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    Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

    4.8 (28 reviews)

    Joffre Lakes Provincial Park Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

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    Olive W.

    It's around 3 hour drive from the city but it's worth the view! We woke up at 5 and got to the parking lot around 8:30 am. This is a very popular hiking place so it's easier to find parking if you come earlier. We just walked past the first lake and went straight to the 2nd and 3rd lake. There are bathroom outpost on the trail but bring some hand sanitizer as they don't have any. If you have time, stop by the 2nd lake (middle lake) and take picture on the log. Everyone does it! So why not? There might be a line though. At the upper lake, there is a nice view of the lake and glacier up on the mountain. It's worth hiking up all the way. My friend brought a stove and kettle and 4L of water along and we made cup noodles up at the top. There are a lot of mosquito on the trail! Like A LOT! And they are HANGRY! Bring some mosquito repellent if you don't want to end up being an all you can eat buffet for 3 hours.

    Jacob R.

    Breathtaking views of water, trees, glaciers, mountains! We took a hike with a family of eight including one baby who rode along the whole time. The hike from the parking lot to the second lake took us an hour and a half and we were exhausted when we arrived, but the view was worth the work! Make sure to pack water and be prepared for a legitimate hike. This is not a walk in the park!

    IG: pachie_deperalta
    Patricia D.

    [18/100] Does this place use CGI?! It's surreal how breathtaking the view is and the hike is even better! It's about three hours north of Vancouver and one or two hours from Whistler. The drive is mostly incline so I would advise an all wheel drive.The incline especially getting closer to the park gets steep! Parking is free and the lot is fairly large but it can get packed! There is a smaller parking lot about half a mile, south bound which is also free if the main parking lot gets full. The road isn't paved, so keep that in mind. They have an outhouse that's co-ed. I don't recall a sink so my hand sanitizer helped! There's signs everywhere and a map so hikers will know exactly where to go. There are three lakes and the last lake is the most challenging hike but it's worth it! The first lake is about 20 steps away from the beginning of the trail. I recommend this place to everyone and anyone! It's free and I have yet to see anything parallel it! Pros: - Free parking - Not too far from Vancouver and close to Whistler. - A nice drive Cons: - The outhouse is on top of a hill and the bottom of the toilet looks like a black hole. It super scary! Be careful! - Parking can run out. What to bring: - Camera - Hand wipes and/or hand sanitizer - Good hiking shoes - Light sweater - Swimming suit (IF ITS SUMMER)

    Gorgeous and cool colour of aqua blue
    Hanh T.

    Have to see it with your own eyes to believe It's so beautiful and breathtaking. But You have to plan your trip early to get to the top. And expect traffic delays We started at 12 noon a bit late and the traffic stuck to get here is very long bumper to bumper on a September long weekend. Just 1/2 hr stopped at Shannon fall and 1/2hr spend at the lake we didn't get home till 7:45pm (So instead of 2.5 hr to get there it took us 4 hrs extra just sitting in the traffic jam)

    Josh B.

    If you're staying near Whistler or close to Pemberton, this is a great place to venture out and take a hike. First things first, the mosquitos are NO JOKE here in the summer months. I was dumb and didn't bring insect repellent but as there are three lakes to visit on this hike there are large swarms of mosquitos that huddle near the water's edge waiting for some tasty morsels of animal blood to devour. Don't be a victim. I got here around 11am and the main parking lot was full but don't worry there is another parking area across the road and down a ways that you can park in. Honestly, I'd say you probably should park there as it's easier to get out of that lot as opposed to the main lot. They have vault toilets before you head out on the trail and a decent map to take note of so that you know where you're going. You might not need it since it's really only one course and....it's all...up....hill. The first lake is very close to the parking lot, maybe about 1/2 of a mile/50 meters). The first lake was where I knew I was in trouble with the mosquitos. They tore me up..big time! Of course,​ it doesn't itch right away but just wait. I did spend a decent amount of time swatting and smacking my skin along the hike because mosquitos are super sneaky. Nonetheless, the first lake was gorgeous. It's just a taste of the lakes to come. The sun hadn't come out fully yet so it didn't give off the super fluorescent green-blue hue that you often see in pics. Due to the mosquitos, I​ hurriedly made my way to get back on the trail to the second lake. The sign says it's 1.86 miles/3km from the ​first lake to the​ ​ second lake. It's 2.49 miles/4 km from the​ ​first lake t​o the third lake. It seemed like the trail was at a 45 degree angle the entire 2.5 ish miles. There are also steps within the angle of the trail. I believe it's about 1300 elevation gain. I'm not going to lie, this trail is tough but not too tough. I would say it's definitely not a beginner hike. It's a beautiful hike though. There are lots of points where you just look out at the surrounding mountains and lush hillsides and it's just very peaceful. The trail wasn't super busy even at 11am-12pm. People were pretty courteous but a lot of people don't understand yielding the right-of-way or allowing faster hikers the right to pass, but just be patient. Take your time and don't rush. You are out in nature remember. Enjoy it! There is no water on or near the trail that is drinkable so make sure you bring enough water and maybe a few snacks. Surprisingly, I made it to the ​second lake in about an hour but some people that I passed on the trail took about 2-2.5 hours. Once you get to the ​second lake, take time to enjoy it. There really aren't words to describe​ accurately how marvelous the color of the lake is. Don't fret if the sun isn't out right away, it should peek out from the behind the clouds and you can see the shine of the lake of antifreeze. Just kidding it's not that green but more blue-green. I thought there would be a lot of selfie sticks and Instagrammers​ blocking all the view but people were actually ENJOYING nature without just trying to take pics. Just lovely! I decided not to go to the ​third lake because seeing the​ ​ second lake was actually enough for me, plus I wanted to get back to the border by around 6pm so I had a bit of a time crunch. It's only about another mile from the second lake though just in case you decide to keep going. Overall, I will definitely be back if I'm in the area and do a few other hikes probably in Garibaldi or near the Wedgemount glacier. It's a wonderful drive to get there, a calm and clean hike, and a spectacular surprise ending once you get to each of the lakes.

