The upper Pitt's basin is short but fed by a number of ice fields, glaciers, and mountain streams, such as Garibaldi Névé and Mamquam Icefield. Thus the river gets quite large only 50 km from its source in Garibaldi Provincial Park. East of the upper Pitt is Golden Ears Provincial Park (formerly a part of Garibaldi Provincial Park). Barge traffic from logging camps in the upper Pitt basin is a regular sight on the Pitt Lake as well as in the area of the two highway bridges and CPR mainline bridge just up from the confluence of the Fraser.