The Petgill Lake Trail begins just across the Sea-to-Sky Highway from the Browning Lake parking lot in Murrin Provincial Park, roughly 100 metres north of the lot. Hikers should cross with caution, as traffic moves at highway speed through this section.

The trail climbs steeply from the highway, assisted by chains and fixed ropes in places, before easing off around 1. 5 km in and joining a wide, deactivated logging road. Orange flagging marks where the route leaves the road and re-enters dense forest.

The out-and-back trail covers approximately 6. 8 miles with about 2,200 feet of elevation gain and typically takes four to five hours to complete. A viewpoint overlooking Howe Sound lies a short distance beyond the lake itself.