The Joffre Lakes Provincial Park offers some of the most breathtaking hiking and camping opportunities in British Columbia, Canada. Joffre is a Canadian explorer’s paradise with its lush, emerald forests and brilliant turquoise waterways. Before camping and hiking in Joffre Lakes, read the following information.
Joffre Lakes: A Canadian explorer’s paradise
The Lower, Middle and Upper Joffre Lakes are the three lakes that make up Joffre Lakes. Each one is more exquisite than the previous one! From the moderately difficult 9.4 kilometers (5.8 miles) round-trip Joffre Lakes hiking trek, you can see all of these lakes. The landscape along the trail includes ice fields, snow-capped mountain peaks, and rushing river torrents. It makes this trip one of the best in Canada.
The crystal-clear blue waters of Joffre Lakes are legendary. The sunlight refracting off the lake’s surface gives these lakes a Gatorade-blue hue caused by the glacial silt or rock flour created when the glacier developed thousands of years ago. Due to the sunny days and melting glaciers, these lakes will likely be at their bluest and brightest if you visit during the summer.
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, which was established to safeguard the lakes and the surrounding area, contains the Joffre Lakes trail. Since this implies that provincial park regulations apply to the trail, it’s crucial to make advance plans.
How to get there
The Joffre Lakes Trailhead is situated in the southwest part of British Columbia’s Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. It is only a 2.5-hour drive from the Vancouver Airport. It has become a must-do excursion for many adventurers who travel to British Columbia for its breathtaking, lovely turquoise lakes. Taking the Sea to Sky highway in the direction of Whistler and Pemberton will bring you to the lakes the quickest if you’re driving. The trek is a 9.2 km / 5.7 mi out and back track close to Nesuch 3, Squamish, with modest foot traffic. (All measurements were obtained via the Gaia GPS app tracking.)
The Joffrebus is a practical and reasonably priced bus service that travels between Vancouver and Whistler, and Joffre Lakes for persons who want to hike there but do not have access to their own vehicle. From May through October, it is open on weekends and most weekdays.
There isn’t much parking in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. On a busy weekend, the regular and overflow parking lots are typically filled by 9:00 am. Parking on the side of the road is absolutely forbidden. It costs $10 per person to take the weekend shuttle bus from the lakes to the Duffey Lakes Provincial Park Parking lot, which is 16 kilometers distant. Be aware that there will be a limited number of spots on the shuttle, so arrive early to improve your chances of getting one.
The best time to visit
From May 1 through November 14, during the warmer months, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is accessible to the general public. Although the park is always open and accessible, it is not recommended to hike there during winter due to the avalanche risk.
Due to the lakes’ clearest blue hue, June through September are the busiest months for tourists to travel to the lakes. August is the finest month to travel because that’s when the lakes are usually the prettiest to photograph.
Try to finish the hike during the middle of the week and begin early in the morning. It gets very busy here during these months (before 7 am). In the summer, you can also begin the hike later in the day.
As it doesn’t become dark here until 9:30 pm in the summer, beginning your hike at 3 or 4 pm is a wonderful idea. Though negotiating in the dark is a rather challenging track, I strongly advise returning to the parking lot before it becomes dark. Just in case you take longer than expected, bring a flashlight.
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A guide to the Joffre Lakes hike
The Lower Joffre Lakes hike
The most kid-friendly lake is the first one, Lower Joffre Lake, which is close to the trailhead. On a beautiful day, you can see the glaciers from this vantage point positioned high on the slopes, giving you a taste of what is to come. You can re-join the route and return to the forest after viewing Lower Joffre Lakes. About 20 minutes into the climb, if you decide to keep going, you’ll reach a clearing with breathtaking views of the valley. You must cross many creeks and pass a thundering waterfall on your way to Middle from Lower Joffre Lake.
The Middle Joffre Lakes hike
Middle Joffre Lake is the second lake you may see on the hike to the lakes. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful and picturesque. On Middle Joffre Lake, there is a well-known long log that is a popular photo site. It frequently has a line of people waiting to snap pictures. Be careful because if you fall in, water that is 4 degrees Celsius will surround you! If you decide to go on to the final lake from here, take the short detour to the right, where you will see a strong waterfall that joins the Middle and Upper Joffre Lakes.
