipped off the log on which we rested with my daughter on our way down.
If you find it, please call the number written on my business card placed in the secret pocket inside the hat.

And the trail? Ah, one of my favourite ones!

Posted: June 21, 2020 09:25:01 PM PST

Tomas from Vancouver writes:

Nice uphill hike, totally worth it!

Posted: May 19, 2020 01:46:38 PM PST

Nuria from Vancouver writes:

Well marked trail. Scrambing at the beggining which I liked a lot. It was tougher than I expected. Started at 9.50am and not meet anyone in the way to the lake. Worthy to hike to the lookout as its only a few minutes from the lake. By the time we were back was 2.45pm. It took us 5 hours at a stedy pace(including 30min lunch break). Bring your swimsut. I didnt and regreted. It would have been a good idea to cool off in ghe lake having a swim. Its v peaceful and quiet hike, not crowded at all.We met a group in the lake, and 4 small groups in the way back. I enjoyed a lot but I wouldnt do it again.

Posted: August 5, 2019 02:32:23 PM PST

Hamid Trevor from North Vancouver writes:

It was not an easy hiking, room to mistake for right trails, to long, uphill downhill uphill downhill
We hiked on October 2018.

Posted: May 9, 2019 08:59:49 AM PST

Ron from Vancouver writes:

What a lovely hike! So much variation and change of scenery throughout the hike. The views are unique (not the same as The Chief or Tunnel Bluff). A very quiet trail which is well-marked and has lots of ups and down going (and on the return trip).

It took us 4.5 hours round trip and that included a break at the viewpoint, and a hike around Petgill Lake.

Posted: September 20, 2018 07:16:26 AM PST

Krisanna from Surrey writes:

This was a great hike. It was quiet and beautiful. We missed the turn off for the view point and ended up on the trail to shannon falls instead. Make sure to keep an eye out for the little red arrow that points to the view point trail! This hike was on the hard side of intermediate for sure, I would suggest poles if you have them. The lake has a very muddy bottom so we didn't go in, even though we had wanted to. Still a great place to check out, a challenging but fun hike with lots of great views.

Posted: August 19, 2018 11:03:57 AM PST

Nick D. from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike today and it was really nice. I have no sense of orientation and am cautious as I hike alone, so I don't want to find myself lost. That said, from the comments, there have been a few points of confusion that I'll try to clarify so you can enjoy it too! First is finding the trail entrance. From the parking lot where you cross the highway by the flashing light, you'll go left (to the north) about 200 to 250 paces. Look for Picture 1 below, as the small washed out sign for the trial is directly before a road sign that notes a passing lane for 23km. You can't miss it this way!

The second prominent issue of confusion is the logging road. Once you hit the gravel logging road GO RIGHT. You'll go uphill on the logging road, which you will follow until you hit a fork in the road, at which point you will GO RIGHT. This gravel road narrows to a path, and there will be a very large logging road that dovetails into your path from the left - just ignore that and keep going STRAIGHT until you see the the big stack of old logs in Picture 2 below! You can see in the picture that there is an arrow on the ground directing you to GO LEFT back into the forrest. There are also several trail tape markers to show that entry back into the woods. There were also other arrows at the beginning of the logging road, at the fork, and other spots, but if you follow the above you'll be just fine.

Other than those tricky areas, the trails within the forrest are marked reasonably to at least fairly well. For the most part, you can see where the trail is in the woods, but where there is ambiguity, just keep looking for the orange squares on trees and periodic trail tape. Look in front of you and behind you for those orange squares and you'll be okay.

Of note - I did see a small bear, which was spooked by me and ran (away from me) up the hill. So be appropriately cautious/prepared for bears.

Last note - If you decide you are going to hike around Petgill Lake, be aware that before you reach it, there will be a small path that splits off to the right where there are orange circles (very sparsely placed) on trees to mark "Goat Ridge." That will NOT take you around the lake. I started it and hadn't a clue where it went, so turned back. You can find a path around the lake by hugging the shore; however, be aware the trail is small, partially overgrown, and involves walking along a narrow precarious ridge for a short point. The trail is easy enough to find by following close to the lake but some might not care for the brush against their legs or the mild bugginess there. Otherwise, you can go down to the lake off the main trail and you'll see a small dock with some loose boards where you could go for a dip if you're so inclined. Hopefully, this helps to clarify the tricky points in making this trail accessible.

Posted: May 26, 2018 08:04:23 PM PST

Jana from Vancouver writes:

We hiked this trail today and it was lovely - no snow, easy to follow (markers a little sparse on the way back down). The lake is alright, but the viewpoint alone is worth the hike! Took us 1h45 up starting at 9:30am, and 1h30 on the way back down. Agree with the intermediate rating except for the first 15 mins where you’re literally on all fours pulling yourself up a rock face. A fun trail!!

Posted: May 21, 2018 01:38:05 PM PST

Maria from Surrey writes:

Hello , just a question, is the lake swimmable? thanks

Posted: October 30, 2017 08:06:34 PM PST

Jeff from Squamish writes:

A decent hike. Although I think its a bit longer than the 11.5km stated. My GPS (MapMyHike) showed closer to 18k. But that also included going to the lookout point.

Best part about this hike is that on a Sunday, it was empty! We maybe saw 6-8 people. Much more enjoyable than fighting the tour bus like crowds at Garabaldi or Joffre lakes.

The lake itself was nothing spectacular. Not a whole lot different from other more accessible lakes in the area such as Cat lake. But a great place to cool off with no people. The lookout point just past the lake provides a great view of Howe sound. Similar to that of the Chief, but higher and further back.

