The Lindeman Lake hike is among the Fraser Valley’s most popular hikes. It’s in the Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, about 2 hours drive from Vancouver (but make it at least 2.5 hours since it’s usually congested). It’s close to Chilliwack Lake and is popular for a day trip or weekend trip from Vancouver.
This post is your detailed hiking guide to Lindeman Lake – and beyond. Because you can hike to two more lakes, let’s see:
Why will you love the Lindeman Lake hike?
This Fraser Valley lake hike is popular for a good reason. It’s an easily accessible, short hike, suitable for all abilities (given you have proper footwear), family-friendly and pet-friendly. Oh, and Lindeman Lake is a gem, a fabulous emerald green lake. Its color is not comparable to any of the other lakes in the region, it’s different from Garibaldi Lake or Joffre Lake, the other famous Insta-stars of the Vancouver area.
So it’s not surprising that Lindeman Lake is busy from the moment it thaws until the moment it freezes again. Expect lines on the trail on sunny summer weekends. We did it in October for the first time, and we couldn’t have chosen the time better. It was a chilly enough day to keep the crowds away, and fall colors were at their peak.
More amazing hikes near Vancouver:
- St. Marks Summit Hike In The North Shore Mountains
- 12 Best Waterfalls Near Vancouver, British Columbia
- Tunnel Bluffs Hike: A Stunning View Of Howe Sound
- Which Shannon Falls Hike Is For You?
Lindeman Lake hiking overview
So it’s a 5 km return hike to get to Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. Most trail descriptions tell you it’s 3.5 km, but that doesn’t include hiking to the northern end of the lake – which I absolutely recommend!
Trailhead and parking
If you drive from Vancouver, simply take the Trans-Canada highway east towards Chilliwack, and exit at 104. The Lindeman Lake parking lot is at the end of Chilliwack Lake Road. The road is paved all the way, as is the parking lot, so access is no problem with any kind of car.
It’s a large car park, but it can fill up quickly on summer weekends. Overflow parking is possible along Chilliwack Lake Road. Vehicle break-ins are sadly quite common at this trailhead, so don’t leave any valuables in your car (you should never do that, anyway).
the trail to Lindeman Lake
You find pit toilets at the trailhead (and also at Lindeman Lake), and the start of the hike is signposted as “Post Creek, Lindeman, Greendrop, and Flora Lakes”. If you see the yellow gate, you should see the sign, too.
The route to Lindeman Lake
The trail runs along Post Creek (which is coming from Lindeman Lake), and the very beginning is an easy stroll. But soon you’ll cross a wooden bridge, and the path gets steeper. It remains so for most of the way up to Lake Lindeman. Not only steep, but quite slippery and muddy, too, with lots of roots and rocks.
This is not to say it’s a difficult hike, but it’s not a forest stroll, and it requires proper footwear. Like it usually happens to trails which become tourist attractions, lots of people come unprepared. Don’t underestimate this hike, because it requires stamina to get up to Lindeman Lake, that’s my point. (And don’t wear your white sneakers if you don’t want to ruin them.)
The trail flattens out for the last 500 meters before reaching Lindeman Lake, becoming a leisure forest stroll. Then you’ll see the lake, and it’s time to pick a picnic spot – which might be challenging at times, especially at the southern side of the lake.
Hiking essentials:
- Trailhead: at the very end of Chilliwack Lake Road
- Length: 5 km return
- Elevation gain: ~250 m
- Difficulty: medium
- See the Lindeman Lake trail map here.
The best view of Lindeman Lake
There’s a small beach area at the southern side of Lindeman Lake, and you’ll have space to spread out there. But it can still get busy and noisy. However, the further you walk north, the more peaceful the scene gets.
Actually, you have a very good reason to hike all the way to the northern edge of the lake: you get the best views there! But it’s not a lakeside stroll, because the lakeshore is not flat. The trail takes you through steep terrain and a boulder field. The views are best from the boulders at the northern edge of Lindeman Lake.
Extend your hike to Greendrop Lake or Flora Lake
Why would you stop at Lindeman Lake when there are two more alpine lakes as you continue the hike?
The Greendrop Lake hike makes it a 11.2 km return trail and adds another quiet, pretty lake. (To be fair, it’s not as pretty as Lindeman Lake.) You can look up to dramatic rock walls on your way there, and yes, it requires a fair amount of steep uphills. But it’s less busy than the hike to Lindeman Lake, and it extends the time you spend in nature. Sure, turning back after about 2.5 km just didn’t feel right to us. 🙂 Combining Lindeman Lake and Greendrop Lake is a decent hike though.
If you want even more, there’s a loop that includes Lindeman Lake, Greendrop Lake and Flora Lake, with a short detour to Flora Peak. It’s a 18.3 km loop – see it on a map here.
Best time to hike to Lindeman Lake
fall colors at Lindeman Lake
The Lindeman Lake hike is accessible all year, but the lake is frozen and covered in snow between November and April. It could still be a nice snowy hike, but microspikes are recommended – and obviously, don’t expect lake views.
The high season for hiking to Lindeman Lake is definitely summer. And that’s the season we’d avoid. It gets insanely busy, and crowds and noise and lining up for a trail simply ruins the experience for us.
But Lindeman Lake can thaw as early as April, and remains snow free until late fall or early winter. A spring or fall hike can be much more enjoyable, but yes, the weather will be colder and there’s a higher chance of rain. The best day to visit is definitely a sunny day, because sunshine brings out the incredibly turquoise and emerald shades of the lake.
How hard is the Lindeman Lake Trail?
Well, the Lindeman Lake hike difficulty for the average hiker is exactly that: average. It’s a short hike, but quite steep. A lot of people are surprised how steep it actually gets. But it’s 1.5 km to reach the lake, so it still counts as a fairly easy hike.
But you should be prepared for a hike and not for a forest stroll. This trail requires appropriate hiking boots, as it can get slippery and muddy.
It’s worth continuing to Greendrop Lake and Flora Lake to make it a half day or full day hike. You can also spend the night along the way…
Lindeman Lake camping
The Lindeman Lake campground is a backcountry campground, meaning there’s no car access, you have to hike there and carry all your stuff with you. You also need a backcountry camping permit, and then you can choose among the campsites dotted around the lake.
They operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so booking in advance is not possible.
There’s a pit toilet, but no other facilities. Campfires are not allowed.
You find a similar backcountry campsite at Greendrop Lake, as well.
