Get deep into the mountains and journey to three vibrant blue lakes! Do the epic Joffre Lakes Hike in BC Canada and you’ll remember it for a lifetime. In just a couple miles, you’ll get to see incredible mountain views and three mind-boggling glacially fed lakes.
I’ve had this trail on my bucket list for a long time! Unfortunately, it was closed the last time we were in the area. But, we finally got to cross it off and wow it exceeded my expectations. Each lake was prettier than the last one. 🤗 It was astounding that you can get to all three in just a couple miles.
That being said, this hike is very steep and challenging. We saw a lot of people doing the hike that didn’t seem prepared and some that had to turn around. 😔 It’s important to prepare for this trail BEFORE you get to the park!
Joffre Lakes is luckily a straightforward trail, but there is some planning that you need to do ahead of time. 📝 This blog post has everything you need to know about doing the Joffre Lakes hike. Tips on when to go, how to get day pass reservations, and a detailed trail description.
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Joffre Lakes Trail Details
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 4.6 miles
Elevation: 1522 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Length: 3-5 hours total (depends on your pace and breaks)
Difficulty: Hard (It’s incredibly steep and unrelenting)
Joffre Lakes Location
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is just 30 minutes outside of Pemberton, an hour north of Whistler, and a couple hours north of Vancouver in BC Canada. It’s one of the most popular Provincial Parks with gorgeous glacially fed lakes 🥰 that you can see on one trail.
It’s a fantastic place to go if you are driving north to Alaska or if you are driving over to Alberta, because it’s just off Route 99. We stopped here on our way from Whistler over to the Kamloops area.
Joffre Lakes is on Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation land, please be respectful. It is a sacred area to them.
How to Get to Joffre Lakes
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is off of the highway, so driving is the best way to get there. If you are coming from out of town, then you can fly into Vancouver, which is about a 2 hour drive away. 🚗 It’s also an easy day hike if you are staying in the Whistler area.
There used to be public transportation from Vancouver, but it was suspended in 2024.
Luckily, the drive from Vancouver is one of the most scenic in North America 🤩 as you take the Sea to Sky Highway. I recommend stopping in Squamish or Whistler on your way to the hike. You’ll continue following BC-99 for about 180km from Vancouver until you get to the park!
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 Day use passes are required to visit Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. If you want to visit, you must get a pass two days in advance at 7 am on the website.
☀️ Weather changes quickly in the mountains, which means you should be prepared for inclement weather. While it may be warm and sunny at the base of the mountain, it can be stormy, windy, or cold at the top!
⛺️ There is one campground on the trail at Upper Joffre Lake. You will need to make a reservation in advance to stay there. I have more details on that below!
🐻 This is grizzly and brown bear country! Make sure that you stay bear aware and carry bear spray with you on the trails.
🦮 Pets are not allowed in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park to protect the environment.
⚠️ Joffre Lakes is sacred land for the First Nations people. There are certain times of year that the park is closed because of these rituals. You can look up closures online.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Hike Joffre Lakes
Joffre Lakes is open year round, but the best time to hike these trails is during the warmer months from June through September. I recommend checking trail conditions and going when the hike is snow free!
Snowfall is often high around this area and there are avalanche risks in the winter time. But, during the summer it’s absolutely gorgeous and people love to swim in the lakes. The Fall is also a brilliant time to visit with gorgeous orange and yellows in the park. 🍁
How to Get a Permit for Joffre Lakes
Unless you already have campground reservations, you will need a free day use pass. They can quickly run out on peak weekends and nice days, so make sure to be on it!
Passes are released on the BC website 💻 at 7 am (Pacific time) two days in advance. So, if you wanted to go hiking on Saturday, you would need to book a pass on the Thursday of that week.
Once you get on the website, you’ll click on Joffre Lakes and then book a pass to for day use. It’s very simple and free!
If passes are sold out, you can keep refreshing 🔄 the page, because people do cancel their passes. In fact, I had to cancel twice in a row. So, don’t lose hope if you miss out at first!
Camping in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
While many people visit for just the day, others decide to backpack this stunning trail. There are 26 tent pads by Upper Joffre Lake. So, if you want to camp up there make sure to get a reservation in advance.