Overall, quite enjoyable.

Posted: August 28, 2017 02:31:16 PM PST

Vanhiker from Van writes:

Did this hike yesterday. It was pleasant to experience a trail with absolutely no bugs. Even though the trail is slightly intense, it's very enjoyable with a mix of switchbacks, gravel road and overgrown sections. The trail for the first 10 min is fun! We only met with 2 other hiking groups, which is rare on other trails during August. The lake is very nice and swimming there was very refreshing! The water is not that cold.
Viewpoint beyond the lake is really amazing.
We did not have any difficulty following up the trails since, there are clear signs in the form of arrows on the ground that are made up of rocks and sticks. If one can follow those, it's hard to get lost.
We took 7 hrs in total including swimming for an hour at the lake and lunch for an hour at the viewpoint beyond the lake.

Posted: August 21, 2017 01:51:29 AM PST

Ange from Vancouver writes:

Nice Beautiful hike... if you can find the right path!
I read the trial description and all the comments carefully but still went to the wrong way. The arrows on the road shown in the other comments were NOT THERE. Maybe it's been destroyed by weather or other people we don't know, but we could only rely on the orange markers/ribbons however, they were present BOTH on the right way and wrong way! We got lost at the old logging road and at one of the fork there were orange markers on both sides. We followed the left path with more orange markers and with another group of hikers who were also confused like we did. We finally realized we picked the wrong path when we pretty much read the end .. which was a dead end and realize the orange markers we've been following were old markers for the logging road and was not leading to the trail/lake. We didn't want to re-trace our foot steps (since it was at least 45min of wrong path already) so we followed the compass on our phone GPS to try to get back to the right trail. We ended up having to transverse unmarked territory/steep incline/random trees/branches to get back to the correct trail. Once we were back the hike was pretty straight forward and the view on top was indeed gorgeous (The lake was pretty average, overgrown and not much place to sit and enjoy). Overall, I would've marked this hike a 4 if not for the confusing directions and bad marking of the correct trail. I hope the trail markings will be fixed to make it less confusing or else it's a 50/50 chance of finding the right path.. good luck guys.

TLDR: when in doubt, pick the path to the right.

Posted: July 31, 2017 12:47:55 PM PST

Ron from Vancouver writes:

Great hike! Lots of variety on the trail.

Look for the "PETGILL LAKE" sign at the start. Some overgrown parts, so wear long pants and long sleeves to avoid ticks.

The logging road has directional arrows made of rocks & branches, which clearly show the direction to take. The trail in the forest has the orange markers and tape, just make sure to keep a close eye on them. I created a video (see below) to show what the directional arrows look like and the views from the top.

About 2 hours up and 2 hours down at a brisk pace.

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/lIiqLh-p-aU

Posted: June 23, 2017 10:23:27 PM PST

Eric Tsang from Richmond writes:

Haha yeah. I can tell that some people have been fooled by some of the comments here. The actual hike is very nice.

Crossing the highway was not bad. We crossed the highway where the flashing yellow traffic lights are. I could hear the cars before seeing them too which helped a lot. At most, we waited for around a minute to find an opportunity to rush to the other side of the highway.

Posted: June 22, 2017 10:42:04 PM PST

Silverhair from Maple ridge writes:

Thanks Eric for the heads up. I'm sure those ribbons have fooled a few people.
How did you find crossing the highway?

Posted: June 20, 2017 01:00:37 PM PST

Eric Tsang from Richmond writes:

I went yesterday. While looking for the trailhead, we saw some ribbons on the side of the road some 50 meters north of the parking lot and thought that was the trailhead...that IS NOT the trailhead. The real trailhead is further north. I took a picture of it.

We hiked until partway through the abandoned logging road. We didn't finish the hike since we wasted too much time in the wrong trail...

Overall, the hike was fun. The entrance to the hike was a bit overgrown.

Posted: June 11, 2017 09:42:31 AM PST

N from Vancouver writes:

Hiked this on May 28th, 2017 - almost completely snow free minus a patch or two at the top.

Just as other have suggested, you walk north along the highway until you see the wooden sign that says "Petgill Lake". It's quite old and hardly legible but if you're paying attention, you shouldn't miss it.

If I remember correctly, the first third up was forested trails - the first bit is a little overgrown but nothing to worry about.

The second third of the way up was along the logging road. Some of the other comments and myself included, got lost trying to find our way back into the forest. We took a wrong turn at one of the logging road intersections but luckily got back on track quickly because of another group of hikers. Unbeknownst to us, there were actually arrows that someone had built along the gravel with rocks and branches pointing us in the right direction. If you look out for these arrows at the intersections you shouldn't get lost like we did! The last third of the trail up to the lake is pretty straight forward.

Although I saw a few people swimming in the lake, I wasn't prepared to do so myself. I opted to hike another 10 min or so to the view point overlooking Howe Sound for lunch.

3 hours up, 1.5 hours down!

Amazing views, 100% would recommend!

Posted: June 1, 2017 02:53:54 PM PST

Scott from Vancouver writes:

The trail head can be a bit deceiving. I went in to the trees at the first orange flagging tape and there were enough markers that I figured it was the trail head. After hiking up a very steep section, I came across quite a bit of brush. I made my way north trough it behind the large rock face and got to the actual trail. If you're going up, make sure to walk north along the highway until you see the wooden sign for Petgil Lake and start there. The trail starts quite steep, and a bit overgrown, but clears out once you gain some elevation. The path isn't vey well worn in, so make sure you're keeping an eye out for that orange flagging tape and markers on the trees. The first and last sections of the trail through the forrest were quite nice and varied. There's a logging road part way in which was less than exciting to trek up, but you do get off it and back in to the forrest.
The lake was alright, but everything around it seems quite overgrown, and there isn't really a nice spot (at least that I found) to sit next to the water for lunch. The viewpoint about 5-10 min up from the lake looking over Howe Sound was gorgeous. I would highly recommend having lunch there instead.
Overall, it was a decent hike, but it doesn't sit very high up on my list of places to re-visit.

