When my sister visits from Ontario, she always wants to prioritize a few hikes. She’s asthmatic now, so I can’t throw her into anything too long or difficult right away. Last year, when I just brought my pup, Billie home, we were looking for something a little more lowkey. She was pretty tiny then, so no matter what we chose, I’d likely need to carry her for part of the way using my little dog pack.
I love the Alice Lake area, so I checked AllTrails to see if there were any trails that would be a fun time for us. That’s when I stumbled across the Four Lakes Trail.
Four Lakes is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a roughly 6.5 km loop with only about 150 m of elevation gain, where you get to visit four different lakes in one go: Edith, Fawn, Stump, and Alice.
It’s more of a trail walk than a hike, but it still gets the heart pumping a bit. And I gotta say, it’s become one of my favourite year-round easy hikes and places to trail run Squamish. I usually see families and young kids out there, along with trail runners and older folks. It’s a great little trail walk for almost everyone.
There are often signs posted about bear sightings, so bring your bear spray. We live close by and regularly see bears heading into the trails around Alice Lake, so I can confirm there are indeed bears in the area!
One important thing to know if you’re bringing a pup: Four Lakes is dog-friendly, but the Alice Lake Loop itself is not. I love the Alice Lake Loop, but I can’t take my pups there. The signs are pretty clear about where dogs can and cannot enter.
When I took my sister on Four Lakes, she absolutely loved it, and I did too. It’s one of those trails that a lot of people can manage, and I’ve taken plenty of pals there over the last few years. There isn’t a big viewpoint at the end (unless you add on DeBeck’s Hill), but sometimes a nice walk through the forest is exactly what the soul needs.
Where to Start the Four Lakes Trail
You can start this hike from a few different places. AllTrails will have you starting from Alice Lake Road, crossing the street and going clockwise around Stump Lake, then Fawn and Edith before making your way back toward Alice.
Personally, I prefer starting from Alice Lake and going counterclockwise. There’s a parking lot at Alice Lake Provincial Park, and the trailhead is just a few metres from the parking lot (directions here) near the picnic area. Just make sure you read the signs, as Jack’s Trail also starts around here. While beautiful, it won’t take you to the four lakes!
There are a few junctions along the route, so either follow the Four Lakes Trail signs or keep your AllTrails map handy. There are also a few outhouses along the route, including at the parking lot. Note: the outhouses closest to the lake are usually closed in the winter, but there is one near the trailhead at the Alice Lake parking entrance.
Edith Lake
If you go my favourite route, the first lake you’ll come to is Edith. While there isn’t a clear view of it directly from the trail, there are a few different paths you can take down toward the water, and lemme tell ya: it is gorgeous!
As you continue along the trail for another kilometre or so, you’ll come to a junction where you need to veer right. If you continue straight, you’ll eventually end up at a road, so keep an eye on the signage here.
Fawn Lake
Fawn Lake is up next, and it’s not directly on the main trail.
If you’re doing the counterclockwise route, you’ll veer left at a junction pointing toward Fawn Lake. From there, it’s less than 100 m to the lake.
Fawn is small but beautiful, and no matter what time of year you go, you’ll get some gorgeous views.
Stump Lake
You’ll then head back the way you came and follow the signs toward Stump Lake.
Once I reach Stump, I prefer going clockwise around the lake and then exiting the trail by following the signs toward Alice Lake. From there, you can walk down the paved road back toward the parking lot.
If you want to tack on some more mileage and elevation, you can access the North Ridge Trail from Stump Lake and head up DeBeck’s Hill for some really nice views.
You can also loop around and turn Four Lakes into more of an out-and-back if you want some extra mileage. There are lots of options.
Obviously, if you’re starting from the Alice Lake Road entrance instead, everything will be opposite.
Alice Lake
And last up is Alice Lake, which is the best of ’em all, in my opinion.
If you don’t bring your dog, you can jump in the lake afterwards to cool off. There’s a dock on one side of Alice and a beach on the other. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards or pedal boats from Alice Lake Paddle Sport.
Or, if you’re in the mood for a treat, you can head back toward downtown Squamish, where there are plenty of options.
Make a Day of It
Kenz and I always love ending our trail outings with a coffee and a treat or some lunch.
Just last week, after doing Four Lakes with our gals, we drove about 20 minutes to Britannia Beach to grab a vegetarian burger at Outbound Station. They have both a black bean and Impossible option—I chose the latter—along with truffle fries, fried pickles and, of course, coffee.
While the Four Lakes Trail itself isn’t very long, it’s easy to turn it into a bigger day. Add some extra elevation by heading up DeBeck’s Hill from Stump via the North Ridge Trail or up the Debecks Grind from Alice Lake, explore some of the many other trails (just make sure you have an offline map handy!), go for a swim, rent a canoe, or grab some amazing food nearby.
It’s the perfect way to get a little nature and exercise into your day—and one of the top easy hikes I recommend if you’re visiting Squamish. 🙂
– Emily
