Lillian Lake is a beautiful backcountry campground in the Spray Valley section of Kananaskis. It’s a moderate backcountry trail with just under 500 metres of elevation gain along the 6 km trek in. Suitable for beginner and intermediate backpackers, this campsite is also accessible for families with older children (10+), depending on their hiking ability. Across Guinn’s Pass from Ribbon Lake, Lillian Lake can be a single night trip or part of a multiday adventure.
Although I have been backcountry camping since 2018 (excluding overnight trips from the summer camp I worked at), I hadn’t been to Lillian yet. As my 14th backcountry site across Alberta and BC, my favourite thing about Lillian were the wooden platforms along the lakeshore to pitch your tent. These tent pads prevent any rain from pooling overnight and gave us an incredible view.
Without further ado, here is my full trail guide and review of Lillian Lake backcountry site.
Lillian Lake Hike Summary
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 12 km round trip
- Elevation: 475 metres
- Trail type: Out-and-back
- Time: 2.5-3.5 hours up; 2-3 hours down
- Trailhead: Galatea Day Use Area
Detailed Trail Description
I may rename Galatea Creek Trail to “The Hike of Many Bridges,” because we crossed 10 bridges on our way to Lillian Lake. The trail to the campground starts at Galatea Day Use Area and follows the 6 km journey along Galatea Creek Trail to Lillian Lake.
The beginning section of the hike is well signed as there is an intersection with Terrace Trail after the second bridge. Follow the signs left after the bridge and continue along the trail.
The path begins in the forest and begins a steady incline. Pass over more bridges and marvel at the clear waters of Galatea Creek. Around kilometre 3, you will break out of the tree and get a nice view of the valley behind you. Mount Kidd stands to the north (left of the photo) while Fortress Ridge is to the south (right of the photo).
Shortly after we entered the trees again, we found a nice log to eat lunch at. We stopped for around 20 minutes or so before putting our packs back on and making our way to the lake.
Continue on the main path and ascend the final and steepest section of the trail. Before you know it, you’ll pop out right beside Lillian Lake. We arrived at 1:00, making our total time just shy of 3 hours, or about 2.5 excluding lunch.
Setting Up Camp at Lillian Lake
Before camping at Lillian Lake, you must reserve a campsite on the Alberta Parks website. Reservations open 90 days in advance.
We chose site number 4, which has a great view over the lake. Some of the tent pads are wooden platforms while other are the classic tent pad squares on dirt. Arrive early to get one of the sites with a good view.
After setting up our tent and sleeping gear, we took all our food, cooking gear, and smellies (toiletries, sunscreen, etc.) out to the bear locker. Then, we packed a small daypack with snacks, water, and rain jackets and started the ascent to Galatea Lakes.
Hiking to Galatea Lakes is an extra 4.6 km round trip, so make sure to arrive at Lillian Lake early to fit it in. It is a steep grind to the first lake, but absolutely worth it. If you are looking for a more relaxed trip or going with children, you may not wish to add this excursion.
In the evening, we ate at the communal food area before settling around one of the two campfire pits. Although the weather had threatened rain on and off all day, our evening was dry and warm.
A Rainy Morning at Lillian Lake
Rain began around midnight and continued steadily throughout the night. We woke around 7:00 and started packing up by 7:30. The rain was still drizzling as we packed up our wet tent and prepared breakfast in the rain. We were happy to have our rain jackets and pants in the morning, and I would never recommend doing a backcountry trip without them.
Being warm is so important in the backcountry and staying dry is a vital part of being warm. Rain and other weather can come on quickly, especially as the mountains obscure your view of the horizon. Being prepared ensures you have a fun, relatively stress-free experience. If you’re interested in backcountry camping for the first time, I have a helpful guide on how to prepare and what clothing you should pack.
Happy Trails!