Joffre Lakes Hike and Directions (Pemberton, BC)
When I first heard about Joffre Lakes it was not very well known but the word is out and for good reason these lakes are some of the prettiest in Canada. The views from such a short hike are truly incredible. We recommend Joffre to anyone visiting Canada it is 100% worth the drive.
I have added all the common FAQ’s and everything you ever wanted to know about Joffre Lakes below!
Joffre Lakes Hike Info
- Difficulty Level: Easy – Medium Trail is well maintained
- Elevation gain: 370m+ more if you do the glacier lookout
- Distance: 11 km round trip (5.5) km one way
- Time Needed: 3- 5 hours to enjoy the lakes
- Best Time To Go: Spring to fall when the snow has cleared
- Dog Friendly – No dogs are not allowed at Joffre Lakes
- Terrain – Varied terrain recommend good hiking boots or trail runners
- Fires – Not allowed anywhere in Joffre Lakes Park
- 4 x 4 – Parking is right of main highway
- Swimming – Great spot to swim!
Joffree Lakes Driving Directions
The trail starts just North of Pemberton and is easily accessible by a fully paved road- Joffre Lakes Provincial Park Map. The lot has a bathroom and a well mapped sign of the trail.
From Vancouver Joffre Lakes is a 2.5 hour or 182km drive north on scenic Highway 99. There is no public transportation option available to get to Joffre. If you don’t drive I would recommend taking a tour like this one that has pickup in Vancouver or Squamish or try and carpool.
Joffre Lakes Permit System
So the trail used to be crazy busy but now due to the permit process its not so bad. Years ago there were hundreds of people wanting to hike this destination, and the parking lot was so overflowed that there were cars parked for about 3 kilometers on the road
CBC parking fiasco. This is part of the reason why they have added the permit system.
You can apply for your permits in two ways with the day use pass or camping. If you have a camping reservation you do not need to apply for a day use pass.
How To Get Your Joffre Day Use Pass
Day use passes can be applied for 2 days before you arrival date starting at 7 am. These passes are free but sell out fairly quickly so you want to be on it. Go HERE to get your pass.
If you are looking to camp you can book your site HERE by going to the backcountry tab and selecting Joffre Lakes Park.
Joffre Lakes Hike Directions
There is a great sign with some alternate hikes if you somehow missed that you need a permit!
The trail starts at the now huge well marked parking lot. There is an upper lot close to the trail start and a big lower lot for campers and RV’s just down the road. You can use the washroom here read the maps and check in with the rangers before your hike.
There is no sneaking past this trail station have you permit or camping reso ready.
Lower Joffre Lake
The trail heads directly to Lower Joffre and then branches up to keep climbing to Middle Joffre. It is basically flat and only about 200m to Lower Joffre.
Pretty good views for a 200m walk!!
The trail is quite scenic and we really enjoyed the just under 3 km 300m hike.
The trail gets a little bit steep when you clear the trees.
When the trail turns into wooden stairs you are at the final push to Middle Joffre Lake.
Middle Joffre Lake
Middle Joffre is absolutely amazing and what you came to see! This is where you will find the the famous log photo spot like above.
Megs is pretty pumped with the view so far.
We took a couple minutes to relax just down the path from the famous (now busy photo spot)
One of those I cant believe this is real spots. The log is fairly stable so I was happy walking out this far.
Megs looking at Mt Matier and the glacier we would eventually walk to!
When your done admiring the view you can get a cool view of Holloway falls before you continue up to Upper Joffre.
Upper Joffre Lake
Upper Joffre is no slouch and definitely worth the extra uphill push.
The Upper Joffre Lake is at the end of the 5.5km one way hike, and it is a great lake to swim, eat lunch, and relax. You will also find a backcountry camping spot at the far end of the lake, equipped with a safety bin and bear cache.
After Holloway falls its a bit of a steep uphill push until you reach the lake level.