Posted: May 22, 2017 12:06:48 AM PST

Dave from Vancouver writes:

Was up here 2 weeks ago. I hesitate to rate the hike because I didn't complete it.

The trail at this time of year about 15 minutes in was almost non-existent. The majority of the time I was walking over small fallen trees that seem to have been recently chainsawed (photo #1). About 20-25 minutes in, the markers diverged. On the left they lead into the trees, alongside the face of the cliff - I explored this first. The path here lead to a foot-wide ledge on the side of the cliff, which was vegetated over, and came with decent exposure to a non-negligible fall (photo #2). I carefully made my way across, but upon reaching an obstacle half-way through that couldn't reasonably be stepped around, I thought better of it and turned around.

Returning to the fork, I explored the path the other marker lead - further into a sort of gully. This path didn't extend too too far, until it basically reached a dead end amongst a patch of recently cut trees.

Was still kind of fun to be honest, wading through such a rough trail, but kind of disappointing not being able to finish it. Spoke to a friend who had also been here on a previous occasion, and he also ran into similar difficulties, so at least it wasn't just me! Might give it a try again another time!

Posted: May 8, 2017 04:52:48 AM PST

Kelly from Vancouver writes:

Went up on Sunday April 2nd. Still quite a bit of snow by the lake and from where you turn off the logging road back into the forest. About midcalf-knee depth by the time you're close to the lake. Doable, just very slow going.

Posted: April 8, 2017 08:30:56 PM PST

matt from richmond bc writes:

trail cleared up until the logging road, could not complete due to massive amounts of waist-deep snow . will come back in summer

Posted: March 20, 2017 10:58:31 AM PST

Dani from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike on the weekend. Unbeatable view of Howe Sound. Had the trails to ourselves on the way up, and saw about 12 people on the way down. Took 5 hours total with lunch and a swim at the top. The trail is very well marked when you are in the forested sections. The logging road was trickier but just keep your eyes peeled for the large rock arrows that people have made on the logging road. Overall, a hidden gem of a hike.

Posted: September 12, 2016 09:35:51 AM PST

Shauna from Port Moody writes:

Does anyone know - are they still logging on the trail during the week? Or is it open for weekday hikes again?

Posted: August 2, 2016 07:38:30 PM PST

Kelsy from Vancouver writes:

Completed this hike over the long weekend. Easy to follow orange trail diamond markers. Once on logging road other hikers have made it fairly easy to follow road until getting back onto trail. Overall great hike and only saw 15 people, much quieter than the Chief and the view was fantastic!

Posted: August 2, 2016 02:22:18 PM PST

Nick from Nelson writes:

Regarding Dungi's confusion I believe Kevin's instruction to go right at each fork is misleading. I believe first there is a fork immediately upon entering the logging road, stay left, this should be fairly obvious. Four hundred or so meters on there is a four way intersection, proceed straight through. Almost a kilometer past that there is a fork, go right. Another kilometer past that the trail resumes into the woods on the left hand side. **All distances are total guestemations.

Posted: June 25, 2016 01:48:54 PM PST

Dungi from Coquitlam writes:

My friend and I did this hike last Sunday (June 19). I could say we are experienced hikers. The fact that We've done the Lions and Panorama Ridge could prove my claim. We try to go hiking every weekend as much as the weather permits. Yet, we struggled to find the lake of this trail. We followed the instruction provided in on the website, and we also sticked to our right as Kevin in the comment section suggested. THere were orange markers everywhere, which made it difficult to know which direction to follow. As we approached the logging road, we sticked to the right at all forks, but we just ended up walking on this logging road for about half an hour without being to find the way to back to the trail or the ridge as described here. We were two girls alone in the forest, and we saw some signs for bear trap, so we decided to turn around and give up. It was quite a disappointment. We sincerely hope whoever in charge of maintaining this hike could make it clearer for everyone to know which trail markers to follow. Some signs would be nice. Despite all of that, we still had a great time on this hike. I still highly recommend it, and hopefully you will have more luck than us in finding the right direction.

Posted: June 22, 2016 12:45:42 PM PST

JK from Vancouver writes:

We are two beginner hikers and we did this hike on June 17. It took us 6 hours total with a long lunch/photo break at the viewpoint past the lake. Fun trail, challenging in some sections but manageable as long as you take your time. We also found Kevin's comments very helpful so, thank you! Great alternative to the Chief.. would definitely do again!

Posted: June 17, 2016 10:23:12 PM PST

Larissa from Burnaby writes:

Hiked this on June 12, 2016.

If you come across some blue ropes I n the first 500m of the trail, you're on the wrong one.

We accidentally missed the trail markers (and so did a few other hikers, it seems) that send you up into the forest and ended up linking up with another trail.

When we backtracked, we were lucky enough to run into a kind hiker who pointed us in the right direction and actually drew arrows in the dirt for us along the logging road because it gets a little tricky. The logging operation uses orange tags and spray paint to mark their trees, which is really unfortunate.

Overall it was a fun hike!

Posted: June 13, 2016 10:40:51 AM PST

Rob from Squamish writes:

There is currently NO connector trail to the Sea to Sky Gondola even though it is clearly marked on the Sea to sky Gondola trail app.Also the trail from petgill to Shannon falls is marked but clearly lost to mother nature.

