Joffre Lakes Hike

The trailhead to Joffre Lakes begins about three hours north of Vancouver, just past Pemberton on the Sea to Sky Highway. The parking lot is right on the highway and is usually overflowing, so impossible to miss. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is made up of three bright turquoise glacier lakes.

The first is a few minutes from the parking lot, offering the first glimpse of the famous Joffre water. The second lake is about a 45-minute hike up, and the third lake is another 20 minutes. In some areas the trail is quite steep, but the paths have been cleared of obstacles and have become highly accessible. Although this allows a larger population of people to enjoy the beauty of Joffre Lakes, it does mean you will often see jean-wearing and flip flop-clad tourists trying to snap that insta-famous photo standing on the log of second lake.

JOFFRE LAKES HIKE DETAILS

When: June to September for hiking, October to May for snowshoeing

Where: just past Pemberton

Difficulty: intermediate

Length: 2 hours for 10km round-trip

Directions: check out the guide on Vancouver Trails

Bathrooms: yes, at the parking lot

Public Transit: no