The Upper Joffre Lakes hike
One of the more picturesque sections of the path is between Middle and Upper Joffre Lakes, where you can see a lovely waterfall. Take your time, as this trail stretch can be wet and slippery, even though witnessing this waterfall is a sign that you’re getting close. Make sure you can safely carry all of your camping gear because the trail to Upper Joffre Lakes is rather steep in some places.
First-come, first-served camping is permitted at Upper Joffre Lakes, and there are pit latrines close to the camping area. Aside from the breathtaking vistas, one of the best things about camping at Upper Joffre Lake is how private the sites are, even when it’s busy. The approved camping areas are spread out and isolated from one another because the lake is situated at the foot of multiple mountains. In the following portion of this tutorial, I’ll go into greater detail about backcountry camping.
Joffre Lakes Camping
At Upper Joffre Lake, 24 campsites are accessible on a first-come, first-served basis. A backcountry camping permit must be purchased here if you plan to camp between June 1 and September 30. Reservations can be made up to two months before the intended arrival date. Bring two copies of your reservation with you because you’ll need to show them to the park rangers, and leave one of them in a transparent bag pinned to your tent. Even though it is 30 degrees celsius outside during the day, it is important to pack layers because the wind coming off the glaciers and lake gets very cold at night.
Is there anything more enjoyable than eating breakfast while watching the sunrise in the wilderness? You can keep your food in a bear-proof container (provided on-site). Remember that since there are no trash cans in the park, you must carry the food you brought. To maintain the beauty of this place, load in and pack out.
Before beginning any hike, it’s crucial to educate oneself on the rules and guidelines. Since campfires are absolutely prohibited year-round, if you intend to prepare some s’mores, you’ll need to utilize a portable camping stove. Since there is no potable water available in the park, be sure to pack lots of drinking water.
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Frequently asked questions about Joffre Lakes
Is the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park dog-friendly?
Unfortunately, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park does not allow dogs or other domestic animals.
Dogs are frequently permitted to enjoy the trails and lakes in BC provincial parks as long as they are on leashes. However, there were more dogs using the route than typical due to the popularity of the lakes. Unfortunately, not all pet owners (although the vast majority do) abided by the regulations, and dogs started to run off-leash, endangering local bears and creating a safety hazard. Dogs that are off-leash can also harm local wildlife and native plants.
Is it crowded?
One of the most popular walks in BC is Joffre Lakes, which may be very crowded, especially during the summer (from June to August). Approximately 75% of the 200,000 hikers who visit the Lakes each year do so in the summer.
It is preferable to go on this hike during off-peak times, such as the middle of the week and early in the morning, ideally before 7 am, if you intend to do it in the summer. Keep in mind that here in the summer, sunrise occurs at about 5:30 am, so you are free to begin as early as you like. In order to get to the lakes at sunrise, some people even climb up in the dark.
Due to the risk of avalanches, it is not advised to hike to Joffre Lakes in the winter. You can hike here in the winter if you’re a confident hiker and have all the essential safety gear. In the winter, it will be much quieter! But it’s important to remember that in the winter, all three lakes will be frozen over. Snowshoes will also be necessary.
Are the Joffre Lakes swimmable?
If you’re feeling bold, you can swim in the lakes, but be advised that the glacial waters are extremely chilly. Using water that is only 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) on average!
If you want to swim here, try to bring a wetsuit for cold water and a towel to dry off with afterward. Since there are no emergency services nearby and spotty mobile service, you must be a confident swimmer to swim here.
Make sure to call for assistance if you unintentionally fall into the lake in chilly weather. In the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, hypothermia can occur. It’s also vital to remember that the lakes have no cell service.
Are there any threatening creatures close to the lake?
The region near Joffre Lakes is home to both black and grizzly bears. In fact, it is thought that the grizzly bear population in this area is seriously threatened.
If you’re just here to trek, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any bears. That’s because bears detest crowds and are likely to avoid the trail. You must, however, always have bear spray on you, make a lot of noise, and never feed or try to get close to a bear.
You must be significantly more prepared and bring bear spray if you intend to camp here. Additionally, make sure all food items are securely stored.
Joffre Lakes hike is revered for a good reason. It is just breathtaking! But happily, the entire province of British Columbia is home to some of the world’s top hiking trails. I sincerely hope this thorough hiking guide has inspired you and provided helpful advice for your trip to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park!
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