Posted: June 6, 2016 08:16:31 PM PST

M from Coquitlam writes:

Hiked this trail yesterday (May 19th, 2016).

We are two beginner hikers so it was a challenging trail and we went slow, but the rock scrambles at the beginning were nothing we couldn't handle. If you are a beginner hiker this trail isn't anything you too hard, but the ups and downs through the ravines will be difficult! Allot yourself some extra time and take it slow.

Overall, it was a beautiful hike. The terrain was really fun to climb, and the scenery in the forest was gorgeous. The logging trail was long, and fairly uninteresting. Definitely the least enjoyable section of the hike. But before and after it is lovely.

The comments posted by Kevin were very helpful for this year! We were hiking on an overcast day and there were a ton of bugs, so make sure you bring bug spray.

The hike up to the viewpoint from the lake is like doing another ravine, it only took me a couple of minutes to scramble up though and is worth it even on a cloudier day.

Posted: May 19, 2016 11:16:01 AM PST

Kevin from Vancouver writes:

Hiked up to Petgill Lake today (May 6, 2016), it was a great hike! Here are some helpful pointers:

-Park at Murrin Lake Parking Lot (gates open at 7am, close at dusk)

-Cross the Highway and proceed towards Squamish about 100 meters until you see the wooden sign for Petgill Lake. The trail is overgrown but you can EASILY walk through this section.

-There is substantial elevation gain in the first 10-15 minutes of the hike, a few rock scrambles that most novice hikers could manage.

-FOLLOW THE ORANGE TREE MARKERS and ORANGE FLAGGING TAPE - this will be your saving grace when in the forest.

-The trail is very easy to follow until the logging road where things get a bit more confusing. Pretty much continue up the logging road for 30-40 minutes and stay RIGHT at all the forks in the road, a kind hiker made rock arrows which helped us. After ascending the logging road you will see a trail that leads off into the forest and just beyond this trail is a giant stack of felled logs that the loggers left behind. This is your best landmark if there are no arrows to guide you to the trail. Remember keep RIGHT on the logging road.

-Continue to follow the orange tree markers over several ravines, you will also pass over an exposed rock surface and down a steep trail into another ravine before making your way up to Petgill Lake (about 10-20 minutes from exposed rock face)

-You will start to see metal signs for Petgill Lake mounted on trees and from here its very straightforward.

-Definitely go up to the lookout, there is a trail past the rocky outcropping that looks over the lake. When you reach the lookout you will see magnificent views of Howe Sound, arguably better than the chief!

We (relatively fit 25-30 year olds) completed the hike in around 4 hours round trip with a half hour break.

Tips and Tricks:
-It says no camping but there were remnants of a fire and tent site when we got to the lake... use good judgement.
-There is a small dock by the lake that you can swim off, beware as it is very unstable in places, again use good judgement.
-Bring bug spray as there are lots of bugs around the standing water.
-There are ample amounts of streams to refill water bottles.
-Excellent hike for avid early season hikers.

Posted: May 6, 2016 09:18:41 PM PST

A, from Vancouver writes:

This was a beautiful hike with varied and interesting terrain along the way. The forested section was a little disappointing to see but at the same time it makes you think. The lake and views were not as “spectacular” as other hikes in the area but still well worth the trip.

I found the estimated time to be quite conservative. I finished in 4hrs (including a short break for lunch) at a slow to medium, but continuous pace.

The logging road is now deactivated and hiking during the week is acceptable.

A few comments/updates to add:

1) The trail head begins around 200m (not 100m) from the Murrin Park intersection. It is now fairly overgrown but the wooden sign still exists and is visible once you enter the trail. The first part of the trail is narrow and overgrown but it is clearly marked and relatively easy to follow.

There is another trail-head around 50m-75m from the intersection which quickly takes you to a near vertical ascent up jagged rocks covered in loose dirt and dead-fall. There is a myriad of trail markers and no well-defined path. If you find yourself in this area, you have turned off the road too soon!

2) The logging road section can be a little confusing. It is now deactivated and torn up along one side, leaving about a 4’ wide section for hiking. There are several junctions along the way but in general the turnoffs will quickly enter clear cut forested areas. You need to stay away from these and continue along the continuous path up the mountain.

3) The logging road contains about 8-10 water crossings. Some easily identifiable as creeks, some identifiable as ditches but others it’s unclear. Looking for the “two creeks” as described is no longer helpful.

4) The re-entrance of the trail forms a clear "T" intersection with the logging road. No “veering” as described. The logging road continues past this point but the trail re-entrance is well marked with 4-5 ribbons and is hard to miss.

Once you are back on the trail the rest of the route is clearly marked and easy to follow.

Posted: September 11, 2015 11:05:25 PM PST

Vee from Surrey writes:

Pre and post logging road, this was one of the prettiest hikes I've been on. Charming lake and big view at the top. The instructions were accurate. Follow the orange trail markers and bring a watch so that you know when the top part of the trail off the logging road should be coming up. My dog (large, fit, and experienced on trails) had no trouble with the scrambly bits. The hike, with a short break for lunch, took us 4 hours.

Posted: July 12, 2015 09:39:36 PM PST

gordon from Vancouver writes:

Hello all

A group of 4 recently did this hike. Ages 17 to 56, on June 14/2015

After finding the entrance on the other side of the highway across from Murrin Prov Park it is about 35 to 40 minutes to the first viewpoint. If you plan to stop there,(very nice view) you can go anytime of the week as you are not passing into the logging area.

