Are you thinking of going on an adventure? Joffre lake camping is the best choice. Joffre Lakes is a ‘straight out of scenery’ provincial park and one of the best in bc parks. You may have seen numerous viral Instagram posts about Joffre lakes provincial park’s beautiful blue glacial-fed lakes. What about taking a photo of yours?
So, if you would love to visit Joffre lakes provincial park and experience the surreal blue lakes, we are here to guide you with everything related to Joffre lake camping and hiking. We assure you this guide will help you with every possible doubt.
1. About Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Joffre lakes provincial park is located near Pemberton in British Columbia, Canada. Joffre Lakes Recreational Area was established in 1988, gained a Provincial Park status in 1997, and became another British Columbia park. It became popular after the new Duffey lake road was opened and turned into a section of highway 99(the Sea to Sky Highway).
It has three lakes: lower, middle, and upper Joffre lakes. You can visit Joffre lake year-round, but in the winter, you would only see frozen lakes covered with snow
1.1 Activities in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
If you are a thrill-seeking individual, Joffre lakes provincial park has a lot to offer you. You get an amazing Joffre lakes trail, a Joffre lakes camping experience, mountaineering, winter recreation(backcountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities exist), wildlife viewing, and fishing in the Joffre lakes.
1.2 Directions to reach Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
- Via Car: To reach Joffre lakes provincial park, you must take the Sea to Sky highway to Pemberton junction. From there, follow the signboards toward Mount Currie. After a few km distances, take a right turn on Duffey lake road. After approximately 20km on Duffey lake road, you will start seeing the signs of the Joffre Lakes parking lot. This is where the Joffre lakes trailhead starts.
- Via Bus: Parkbus offers bus services to many bc parks like Garibaldi provincial park, Golden Ears provincial park, and Joffre lakes provincial park. It departs from downtown Vancouver near Burrard Skytrain station with a stop in whistler village.
1.3 Parking for Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Joffre lakes provincial park has a parking space with three parking lots: the Main parking lot, the Cayoosh parking lot, and the Overflow parking lot. The Cayoosh parking lot is farthest from the main entrance for hiking Joffre lakes.
Pro tip- Reach Joffre lake provincial park or Joffre lakes trailhead parking before 8 am to get a parking space. Avoid parking on the highway if you don’t want your car to be towed.
1.4 Restrictions and Prohibitions
Prohibited- Campfires, Harvesting of natural resources, and domestic animals(Yesss! your fur baby is not allowed here). Camping is only permitted in the designated camping area.
1.5 Geology of Joffre Lakes
You might wonder why the Joffre lakes are crystal clear, turquoise blue! Let us tell you the geological reason behind the Joffre lakes being so blue. The main reason for Joffre lakes’ blue color is the rock flour or the glacial silt at the bottom of the lakes, which throws the blue and green wavelengths of sunlight that appear turquoise blue to us.
1.6 Mountains in the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park includes three mesmerizing lakes and many mountains. The mountains that come under the region of Joffre lakes provincial park are
a) Joffre Peak
b) Mount Matier
c) Mount Taylor
d) Mount Howard
e) Mount Hartzell
f) Mount Speech
g) Tszil Mountain
h) Slalok Mountain
2. Hiking Trail for Joffre Lake Camping
You must hike the three Joffre lakes trails to reach the Joffre peak and stay at Joffre lake camping grounds. Joffre lakes day hike can be considered a moderately challenging hike due to the high uphill climb. This short trail is one of the famous hiking trails of bc parks, all thanks to the beautiful glacial-fed lakes of Joffre. The breathtaking views one gets after reaching the Joffre peak make your soul full of thrill and excitement.
Along the way to this trailhead, you can visit the three lakes: the first lake- lower lake, the second lake- middle lake, and the third lake- upper lake. You also get to witness creek crossings, waterfalls, mountain goats, and viewpoints of the beautiful surroundings. At the top of the hike, you get a view of the matter glacier.
2.1 How far is this hike?
The hike for Joffre lake camping is a 9.2km(round-trip) long hike that takes about 4-5 hours. The hike starts after a 5 minutes walk from the main parking lot, where you can visit the first lake. Let’s know more about each Joffre lake.
2.2 Hike for lower Joffre lake
Lower Joffre lake is the first lake you will encounter after a few minutes of your hiking trail. It is a great spot for a family picnic with an easily accessible viewpoint so that you can head back from here also or continue the hike for the middle Joffre lake and the upper Joffre lake. Along the way, you experience beautiful soul-refreshing cold rushing streams of waterfalls and creek crossings.