As soon as you finish the elevation the views open up and you are greeted with this view.
If you are not pushing on to the campground and lookout this is a great spot to hang out go for a swim and have a snack before heading back.
Upper Joffre To Joffre Campground
If you are heading to Joffre campground this is where the trail starts to fall apart a bit. The trail is only 1km and mainly flat but its mostly over awkward boulders and you have to trail find a little bit. It’s not hard but you need to pay attention a bit.
Pretty but slightly challenging terrain.
this photo is a great example of what the trail is like.
There were lots of great spots scattered throughout the rocks some flatter than others. There were even two wooden platforms a little farther up the hill that had a killer view.
Some lucky early riser got their very own private spot on that little peninsula!
Sunset and sunrise views make the camping all worth it.
Joffre Campground at sunset
Joffre Campground just after sunrise.
Joffre Lakes Glacier Add On Hike
-3km return and 600m elevation gain to the actual glacier
This add on from the Upper Joffre campground was incredible. We got such a good view over the whole are we could see all three lakes. We also got the chance to drink straight from the glacier which was a big bucket list tick for me.
This felt like we were hiking in the alps or Iceland I was super surprised we were this close to Vancouver.
The hike was about 3km return and 600m to the glacier. If that’s to far after your hike to the campground there is a great view just 15minutes up from the campground.
Joffre Glacier Hike Start Point
The trail start right on the ridge above the campground. It is a super obvious trail with several routes. You want to just head up from the campground and you will see they way.
This is not an official trail and legitimate alpine terrain so only go as far as you are comfortable.
Upper Joffre Lake Lookout
If you just walk 10 or 15 minutes up to the top of the scree pile you get this super worth it view looking down on Upper Joffre. If you are not comfortable in alpine terrain this is a great place to stop or watch sunset.
Continuing up and the left to avoid the rock debris area Meg approaches the rock dome and edge of the glacier.
The entire way up was crazy pretty and we couldn’t believe the views.
How incredible is this! Who would of thought you could hike to moutain top glacier at Joffre Lakes.
We stopped to drink from the edge of the glacier then headed down the rock dome to the natural lookout point.
The lookout that should be famous! In this distance you can see all 3 Joffre lakes.
It was a quick hike back down to camp where we looked back and snapped this pic of what we just climbed.
On the way back down we had to take one last stop at Middle Joffre.
Lets face it the if you didn’t head to the glacier the lakes were not that hard!
Why not check out Tunnel Bluffs on your way back to Vancouver. It’s a completely different type of hike but it has amazing views of Howe Sound.
Joffre Lake Hike Tips
1. Snag A Day Pass & Check Closures
Joffre Lakes is crazy popular, so you need a free day-use pass from June to September. Grab it on the BC Parks website they go quick! Also, check for closures (for Indigenous use or conservation) on the BC Parks page so you don’t drive up for nothing.
Tip: Hit the trailhead by 6-7 AM to score parking and beat the crowds.
2. Check Mountain Weather
We like to check Pemberton and whistler weather on Mountain-Forecast.com for Joffre Lakes. It can be sunny below but rainy or cold up top (you’re climbing up 400m / 1,300ft).
Tip: Pack a rain jacket and fleece, even if it looks nice. Mountains are sneaky!
3. Know the Trail Conditions
The 11 km (6.8-mile) trail is steep and rocky. Spring/fall can mean snow or mud; summer’s dry but busy. Check AllTrails or Instagram (#JoffreLakes) for recent updates on ice or crowds. The trail is great all the way until the turn off for the upper campground.
Tip: Microspikes and trekking poles are clutch if it’s icy.
4. Wear Good Shoes
You can do this hike in runners if you want but I always prefer my trail runners or hiking boots. You need grip for those slippery rocks if your heading to the campground.
5. Bring Water & Snacks
The lake water isn’t safe to drink unfiltered so pack at least 2 liters of water and snacks like energy bars or trail mix for the 3-6 hour hike.