    lake distances
    Michelle N.

    We decided to come in the afternoon and hopefully avoid the crowds. We started our hike at 2;45. This is not for the faint of heart. The first lake is a quick easy 10 min walk from the parking area. From there it is a steep uphill climb to middle lake but soooo worth the effort. There are some areas of stairs and other rocky paths and it does get steep at many parts. We stopped at middle lake for a late lunch and to enjoy the view. It really is breathtaking with the blue/green glacial lake, the glaciers in the distance and the blue sky. There is an outhouse just past the picnic area and over the bridge. We continued on our way to upper lake. It is a shorter climb but still a little strenuous. There is a waterfall just off the trail that is worth a look. It is so beautiful amongst the trees. Just about the time we were arriving at the top of the trail it started to hail. They were pea sized ice balls but still they stung. It rained a little too but was a short storm. We didn't walk all the way around to the campground as there was some thunder and lightning. We started our hike back down and by the time we got to the middle lake it had stopped. The temperature had dropped by about 10 degrees. We continued our hike down and didn't encounter any problems. We took 4 hours to do the hike to upper lake and back, including stopping for lunch and lots of pictures along the way. We liked hiking later in the day as most of the people we saw in the parking lot were leaving so we pretty much had the trails to ourselves. Also be aware once you pass the town of Pemberton cell phone coverage will drop off. There is no service during the hike in all of Joffre Lakes Park.

    Second lake
    Kelsey A.

    Beautiful hike! Challenging enough with elevation to feel accomplished at the end. Lakes are a beautiful shade of green/blue. About 5 miles. Great views.

    How can anyone resist this majestic view?
    Ira M.

    The most difficult and the most tiring hike for an inexperienced hiker like me but the views are the most beautiful I have ever seen. It took us a good 3 hours hiking to Upper Lake because we stopped by the Middle Lake for about half an hour to take more photos . Definitely my favorite hike. I love the glacier lakes .

    Upper Joffre Lake
    Mike G.

    This park is one of the most beautiful parks in the BC Parks system. There are 3 amazingly beautiful Glacier lakes and great views of the three glaciers that run into this lake system! The trail is very rugged and will be hard for some people and should only be attempted if you are in good physical condition. The first lake is easily accessible though for those that just want a taste what this park offers. The distance from Metro Vancouver may be a deterrent for some of you (not me but maybe you) so you could always stay in Pemberton or even backpack into the park. Joffre Lakes is one of the places that are just as beautiful in the rain as it is in the sun. So set aside a day and hit the trail and be prepared to be amazed!

    Sandra T.

