If you are going to carry in a backpack for an overnight hike, you should have a good level of fitness. For a day hike, the trail is nearly 30km long, so still a good level of fitness is required. The trail isn’t technically challenging, but it is up in the alpine and has some serious altitude gains. The very last section of Black Tusk requires a minimal amount of climbing.

You can camp at either Taylor Meadows or Garabaldi Lake, do Garabaldi Lake as it is 100 times better. Garabaldi Lake is a picturesque, blue alpine lake. The surrounding wilderness and peaks have trails that could entertain you for days. When preparing to do the Black Tusk peak, grab your helmet as the basalt rock falls from above as you climb up the final chute.

As of 2016, online camping reservations are required for Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake, Elfin Lakes + Taylor Meadows, instead of the pay at the parking lot way it used to work.  Online reservations can be found here. 

Once you're all done, head into Squamish and get your granola on by having some healthy organic options at Zepher Café.