2.3 Hike for Middle Joffre lake
The longest hike of a maximum of 1.5 hours, filled with a remote wilderness environment and elevation gain, will take you to the most photogenic Joffre lake of the three lakes- the middle Joffre lake. Here you will see the famous spot for photogenic- a long and slim log floating on this Joffre lake. If you can click your picture here, be cautious not to fall in the freezing water of the middle of Joffre lake.
2.4 Hike for Upper Joffre lake
After the second lake- middle Joffre lake- you must pass a slippery and steep trail to reach the last and third lake- upper Joffre lake. It is undoubtedly a beautiful point to experience breathtaking glacier views with glacier-laden peaks. The Joffre lake camping grounds are also located near upper Joffre lake. Next, we’ll discuss Joffre lake camping (backcountry camping ).
2.5 A Complete Attire you must want in the Hike!
For the Joffre lakes hiking trail, you should wear the right clothes for a better hiking experience. If you are going walking in Joffre lakes provincial park, you’ll need to wear
a) Comfortable Clothes- You’ll be hiking for many hours, so it’s apt to wear comfortable clothes. For summers, you can wear a legging/tights/joggers, a t-shirt, and a jacket in backup for high altitude places. For winters, you have to opt for layering, and you need to wear a thermal top, fleece leggings/joggers, and a warm jacket.
b) Good hiking shoes- You should wear waterproof shoes and avoid slippers or uncomfortable footwear. Footwear is an essential part of every hike, so you should be sure that what you wear is good for hiking or not.
c) Potable water- Don’t forget to bring your drinking water. Hike for the Joffre lake camping ground is difficult, and you won’t see many places to buy potable water. So, it’s advised to bring your drinking water.
d)Food- You should bring snacks for quick bites during your hiking trail.
e) Warm hat– If you visit Joffre lakes during winter, you should wear a warm hat or beanie to keep your head warm and not get cold.
f) Gloves or Mittens- For winter camping and hiking in Joffre lakes, you should not forget your hands and make them freeze. Wear wool-knitted gloves or mittens for your safety.
g) Backpack- A hiking backpack is a must to keep all your items safe. The pack should have broad backstraps for your comfort and should be waterproof.
3. Camping at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Backcountry camping is an experience you should not miss if you are in the Joffre lakes provincial park. Joffre lake camping is located near upper Joffre lake. Camping is only allowed in the designated campgrounds; thus, the campground fills quickly as there are a lot of crowds. Let us talk more about Joffre lake camping in detail:
3.1 Reservation for Joffre lake camping
A reservation is compulsory if you plan to stay overnight for Joffre lake camping. It would help if you had a camping permit to book a campsite in Joffre lakes. These campsites are given on a first-come-first-served basis, so you must confirm a camping reservation as soon as possible(maximum 2 months in advance).
3.2 Camping grounds at the Joffre lakes provincial park
After a 5.5 km trail, 26 Joffre lake camping sites are located south of the upper Joffre lake. You can find a pit toilet and storage for food which is bear-proof for the visitors’ convenience. These campsites can accommodate small backcountry tents and cannot be used without a camping reservation.
3.3 Tips & Precautions for Joffre lake Camping
While going to Joffre lake camping, you need to bring a few necessities, such as-
a) Clothes- You should pack a pair of thermal clothing if you are interested in staying overnight and camping. You can bring a warm top or sweater, a fleece jacket, and a warm bottom which is comfortable for sleeping.
b) Water- You should bring your drinking water or a water filter as you won’t find potable water in the backcountry.
c) Mosquito Repellent or net- You will surely find many mosquitos in the backcountry, so it is better to bring a net or repellent to avoid mosquito bites.
d) Sleeping Pad- Don’t forget to bring a sleeping pad while camping at Joffre lake.
e) First-aid Items- In case of any emergency, you should be well-prepared to handle it. Bringing basic first-aid items is a good thought to tackle common injuries or sicknesses while hiking or camping.
f) Documents- You should not forget to bring the important documents for the Joffre lake camping. Important documents are your ids and slips of camping permit.
g) Gadgets- Imagine coming to beautiful Joffre lakes and not clicking pictures to remember the scenery for your lifetime. You should bring your camera, batteries, and power banks to avoid this mistake.
h) Cooking Essentials- Bring backcountry stoves and cooking utensils to cook your food at the Joffre lake camping grounds.
i) Toilet Paper- For hygiene purposes, you should bring your toilet paper while going to Joffre lake camping.
j) Bear spray- You are going into the remote wilderness when you go for Joffre lake camping which is prone to bear attacks. So, bringing bear spray is a good thought.
k) Snacks and beverages- You should pack any snack and beverage that is lightweight and easy to carry.
l) Food storage box- The campsites have a bear-proof food storage box, but it’s better to carry your food storage box to keep it with you.
m) Navigation aids- In remote areas of Joffre lake camping, you need navigation and communication aids such as maps, satellite phones, compass, etc., because you can’t rely on your cell phones in such places.
n) Flashlight- For camping in Joffre lake, you should pack a flashlight or headlamp in your backpack.
