BC Parks announced a week-long closure of the Rubble Creek trail, the main access route to Garibaldi Lake, after reports of multiple cougars stalking hikers.
A recent reddit post on r/vancouverhiking from warned of “two very large cougars actively stalking and charging hikers” on the trail.
BC Parks and Conservation Officer Service responded to similar reports of cougars on June 8 and 9. To keep visitors to the area safe, BC Parks has implemented a trail closure for the next week, with the route expected to re-open on Tuesday, June 17.
Garibaldi Lake can still be accessed via the Cheakamus Lake trailhead, but the detour adds 18km, and BC Parks notes that visitors will be “hiking through snow for long periods of time.”
For information on what to do if you encounter a cougar in the woods, visit the provincial government’s Staying Safe Around Wildlife entry on the animals. A list of active advisories for parks around the province, including the closure of Rubble Creek trail, can be found on BC Parks' website.
BC Parks reminds residents to report aggressive wildlife to the Conservation Officer Service toll-free RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
