Echo Lake: Steep Trails, Stunning Pools

Trip date: Aug. 4th, 2024

By Line

It was the BC Day long weekend, and we were looking for a local adventure that didn’t require an overnight stay or a long drive. Our friend Lena had spoken highly of Echo Lake—a destination she described as perfect for a summer day hike. It seemed to check all the boxes: close to home, a challenge, and lots of potential for swimming. We put out a call for interest in our outdoor family WhatsApp group, and as the weekend approached, the RSVPs began rolling in. By the morning of the trip, we pulled into the parking lot with five other families—a total of 12 adults and 12 kids, ranging from 4 to 12 years old. It was shaping up to be quite the crew!


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The first challenge of the day was crossing the Squamish River, as the trailhead lies on the far side. With two canoes and two paddleboards, we devised a ferry system. Lena took a couple of the big kids across on her paddleboard, while Christian and I loaded most of the younger kids into our giant canoe. Once the kids were safely across, the canoes returned to ferry the adults, all while I trying to convince the kids to put their shoes back on and get ready for the trail.

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The hike up to Echo Lake is challenging—steep and, at times, requiring scrambling. The trickiest sections are equipped with ropes and chains, but they were still a test, especially with the younger kids in tow. I was glad we had divided responsibilities, with our oldest hiking ahead with the parents guiding the older kids, leaving Christian and me free to focus on our two younger children. Fortunately we'd also brought a soft kid-carrying-pack on the trip. It's light, fabric-only, and stuffs down to slightly larger than a cloth shopping bag. We used to bring it "just in case" a fair amount, but hadn't brought it on any trips in years as W will just ride dad's shoulders if she needs a break. With talk of scrambling, chains, and the elevation gain Christian figured "well, if we don't bring it on this trip we should just get rid of it" and tossed it in the pack.
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Hiking with our 4-year-old, W, added its own layer of complexity. She’s fiercely independent and insisted on hiking by herself, refusing any help or even having someone spot her on the steeper sections. We tried to explain that even adults sometimes get spotted for safety, but she wasn’t having it. Her determination made the carrier absolutely invaluable, allowing us to carry her on the steepest and most exposed sections while keeping her safe and avoiding a meltdown. For some reason she was ok to just be carried in it, but didn't want to be spotted. Not that one can effectively spot while hanging onto chains yourself.
Our 7-year-old, N, tackled the trail on her own. And although N navigated it safely, I couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious at times. Thankfully, the demanding climb rewarded us with occasional views of Monmouth Creek’s spectacular waterfalls and cascades, offering much-needed motivation.

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What truly made the hike unforgettable, though, were the swimming holes—easily the most amazing I’ve ever visited. These pools of crystal-clear blue water carved into granite rock came complete with natural slides. The water was cold but refreshing, perfect for a warm summer day. We stopped twice for long breaks to play in the pools.
While I relished the chance to swim, I was on my toes the whole time, keeping an eye on all three kids to make sure everyone got a turn in the water, had enough to eat, and was ready to move on when the group needed to continue. With our younger kids in the mix, I made a point of keeping us near the front of the pack after each break to avoid being left too far behind.

​After the second swimming hole, the group split—some opting to head back, while others continued to Echo Lake. Christian and I were determined to make it to the lake, and the kids were luckily on board too. W got carried the rest of the way, but N powered through the full 4.5 km and 900m of elevation gain all on her own. Despite being tired when we arrived, she insisted on swimming in the lake like everyone else, so we joined the group that had set off around the corner.

After the swim, it was time for another round of drying feet and tying shoes while the kids had a quick snack. Then we began the long descent. Luckily the down trail is a lot less steep and without any scrambling. Most of the group sped down the trail, but N and I took it slower, enjoying a calmer pace. By the time we reached the river, everyone else had already crossed back, so we waited on the bank for our canoe to return. The early return crew had picked up some pizza, which was a welcome treat after such an adventure. At 8 PM—12 hours after we first crossed the river that morning—we packed up the gear and called it a day.
To recover from the long and adventurous outing, we stayed the night in Squamish and treated ourselves to a day of climbing, relaxing, and more swimming at Murrin Park. It was the perfect way to wind down after a great adventure.