This is a beautiful spot to camp, because you have direct access to the stunning blue lake. 💙 It would be the perfect place to watch a sunrise or sunset and spend time with loved ones.
Joffre Lakes Camping Guidelines
- You can make a reservation four months in advance on https://camping.bcparks.ca/ at 7 am Pacific Time.
- When you get to the camp, you must sleep on a tent pad. There are 26 tent pads at Upper Joffre Lake. Tent Pads can hold up to two tents.
- Each tent pad holds up to four people and you can book 3 tent pads at once.
- It is $10 CAD a person per night to camp.
- You must pack in and pack out everything you need!
What to Pack for Joffre Lakes
Every time you hike into the mountains, it’s smart to be prepared with layers. Even if it’s warm during the day, it may get cooler up by the lakes as you gain elevation. So, head out prepared with layers and sun protection.
If you plan on swimming at all, then I recommend bringing a bathing suit and towel. The water is very chilly, so you will want to dry off before having to hike back down the mountain.
Packing List
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Headlamp
- Shelter
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Satellite phone
- Bathing Suit
- Towel
- Portable Charger
- Downloaded AllTrails Map
Joffre Lakes Trail Description
Climb up, up, up to see three of the most stunning lakes in Canada. Spend time enjoying the water and going for a dip. Although the Joffre Lake hike is gorgeous, it’s also incredibly steep 😓. Below you can read my trail guide, so you know exactly what to expect before you go!
Start the hike to Lower Lake
Park at the parking lot and who your reservation to the park ranger there 👨👩, before heading out on the trail. Once you get to the hike, you’ll continue down into the woods. Lower Lake is just .2 miles into the woods and is a great way to start your adventure!
Lots of families stop at this first lake, so it’s the most crowded. Continue further up the trail to see the other lakes and leave the crowds behind.
Once you get to the lake, you’ll continue around it in a counter clockwise direction. You’re about to approach the path that gradually inclines up and is pretty tough!
Continue to Middle Joffre Lake
The hike from the Lower Lake to the Middle Lake is the longest part of the trail and you will gain 1000 feet of elevation in 1.5 miles. 🥵 First, you’ll begin on a steep wooded path before getting to a meadow area.
This meadow area is a great way to take a few deep breaths and gain your energy for the continued climb. Once you get past the open area, you’ll get back into the woods and then you’ll see stairs.
Honestly, these stairs really tested me. It felt like they just kept going and it was quite a slog to get up them. But, once you do, then you’ll just have to walk through the woods and you’ll see the vibrant middle lake. It’s quite a sight for your tired legs!
In my opinion, Middle Joffre Lake is the best place to go for a swim 👙 and enjoy the water! People love taking pictures with the log in the water. We chose to hike up to Upper Lake first and then came back down to swim.
To Upper Joffre Lake
Finally, you’ll just go 10 minutes further from Middle Joffre Lake to Upper Joffre Lake. This hike feels a lot less bad than the section between the other two lakes. But, you do still have to climb up!
You’ll pass a gushing waterfall on your right as you make your way up!
Once you get to the Upper Lake, you’ll see a series of boardwalks that help to protect the environment. Please stay on the boardwalks and don’t go off trail! The best views of the lake are just beyond that at a rocky portion.
We had the entire lake to ourself when we went in the evening. It was truly incredible!
Final Tips for the Joffre Lakes Hike
If you get the chance to do the Joffre Lakes hike, then you need to do it! It’s one of the most incredible trails with three brilliant lakes that are within just a couple miles from each other.
My biggest tip is to make sure that you get a day pass reservation in advance! Go early in the day or late in the evening to avoid the crowds of people and make sure to pack bug spray because the lakes get buggy in summer. There’s no question in my mind, you’ll fall in love with this magical place! 💞
Let me know if you enjoyed this trail guide in the comments!
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Wow! This is a gorgeous place to visit and is now on my hiking bucket list.
It’s incredible!
Need bear spray??
I would say you don’t need it, it’s very well trafficked and there’s not a lot of bear food, so bears rarely go there