Many tourists come to this area of British Columbia to specifically hike the Joffre Lakes trail. For many of you this stunning destination will have come into your travel plans by the insane blue waters flooding your instagram feed.
In order to make your trip a magical one I have all the information you need in this guide, if you have any other questions about the hike or the location please reach out to me in the comments!
Why is Joffre Lakes so popular
Joffre Lakes Day Hike the Details
Best Time to Hike Joffre Lakes
Are there Bears at Joffre Lakes
Where is Joffre Lakes
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is located north of Pemberton along Hwy 99, only an hours drive north of Whistler so easily accessible for a day trip to see the wonders of the turquoise blue lakes.
Why is Joffre Lakes so Popular
Do the pictures not speak for themselves? The glorious turquoise blue waters of each of the three Joffre lakes are a sight to behold. I know when I think of a perfect Canada landscape this is something that really springs to mind.
Any idea why these lakes are so blue? The big glacier you can see in the background of the photo below is Matier Glacier and this is what feeds Joffre Lakes!
The three Joffre Lakes are all glacial lakes and the striking blue colour is created by something called rock flour. Rock flour is a silt created from the constant movement of the glacier throughout the year and once mixed with the water, the reflection from the sun creates the striking blue and green colours that we see!
Joffre Lakes Day Hike – The Details
The day has finally arrived, you have your pass secured and you are ready to hike the infamous Joffre lakes, but what should you expect?!
The Joffre Lakes hike is a there and back trail that passes the three stunning lakes and ends just short of the Joffre Lakes campground underneath Mattier Glacier.
To complete the trail it is a distance of 10km and will take you around 4 hours. This time is dependant on your fitness levels.
I always like to be over prepared for hikes and be ready for all eventualities, we may not be high in the alpine but the weather can change very quickly around this area. I recommend having these items with you as a minimum.
- Hiking Boots or Trail Shoes
- Plenty of water
- Lunch and snacks
- Waterproof
- Extra layers
- Suncream
- First Aid Kit
- Bear Spray
I have seen many people hiking around the Whistler area with inadequate shoes and no supplies. Make sure you are setting yourself up for success.
Joffre Lakes is rated as one of the must do hikes near Vancouver and as you can expect it is extremely busy at times, why else would they add a pass system right?! I recommend arriving earlier than later for your adventure, we started our hike at 730am and it was perfect timing, we hardly came across any others on our hike up. On our way back down it was very different and there was a lot of foot traffic.
The start of the hike is lovely and flat and it doesn’t take long until you are greeted with the beautiful views of Lower Joffre Lake.
Once you have passed the first lake this is when the incline will begin, this may come as a surprise but a lot of visitors to the area don’t expect it! It definitely isn’t an easy hike, take your time and enjoy your surroundings, trust me it is worth it.
After 900ft of climbing a glorious flash of blue will come into view, you have arrived at Middle Joffre Lakes. Here is where you will also find the log, this has become a popular spot to take photos through visitors posting to instagram. This was my favourite out of the three lakes, not just for the surrounding views but there are plenty of places to stop and take in the view which is a blessing on busy trails like this one.
Most of the ascent has been done now, not too far to go to reach the third and final lake, on the way make sure to enjoy the gorgeous Holloway falls.
The final lake marks the official end of the Joffre Lakes trail, we sat down on the rocks to have an early lunch and take in the beautiful view of the Upper Lake. We even had a few cheeky chipmunks come by to say hi too!
If you have secured a spot at the Upper Lake campground, you will continue walking around the lake across the rocks to the tent pads on the other side, you can see them in the distance of the picture below.
Of course what comes up must come down, and as beautiful as these lakes are I found it WAY too busy to enjoy sitting at the lake side for too long. There was a constant stream of hikers coming through every few minutes, after we had our lunch it was time to head back down.
The amount of people that visit this location day to day is a shame but I can see why it is absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend this for anyones visit to British Columbia.
Joffre Lakes Trail Pass
Before you set out on your day trip to Joffre Lakes, do not forget your pass.
You haven’t heard of this pass? So many people haven’t and your hike could end before it has begun. Between May 3rd and October 9th 2023 you will need to acquire a day pass, they have limited the access to the provincial park with these day passes as it is such a popular location!
Outside of these dates visitor numbers are expected to drop significantly, even with this in mind the park is not open to vehicle access all year round. In 2023 the park is expected to close on November 13th.
Parking at Joffre Lakes
There are two parking lots you can use on your visit to Joffre Lakes. The first one is located right at the trailhead, a large gravel area with limited parking available so I advise arriving earlier rather than later. The second is the overflow car park and their spots are a lot larger, if you are travelling in an RV I would recommend using this car park and it is only a short walk to the parking lot too.
Please keep in mind that Joffre Lakes is extremely popular on weekends, arrive early to avoid disappointment – the park pass is already hard enough to get through the summer!
If you have been lucky enough to snag yourself a camping spot at the Upper Lake, you will be leaving your car in one of these car parks overnight. It is located right next to Hwy 99 with easy access to others, please don’t leave anything of value in the car while you are camping overnight!
It may seem tempting but don’t park your car on the side of the highway, please use one of the car parks provided.
Best Time to Hike Joffre Lakes
Joffre Lakes is open to explore all year round, but of course the most popular time to visit is between May – October when the water isn’t frozen over and the beautiful blue is starting to shine through.
With this time of year being the most popular BC Parks have introduced a pass system to limit the number of visitors to the park each day.
Can you Swim at Joffre Lakes
If you are brave enough you can swim in all three of the Joffre Lakes, however it isn’t recommended.
They are glacial fed lakes and are extremely cold, there is an increased chance of hypothermia as the water temperate is just above freezing.
You need to be prepared if you do decide to take a cold plunge in these crystal blue lakes as you are very far away from help and emergency services.
When we took the plunge it was a 30 degree day and had plenty of layers to warm ourselves up after our dip! I felt so refreshed afterwards.
Are There Bears at Joffre Lakes
You can come across both Grizzly bears and black bears in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, even though the grizzly population is considered endangered in this area it is still a possibility.
I always recommend taking bear spray on all hikes in known bear territory just incase. Joffre Lakes is a very population tourist location especially during those summer months so the chance of an encounter is certainly low, but not impossible.
Have no idea what to do if you encounter a bear? Make sure to check out staying safe while hiking in Canadian bear country
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