From this viewpoint, about 5 minutes until u see the logging road. Once on the logging road keep to the right and walk for about 35 minutes,(passing first aid , or a big blue cross symbol).

From the road, you will make a left, thru the woods when u see a sign similar to the one that you saw when entering the trail from the hwy.

The sign does not say Petgill or anything about the continuation of the trail. From here, it took me 1hr and 7 minutes to reach Petgill Lake. Myself being 56 yrs and the slowest in the group. If you are young and in shape , I am sure 45 minutes would do it.

From there, about 10 minutes to a very beautiful viewpoint , a bit of wind and fresh air. Trail is well marked, and easy to find viewpoint.

The 17yr old breezed up and down the mountain, and I ended up doing a very slow return with sore knees for 2 days.

Bring enough water, and your lunch and enjoy the hike.

Cheers

Posted: June 17, 2015 12:52:25 AM PST

Kabir from Surrey writes:

did this hike recently, May23,2015.
a good one, very doable, not for beginners though, some stretches on the first section are narrow. the lake itself and the viewpoint, very satisfying end points

Posted: May 25, 2015 05:58:49 PM PST

Brian from Surrey writes:

Beautiful hike! This is one gorgeous trail. Don't let the first section discourage you as you climb up over the highway - it's overgrown, narrow, ugly, and tough-going, with some scrambling over rocks and rocky ridges. It gets so much better in a short while.

Regarding the logging, you do walk down an active logging road for a good distance (definitely longer than I was expecting) in the middle of the route. Hence the fact that you can't hike it on a weekday. But you only catch one small glimpse of a logged area, so don't think you're hiking through clear-cut or anything. Take note of the comments below about navigating from trail to logging road back to trail. The only caveat I would add is that there are now several junctions and T's in the road. Keep looking for a sign on the left that says TRAIL CLOSED Mon - Fri. Actually, someone cut the word "CLOSED" out of the sign. It's not easy to miss if you're looking for it.

The trail section beyond the logging road is just so beautiful in the lush forested area, with large rock walls, etc. The lake is nice, but do continue on to the viewpoint beyond for a great view of Howe Sound.

It's also a nice quiet trail - we saw 4 other parties in total throughout the day. Everyone else must have been on the Chief.

Posted: May 16, 2015 10:10:42 PM PST

Karine P. from Vancouver, BC writes:

Did this hike today: Great hike, lots of variable terrain, which kept things interesting. The only MAJOR downer about this one is the staggering amount of logging being done in the area... it's pretty upsetting (hence the 3-star rating).

Good trail conditions, some mud, but overall a pleasant, quiet hike with a nice viewpoint! (The lake is nice, but seriously recommend pushing on a bit further to the view points.

ALSO: recommend using D.'s comments on getting to the actual trail; this could very possibly confusing ...

Posted: April 19, 2015 06:44:36 PM PST

H from Vancouver writes:

Miss the sign at the left side of the active muddy logging road, so go too far along the logging road. For future hikers, keep in mind that sign is just about 10 minutes walk from the T intersection. The sign shows "no trail", but it is the true entrance from the logging road to petgill lake.

Posted: February 28, 2015 07:36:00 PM PST

Kat B. from Vancouver writes:

Just got back (Feb 22) and this was such a rewarding hike. We completed it in 5.5 hours. All the viewpoints were beautiful but the view at the peak is just stunning. Worth the exhausting hike up. We followed D.'s comments and easily found the trail again after walking for a while on the logging road. Definitely not a hike for beginners - there are some pretty tough scrambles at points.

Posted: February 22, 2015 04:27:24 PM PST

Sonja from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike today, 5-Oct-2014. Agree completely with Eva from Richmond; this is a beautiful hike with very little traffic, and a gorgeous view (we spent an hour at the "viewpoint" which was IMO nicer than the actual lake).

That said, the logging road is still active and the user comment from "D. from Vancouver" was really helpful for navigating this stretch. The logging road is also extremely muddy, so wear hiking shoes if you can.

Posted: October 5, 2014 10:11:02 PM PST

Eva from Richmond writes:

Did this hike yesterday Sept 29, 2014. A really beautiful and peaceful hike into nature. Not too many people around; we passed a total of 6 hikers in the 5 hr timeframe we were there. Apart from the stretch of about 2 km of logging road I absolutely loved this hike. The trail has a good variation of uphills and downhills.
Looks like the logging road will be active till Oct 2014. User comment from "D. from Vancouver" is very helpful to stay on track while on this stretch.

Posted: September 29, 2014 04:40:27 PM PST

Gary Carter from Vancouver writes:

I hiked this trail yesterday, Sunday, 17 Aug 2014. The trail is now broken with a section of new logging road. Exit the first section of the trail at the start of the new logging area. Watch for the signs on your left. Descend down to the road past the large Trail Closed Week day sign. Follow the road to your right, stay on the main logging road for 1.5 km. As the road nears the crest of the final hill, you will see yellow caution tape and another large trail closed week days sign.

Posted: August 18, 2014 08:19:28 AM PST

Christine from Vancouver writes:

@ A - as others have posted, the trails are closed during the work week due to the active logging roads.

Posted: August 7, 2014 11:17:48 AM PST

Ken from Vancouver writes:

This used to be a wonderful, peaceful hike. I have hiked this trail occasionally over 20+ years. It used to be such a beautiful , not strenuous hike. Now they are ACTIVE logging & the DESTRUCTION is really SAD!! The beginning of the trail and the end (Lake) are nice.

Posted: August 6, 2014 05:45:57 PM PST

A from White Rock writes:

Does anyone know why The Petgill lake hike trail is closed from Monday to Friday? We were there today and did not want to risk hiking.

