Diamond Head (Neighbour of Atwell Peak) Hike Squamish

Diamond Head is one of the most beautiful hikes in British Columbia going towards Mount Garibaldi, Atwell Peak, Gargoyles and Diamond Head.

Diamond Head Information

The Trip

Getting to the Diamond Head doesn’t necessarily require a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle but an ample early start is recommended. Diamond Head Trailhead is one of the closer trail heads out of all major trail heads at Garibaldi Provincial Park. However, Chains are required in Winter.

How to Get to the Diamond Head trailhead at Garibaldi Provincial Park from Vancouver?

Directions from Vancouver, BC to Squamish, BC

1. Take Highway 1 aka Trans-Canada Highway westbound towards Horseshoe Bay. Then, take the exit onto Highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway) and continue North towards Squamish.
2. Once you reach Squamish look for Mamquam Road about 4 kilometers from Downtown Squamish. Do not take Mamquam Forest Service Road.
3. Continue on Mamquam Road, which will take you past the Squamish Golf and Country Club. Turn north onto Highland Way S, then East at the roundabout, and head up through Quest University.
4. Mamquam Road will eventually become Garibaldi Park Road. Follow this road until you reach the Diamond Head parking area.

Hiking Diamond Head Trail

This is one of the most stunning hikes in BC. Every time I went on this hike, depending on the weather, I was never disappointed with natural sounds, ambience, Bear activity, first powder snow and list goes on. The hike isn’t particularly steep and can be covered quickly up to Elfin lakes. Once at Elfin lakes, the hike goes from there in many directions such as Gargoyles, Diamond Head, Atwell Peak, Opal Cone, Rampart Ponds and so on.

Every time I was on this trail, I saw a Bear or two (Black Bears mostly). Once, the Bear was on the Trail and other times, the Bear was far in the Valley. Once upon a time there was a cub and a few yards away there was a Sow. Generally, the trail is safe but carrying a Bear spary in highly recommended for ALL hikers. This time, there was a big Bear foraging while I was descending from the mountain on a side trail. I was not aware of the Bear presence at all and I’m very sure the Bear knew I was there. This was a close call. I saw the Bear after the fact but he was busy.

Once the col between Columnar peak is left, the views become extremely gorgeous. The views cannot be captured in any camera no matter the quality. One has to be there to experience and appreciate the beauty.

The hike becomes eventful after this point. I was there for about 3 hours and every 45 minutes I heard loud rockfall at Atwell Peak. The rockfall was so loud that anybody climbing solo would be scared. It was like war zone sounds.

The West Side of Atwell has totally corroded and I don’t think it can be climbed safely in summer time without the support of any powder snow. The Bergschrunds are easily visible when standing atop Diamond Head. Mount Garibaldi hides behind Atwell Peak and isn’t easily visible unless you descend to the South West side of Diamond Head.

The Ridge towards the “Summit” of Diamond Head is very thin and once would be walking atop sheer drop. Although Diamond Head isn’t officially a mountain The Prominence of a mountain has to be more than 300 feet to be considered a separate mountain and Diamond Head is hardly only a meter Prominence.

There are a few Marmot hide outs on the ridge and a few “Couloirs” going towards the same peak. They’re not exactly Couloirs but water ways that all look alike. On the way up to the mountain, I had lunch at a big rock and left the bag and equipment on the rock. While coming back from the peak, there was a big cloud that came and it was almost a white out. Every time I went towards the Gargoyles, Diamond Head, I met a white out, what a co-incidence this time. So, instead of tracking the route path that I took to come up, I decided to traverse from the South East side. I made it fine down the Summit and while looking for the bag, I had to cross all these similar looking Couloirs. I crossed one extra Couloir and the bag was nowhere to be found. I met a Marmot on my way down and thought may be the bag was dragged away by the Marmot but even if the Marmot dragged the bag where would the equipment go?

I knew the cloud will come down and the forecast is rain and temperature drop in the evening. I didn’t want to stay at the mountain for prolonged period and potentially having to bivouac. So, I rushed to look for the bag and here is the mistake I made. I was looking for the bag and the same time I started running down the mountain to save time. I knew the bag was on a higher rock so I look up when running down. I tumbled on the rocks and here I go doing a Somersault. Luckily, I was wearing a helmet yet I hurt my both hands causing an internal injury on my left palm and a wound on the right palm and a finger. I hit my knee, hip and shoulder on the rocks. As I stopped, I knew my hand was bleeding yet finding the bag was more important than tending to my injuries. I ran back up towards my original route and started running towards the Summit again crossing all the Couloirs I had crossed earlier.

When I was almost sure that I was high enough on the mountain, I looked back and there was my bag. I had a breath of relief. I walked to my bad, collected it and started hiking back down. Now adrenaline effect faded away and injuries started hurting making it difficult to walk. Excruciating pain made it hard to hold the hiking sticks. However, the body warmed up again and by the time I saw the Bear, the pain went away.