Tip: A hydration bladder with a filter is a great lightweight way to hike.
6. Pack the 10 Essentials
Always bring the 10 Essentials: downloaded map/GPS, sunscreen, extra layers, headlamp, first-aid kit, matches with toiletpaper, multi-tool, extra food, water/filter, and a space blanket.
Tip: Download offline maps on AllTrails, or maps.me cell service is spotty.
7. Snap Pics, Skip the Drone
Drone are not permitted in the Joffre Lake park and the fines are heavy so leave your drone at home unless you have a permit.
Tip: The log at the Middle Lake is the famous photo spot!
8. Pack Your Trash Out
Please leave no trace and pack out all your garbage. There are garbage cans in the lot you can use. Even “biodegradable” stuff like banana peels attracts animals.
Tip: Stash trash in a Ziploc to keep your bag clean.
9. Respect Wildlife
Bears and marmots live here, so stay on the trail, keep 100m from wildlife, and store food tight and use the bear locker. Please don’t cook in your tent it habituates bears to associate people and tents with food and they have to be put down if they become a problem.
Tip: Carry bear spray in spring/fall and know how to use it.
10. Time It Right
The full hike takes 3-6 hours. Start early for fewer people and epic morning light. The Lower Lake is a quick 5-10 min walk if you’re short on time.
Tip: Sunset hikes are gorgeous but bring a headlamp for the return.
Joffre Lakes FAQ
Joffre Lakes limits the number of visitors daily in summer to only 500 people. Because of this is if you are visiting in May 16 – Oct 31 you need to register for a free pass! You can register for the day use pass here on the BC parks site. The passes become available two days before the date at 7 am. Once you select a pass you have the option for an AM, PM , or all day visit.
Parking used to be a big issue at Joffre lakes but due to the day pass system there is usually a spot available. The parking lot is reasonably large but you have to be careful not to park on the side of highway 99. If the lot is full its best to just wait for a spot. The park frequently tows people who park along the highway!
Joffre lakes is open year round but the best time to visit is from June to Sept. In this time period it is warm enough its easy access and you will be sure to see the bright blue colour of the lakes.
Joffre Lakes is located in the park of its same name east of Pemberton BC down the Duffey Lake road. Joffre Lakes is a 180 km or 3 hour drive from Vancouver.
You can definitely hike Joffre Lakes in winter. Not nearly as many people head out in winter so its a great chance to get the lakes to yourself!
If you are planning on this make sure you have the necessary cold weather gear and microspikes for your hikers. It would be wise to check the road conditions for snow before you leave as well. You can check the current advisories and trail conditions here.
Joffre lakes is open year round, with mandatory free day passes required May 16 – Oct 31
The Joffre Lakes hike is about 11 km return with 370m of elevation. It is a moderate hike that takes most people about 3-5 hours return.
There are 26 site at Upper Joffre lake with a bear cache and washroom. This is a beautiful site to stay and a great way to see the lake in the after hours with less crowds. Camping is available June 13 – November 12 and closed over winter due to avalanche risk. You can reserve a site for $5 with the bc parks reservation system here.
Unfortunately due to frequent bear activity in the area pets are not allowed in the park or trails.
The most iconic Joffre and the famous photo spot is Middle Joffre. Upper Joffre is also very beautiful with views of Mt Matier Mt Joffre and the glacier.
Where is Joffre Lakes?
Joffre Lakes is located in the park of its same name east of Pemberton BC down the Duffey Lake road. Joffre Lakes is a 180 km or 3 hour drive from Vancouver.
Other Great Hikes in the Vancouver – Whistler Area
Panorama Ridge – One of the most scenic hikes in Canada and maybe the world
Tunnel Bluffs – Closer to Vancouver with Incredible views over the Howe Sound
Golden Ears – An epic hike / journey up one of the iconic peaks of the lower mainland