    An extraordinarily beautiful provincial park that I would definitely recommend to anyone. The trail has been well traveled so you won't get lost or fall off-track. We were camping at Birkenhead Lake and decided to make the 40 minute drive back south to hike Joffre Lakes. Definitely worth it and busy on the August long weekend that we went! Joffre Lakes consists of three lakes. Lower lake is only about five minutes into the hike. Not something I'd recommend for someone to come all the way to see just this. Keep going. Middle lake is about 4km from the first lake. The hike is not difficult, but is still an uphill battle if you're not used to the exercise and increased heart rate. Just wear proper footwear and breathable clothing and you'll be fine. If you keep going you'll hit a resting/viewing area. Snap a few pictures if you like but don't spend too much here. Soon after you'll find the iconic 'Joffre Lakes fallen log'. Breathtaking sights of the aqua blue waters and a handful of adventurous people taking a dip in the cold glacier waters. We saw lots of people hanging out here - swimming, having a snack, capturing their Instagram-worthy photos, and simply just enjoying the view. If you keep moving from there you'll hit a photo opportunity with a waterfall as your backdrop. Pretty neat as the mist hits you. If you go even further from here, that's where the fun starts, in my opinion. You'll start climbing boulders and getting into more rugged terrain. The upper, or third, lake is really beautiful as well with much less hikers as some people have already headed back after the middle lake. Not a super long drive from the Vancouver area so I'd recommend to do the drive, bring lunch, and enjoy the day up here.

    The famous fallen over log in middle Joffre lake
    Priscilla C.

    Joffre lake was definitely worth the 3hr drive up from Vancouver. Make sure you make a pitstop at Pemberton to use the washroom before heading up because once you arrive at Joffre Lake, there is only two outhouses that smell pretty bad at the bottom. There are three lakes in total, lower, middle and upper Joffre lake. Lower Joffre lake already has the turquoise glacier waters and it's a short 3-5 minute walk from the parking lot. Middle Joffre lake is said to be a 2.5 hour hike up, however we only took an hour and we made many stops to catch our breaths. The hike up is a gradual uphill path, and there are no stairs, it's very naturey. The view during the whole hike is extremely breath taking as well. Once you reach middle lake, it will all feel worth it! We didn't hike up to Upper Joffre lake because it got cloudy and very cold. However, many people say that Middle Joffre Lake is actually nicer to take photos at. The hike down is simple, it may possibly be a little hard for the knees because it's all downhill, but it doesn't last too long. We took approximately 45 minutes to get down. Would I do it again? Definitely!! The drive is quite far, but it's very nice!

    Said it was open online but turned out to be closed due to covid. Make sure it is open before you drive all the way. We drove over an hour only to find the gates closed.

    Lowe lake
    Ryan E.

    Oh Joffre how I dream of meeting you again. One of our waitresses from The stonesedge kitchen highly recommended this hike and I'm so thankful she did! The lower lake is EASY and quick to get to and honestly I only planned to go the lower lake. I had read about the hike to the middle and upper lake and it sounded a little ferocious. It kind of was ferocious, but totally doable and worth more than it took to get there. I'm not an advanced hiker, I'm actually still in physical therapy for knee issues and was surprised I did what I did. Once I saw the lower lake and the fact that we had driven an hour and a half to get there from whistler I knew I had to start walking towards the middle lake. When I started the trail I wasn't sure I would make it all the way, but once I got to the hard part I had to see what was at the end. Some parts of the trail definitely had me cussing, but the walk back down was the worst part- b/c of my knees... My 70 yr old father hiked to the middle lake with me and we only had to stop to rest a few times b/c of the change in altitude. He has COPD, but he did awesome! Stopping is fine b/c you take more time to enjoy the view all around you. There are cool tree carvings all along the way, so look out for those. The scenic beauty only gets better as you walk straight uphill all along loose gravel and rocks, tree roots and a gazillion Mosquitos, flies and other appropriately named BUGS. Now that I think back on it, the bugs were the worst part. And the fact that it is so strenuous and UPHILL it's hard to get going fast enough to get away from the flying little jerks. Unfortunately we didn't see any wildlife more than birds and bugs, but we did see some kind of HUGE tracks. And poo. Bear? I'll never know. We spent a lot of time at the middle lake and then walked around the back of the lake where there are waterfalls going down into the lake. There are fallen trees with man made rails that go over the water, it was fantastic. Right by that is a trail going straight uphill towards the upper lake. We were both bummed not to keep going, but we didn't have time to do it and get back to our car safely before dark. We want to go to banff next year and do the drive from Vancouver and stop by Joffre for a full day hike and make it up to the tippy top as far as it goes. Glacier and all. Life goal for sure. If you go, wear hiking shoes, be prepared for bugs, take a snack (I had nuts) lots of water and maybe a bathing suit and towel. Don't forget your camera either! A walking stick might not be a bad idea either...

    One of the sculptures on the trail

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    Review Highlights - Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

    The first lake you come upon is lower joffre lake, which is stunning with the beautiful turquoise water.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Joffre Lakes Provincial Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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