Posted: June 26, 2014 04:20:49 PM PST

michelle from vancouver writes:

Thanks D for the update on the trail! We hiked this yesterday and your instructions about the logging roads were super helpful! What a great hike/lake!

Posted: June 22, 2014 10:08:50 AM PST

Doug from Point Roberts writes:

This trail is absolutely stunning. We did it June 14th and it took us 4 hours, with hefty lounging time at the two viewpoints and getting in the lake briefly. It is odd how warm the water is already. I wish I had read D's review before going up as the logging roads caused a bit of a headache, though it is very clearly posted where you dip back into the woods once you get there.

Posted: June 16, 2014 09:25:03 AM PST

D. from Vancouver writes:

We did this hike the weekend of June 14th, there is a massive amount of active logging going on in the area and I think the road layout is changing by the day.
Just to clarify some of the previous comments:

1) when you get to the logging road turn right to follow the road heading up hill.

2) You will reach a 4 way junction - head straight through

3) Continue until you see the first aid sign, take a right at this T-junction

4) On the left you will find the entrance back to the trail it is currently marked with the same "warning this trail is closed M-F" sign as you find at the trailhead by the highway.

Posted: June 14, 2014 07:00:18 PM PST

Kate from Vancouver writes:

We did this hike on June 8 2014. Note that you can't do this hike Monday-Friday right now because the logging roads are active then and so the roads are closed to hikers.

We got a little bit lost because there is a new logging road that has been recently created. When you get to the first aid sign, you will now be at a T junction in the logging roads. Turn right, do not go straight (although there is a nice view of Squamish about 10 minutes down this road!).

Once you've turned right at the first aid sign, hike maybe 10 minutes up the logging road. There is a big sign that says 'Trail Closed Monday to Friday', which indicates the entry point back into the forest and onwards to Petgill Lake!

Beautiful day up there! It took us 5 hours, which included going the wrong way for 15 minutes at the T junction, and having a great lunch at the top. Great view from the viewpoint :)

Posted: June 8, 2014 03:05:25 PM PST

Brian from Vancouver writes:

Things you should know:

1. This trail is quite steep (some parts are similar to the grouse grind)

2. There is both uphill and downhill throughout

3. The trail leads you onto a logging road -- follow it up 30-40 min (not down) until you see a large first aid sign. Once you past the first aid sign, walk some more until see a tree with a diamond marker and route sign as you approach on your left as you walk up; this is your entrance back into the forest and onto the trail.

Posted: May 19, 2014 12:34:32 AM PST

Get_out_there from Squamish writes:

The description for this trail probably needs to be updated, perhaps once the logging road building is completed. The mid section of the hike is spent hiking up what was an old, overgrown logging road, but due to recent activity is back to an active logging road. The first section of the hike comes up through the forest and out of earshot of the highway, before connected with the road. After a short climb on it there are several clear cut areas and the road has very freshly been widened with creek crossing bridges added. You follow the path of destruction for some way until the trail heads off on the left in to the forest again. The entry point for the trail is no longer so obvious, as the road apparently used to fizzle out at this point, but now it keeps going. If you start going downhill on the logging road, you've gone to far. There is a large upright stump right near the entrance and you will see a sign on a tree about 15mtrs in that warns hikers coming the other way of the logging activity on weekdays. The destination is beautiful, but unfortunately the very visible (and audible) logging destruction for a decent portion of the hike kind of ruins the experience for me, so I won't be doing it too frequently in future. The conditions were incredibly strange: a mix of dry and dusty, with beautiful ice flows over some rock sections and down parts of the trail, making some sections tricky, but not overly difficult. No snow. Lake completely frozen over.

Posted: February 9, 2014 05:38:49 PM PST

Bill Allcock from Wellington N.Z. writes:

Sunday 2 Feb. 2014
With no snow in the bush we two New Zealand superannuitants took 2.5 hours in to the lake. There was about 10 cm of ice on the lake. A magic, straight forward tramp.
Be advised that at the date of this submission there is logging taking place along the road section of the route, and that section is closed Mon - Fri.

Posted: February 2, 2014 10:23:58 PM PST

CS from Coquitlam writes:

Did this hike a couple weeks ago and can't wait to go back. Only saw a few people on a sunny summer Sunday. View point at the end was amazing and sat on the dock to enjoy lunch with our feet in the water. Way, way better than The Chief.

Posted: August 14, 2013 09:53:42 PM PST

Claire from Vancouver writes:

Three fit girls loved this hike, especially on a hot day! It did not take is 6hrs, approx 2-2.5 there and slightly less on the return. The lake is a gorgeous place for lunch and swim - take a small towel to dry off. You need to walk around to find the lake at the end but just head down right of the camp site, the timber mini pontoon is hidden behind a rock. Loved this hike!! The start can be hard to find but there is a timber (not overly obvious) sign with 'petgill lake' written on it beside the highway, approx 50m north of the Murrin carpark on the highway, on the opposite side. have fun!

Posted: July 1, 2013 07:05:22 PM PST

Ethan from surrey writes:

Just hike the trail yesterday .

great view and hiking trail .

Posted: June 17, 2013 10:33:04 AM PST

Anonymous from Vancouver writes:

Made the same mistake as another person, took a wrong turn right in the beginning of the trail. The critical point where we made our mistake wasn't obvious until our trip back down the mountain. We studied the wrong turn and all agreed it was very poorly marked. Hope these directions help others:
-you start your hike right off the highway on a small, overgrown path.
-shortly after starting when you've been hiking for only maybe 10 minutes or so you reach a point where you have a great view of the rock face directly across from you on the other side of the highway(we saw people rock climbing the rock face which was kind of cool).
-when you reach a log(about hip-chest height on the rock face) with a sunburned diamond shape marker you've reached a very critical point(the marker is a faint yellow in colour).
-the path continues on: DO NOT KEEP GOING ON THE PATH like we did. You can reach the trail eventually but it's way easier to avoid that way. We actually ended up taking the path for so long off the way you're supposed to go we ended up going back down the mountain which was when we realized something was wrong. The part that makes it really confusing is that the worn into the earth path keeps going in the wrong way. And even worse, there was a few flags which made us think we were going in the right direction.
-so which way to go? Stop at the log with the sunburned marker nailed into it and take a careful look up the rock face and you'll see your first bright orange diamond shape marker. It might look a bit awkward to get up to but FOLLOW THE ORANGE DIAMOND MARKER UP!

Rest of the trail was fantastic. Great variety. Saw a bit of clear cutting and heard a chainsaw in the far off distance at one point but was still very pleasant especially once you get to the lake and viewpoint.

3 hours up, 1.5 hours down. on our way back down we ran on the old logging road where the rock wasn't too loose, so fun!

Posted: June 11, 2013 07:44:18 PM PST

Tanner from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike today. Great hike with rewarding views at the top. Only confusing part is an open area with a lot of flagging tape (pink, orange, white, yellow coloured) on the trees in every direction. This part stands out from the rest of the trail. When you get to this part just look left (you'll be looking down into this area) and you should see a marker on the tree that leads over a tiny creek. This is where the gravel road part begins.

Other than this part, the rest of the trail is very well marked. At a couple parts there is obvious clear cutting going on which is unfortunate. We ventured off the trail through the dead fall and could see a lot of clearing that has already been done. You could even hear chain saws in the not so far distance.

Over-all and great hike and highly recommend it!

Posted: June 9, 2013 09:10:14 PM PST

Thomas from Maple Ridge writes:

A couple friends and I went up this trail today. We got a bit confused with the ribbons and ended up going the wrong way at first, but after cutting through some brush got back on track. Was overall a bit too tough for us although we finished it, but it was far more difficult than the last hike I did (Lindeman Lake). If you're in semi-decent shape though this will most likely be a good one for you. It was also extremely buggy once you approached the lake and viewpoint; bring some kind of repellant!

Other than the issues above the trail is nicely varied and easy to follow after the initial confusion, and it has some very nice views. I just wish it was a hike we left for a bit later to warm up with some easier ones first!

We found walking sticks near the entrance and left them and extras when we left. Keep an eye out for them because they can be very helpful just in case.

Posted: June 8, 2013 10:37:31 PM PST

Alex from Vancouver writes:

Hello, i've done the trail today Sunday. The weather was perfect, not too warm, not too cold. The trail is pretty fun, but there is quite a bit of steep climbing portions.

One note: when you get to the gravel road, keep walking on it for a fair bit of time. And afterwards there is another good climb in the forest.

The view points are pretty amazing. So nice to lay back on a rock and enjoy the beautiful, beautiful views. So great to lay down and enjoy the beautiful sun. Batteries are fully recharged of energy.

The walk in the woods is pretty good. The trail is well marked. I've finished the trail in about 4.5h (including resting at viewpoints, taking pictures) but I ran mostly on the way down. No particular reason, just felt like it :).

Posted: June 2, 2013 09:09:42 PM PST

Andrea C. from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike today, passed about 10 other people. Awesome view...just a few insignificant patches of snow on the trail up to viewpoint, easy to follow the whole way through. A bit wet in some parts, so tree roots were slippery...our group had our share of slips, need shoes with grip if you're doing it this weekend. Great hike, not too warm today, but needed that extra layer. Started early this morning and took us just under 5 hours with a lunch break at the viewpoint.

Posted: May 19, 2013 06:37:27 PM PST

Kaylee from Surrey writes:

Just did this hike yesterday, May 5. Beautiful Sunday and we only came across 10 other people the entire time. It took us 6 hours total with a few detours and a long break up at the top. The lake isn't frozen over but there is still snow all around it so it makes it difficult to find a good spot to sit near the lake. We just went straight up to the lookout - fairly confusing to find right now because of the snow and few trail markers. When you come down the hill descending into the snow next to the lake just keep walking straight - trail markers are difficult to make out. But you'll head back up into the trees. Be careful as the snow is melting..my whole leg sunk into a hidden hole. also when you come across the logging area just stick to the left and avoid heading down into the mess..I think the trail is supposed to head down there but it's covered with trees so it's difficult to get around. Just climb over a few logs and you'll be back on the proper trail. Great hike!

Posted: May 6, 2013 10:03:26 AM PST

Tanner from Vancouver writes:

Hi SarahZ. Is the lake still frozen over?

Thanks.

Posted: May 1, 2013 09:03:41 PM PST

SarahZ from Chilliwack writes:

Hiked up to Petgill Lake April.26th, 2013. Trail was well marked and in good condition. There are some weirdly marked trees in the middle of the trail; spray painted and flagged. Follow the trail that leads through these trees it is the correct trail (we were unsure until we found the normal trail markings at the end of the marked trees). Trail is marked with orange reflective squares. Still some snow the last ten minutes before the lake, just follow the trail markers. You will go thought a logged/dead fall area just before you reach the snow, follow trail markers through the logged/dead fall area. Started our hike at 8:15 am and we're back in the car at 12:00 pm. Minimal break was taken at the lake due to very rainy weather. Really good early season hike, have fun :)

Posted: April 28, 2013 05:52:49 PM PST

Daniel from Vancouver writes:

Hiked up to the lake today, there is still a lot of compact snow during the last 20 minutes. The lake is partially frozen. Great hike overall, took about 4 hours overall. Went down in 1 hour with a quick pace. Didn't see anyone else the whole time.

Posted: April 23, 2013 04:53:29 PM PST

Barbs from Vancouver writes:

Hiked today with five more friends and it was great intermediate hike, very well marked from the bottom to the top. first two views were awesome, then from 2/3rd was some snow and getting closer to lake was a lot of [melting] snow so be careful...lake frozen and covered by snow of course and we didnt hike the final view. anyhow was a wonderful hike. cant wait to go there in summer.

Posted: April 1, 2013 08:32:57 PM PST

Dave from Burnaby writes:

Did this hike Saturday, March 30, 2013. We found all the flagging tape confusing and on the way down got lost and had to bushwack for 2 hours to find a suitable spot to reach the highway (very relieved!). A couple of gals and another couple got sidetracked on the way up too. Just a heads up for people hiking Petgill Lake.

Posted: March 30, 2013 08:49:29 PM PST

Claire Pizzey from Vancouver writes:

Three friends hiked this route on Sat 5 Aug and was lovely - well marked trail, mixture of rocky climbing, gently inclines and declines, mix in some rocky paths and soft moss and cool forest. The lake was an idyllic way to enjoy lunch and a swim. The pontoon is smaller than described rather a 'mini' one, rustic but very suitable. Make sure you go around the rock for second part of it. View at the top is also magnificent. Even though it was a long weekend the trail wasnt crowded at all. Suggest starting early as car park was packed with swimmers. Top it off eith a beer at Howe Sound Brewey!

Posted: August 6, 2012 05:17:24 PM PST

HT from Vancouver writes:

Just did the hike today and it was a perfect gorgeous day for it! I recommend this hike! Beautiful views at the view point past Petgill Lake and not overly difficult either. We completed the hike in about 4.5 hours.

This hike was so much more enjoyable than the Chief. It was less busy and more secluded.

Posted: July 14, 2012 07:30:12 PM PST

Richard Wong from Vancouver writes:

Super good hike on the first sunny weekend of 2012. It was a little tricky to find the markers for the path from the highway into the forest, but the rest of the path is very well marked.
The view point at the top is awesome. I prefer this view to the view from the chief because you see less of the buildings in Squamish.
Today was even warm enough to do a quick swim to cool off at the lake. There is a dock perfectly built as a spot to jump in.

Posted: July 8, 2012 08:52:59 PM PST

Kristina MortgageDiva Berg from Langley writes:

Hike is steep right off the start. If you have any fear of heights, it might freak you out abit climbing along the ledges. The trails is narrow, and steep for the 1st hour and 40 mins, then tapers off a bit as your reach the lake area. A bit muddy at the top. When you get to the Lakeview, make sure you take the extra 30 minute and continue to the viewpoint! You can either go around the lake (lake loop is another hour) or just out to the viewpoint and back. It a tough hike in my books and not for those starting the season. It's comparable to 3rd Peak Chief, High Falls, or Lynn Peak.

Posted: June 9, 2012 05:27:08 PM PST

outdoorlover from vancouver writes:

hiked this trail yesterday.. did it in about 5 hrs and i thoroughly enjoyed it, it was really nice! when you reach the parking lot, the trailhead is across and to the LEFT. Keep on walking till you see a small wooden sign.

there's some scrambling / rock climbing at the beginning, and the log road seems to go on forever but the best viewpoint is 10-15 minutes beyond the lake.

the lake at this point is still completly frozen so there's not much to see, there's still snow as you reach the viewpoint / lake.

but overall, it's a beautiful and very enjoyable hike :)

Posted: May 7, 2012 04:15:23 PM PST

Veruca from JtYKvlOtdLlX writes:

Heckuva good job. I sure aprepcitae it.

Posted: December 4, 2011 01:12:26 AM PST

Irena from Vancouver writes:

Did this hike in mid November. The weather was nice and sunny. Not a lot of snow. It's a very nice trail. It took us about 5,6 hours including the lunch stop. View is nice from up top, and don't be surprised if you don't see anyone else on the trail. We bumped into three other hikers on our way down and that was about it.

Posted: November 30, 2011 07:11:44 AM PST

Maude from Vancouver writes:

My boyfriend and I did this trail on Sunday October 16th after reading the previous comment. This is our favorite intermediate trail so far. It's challenging enough but not too much and the view at the end is beautiful. What we really enjoyed is that the trail was "entertaining" not boring at all :) We only saw two other people on the trail... It took us 4 1/2 hour but we didn't stop much, maybe 15 minutes to eat at the top. I agree for the MUST HIKE trail.

Posted: October 17, 2011 09:50:16 AM PST

Canuckle Head from Vancouver writes:

My wife and I hiked this trail on Oct. 8th 2011. This is a perfect "intermediate" trail with plenty of inclines and declines along the way as well as a serene lake to enjoy at the top and being rewarded with an astounding 180 degree panaoramic view of Howe Sound at the final view point(a perfect spot to enjoy lunch). The first 10 minutes of the trail is really the only tricky part, ascending quickly and involving some minor rock climbing. The trail is very well marked and took us about 5 1/2 hours total, and that includes stopping to take pictures, and spending a good half hour at the final view point for lunch. Being so close to Vancouver, having a large parking area, and having a clean outhouse available at the parking area makes this a convenient trail to visit and hike. If you enjoy hiking in and around Vancouver, this is a MUST HIKE trail .. hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Posted: October 9, 2011 12:52:35 PM PST