0) Fire- Campfire or any other kind of fire is not permitted in Joffre lake camping for safety reasons. A place like Joffre lake provincial park, full of nature and wilderness with coastal winter weather, is highly prone to fire hazards. Thus, fire safety is given great attention in Joffre lakes.
p) Avalanche Safety gear- If you plan to visit Joffre lake camping during winter, you mustn’t forget to buy and bring avalanche safety gear as there are high chances of avalanche risk.
q) Small bag- You will not find any garbage bins in the Joffre lake provincial park, so you should bring a small bag with you to avoid littering here and there. If you truly admire nature, you should never harm it by throwing garbage in the open.
3.5 Is Joffre lake camping a crowded place?
Joffre lake camping is at its peak during the summer, especially from June to August. The campsites get overflowed with crowds. If you don’t get a camp, you need to hike back as camping is not allowed without a permit and is not possible if the grounds are already full.
In winter, Joffre lakes are less crowded as the three Joffre lakes are frozen, so you can’t see the blue water of Joffre lakes. Also, winter camping is not open from November to mid-April, so avoid going for Joffre lake camping in the winter.
3.6 Stays near the Joffre lake camping
Don’t get upset if you find the Joffre lake camping sites full! You can have the camping experience just a few kilometers away from Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. There are ample options you can choose from. Following are some of the recommended stays near the Joffre lake camping –
a) Washtock Family Campground
b) Riverside Resort
c) Nairn Falls Provincial Campsite
d) Whispering Falls Resort
e) Four Seasons Resort
f) Joffre Creek Cabins
g) Paradise Valley Campground
3.7 Wildlife near Joffre Lake Camping
Joffre lake camping is located amid wilderness and alpine terrains. Joffre lakes provincial park is home to many wildlife. The commonly found nature in Joffre lakes includes bears(black and grizzly), deers(mule and black-tailed), mountain goats, wolverines, bobcats, and cougars.
Normally, you will not encounter these wild animals as they avoid coming to crowded areas but still, you should be aware of the surroundings and be prepared with bear spray.
4. Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q.1 What is the best time to visit Joffre lakes?
The best time to visit Joffre lakes provincial park is from April to September, as in winter, the environment becomes too harsh around the peak, and avalanche risks are also present. The campsites are also not available during winter.
Q.2 Is swimming allowed in Joffre lake?
Yes, swimming is allowed in Joffre lakes but remember these are glacial-fed lakes, so the water is extremely cold. The ideal time to swim in Joffre lakes is during peak summertime. Also, bring your swimming suit and towel if you swim in Joffre lakes.
Q.3 Are there any fees in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park?
There is a fee for a backcountry camping permit in the Joffre lake camping sites but for the Joffre Lake trail. You must book a free day-use pass two days before your planned date.
Q.4 Can we bring pets to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park?
According to the latest guidelines, domestic animals are prohibited from entering the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.
Q.5 What is the closing and the opening time of Joffre Lakes Provincial Park?
Joffre lakes trail opens at 7 am and closes at 11 pm. So, reach the Joffre lakes provincial park according to the timings.
Q.6 How tough is the Joffre Lakes Hike?
The short trail of Joffre Lakes, about a 3-3.5 hours hike, can be considered a moderate-level challenging trail.
Q.7 What is the reason behind Joffre Lakes being so famous?
The breathtaking glacier views, moderately challenging trails, and beautiful blue lakes make the Joffre lakes provincial park so famous and popular among hikers and nature lovers.
Q.8 Is there a parking facility at Joffre Lakes trailhead?
Yes, Joffre Lakes trail has a parking facility. It has three parking lots: the main parking lot(closest), the Cayoosh parking lot(farthest), and the overflow parking lot. The parking lots get full early, so try reaching here early in the morning. Avoid parking on the highway unless your car can be towed.
5. Things to know before you go
Let us emphasize the important things you need to know before you go.
- First comes the point, is it a long hike? Well, the Joffre lakes hike is only 10 km round-trip. So, it can be considered a short and moderately challenging hike. The elevation gain of Joffre lakes trailhead is approximately 350-370 km.
- The second point is how to reach the Joffre lakes. You can get to Joffre lakes provincial park by bus or car. There is a public bus service, the Park bus, which departs from downtown Vancouver and drops you at the Joffre Lake trailhead parking lot. If you are driving, you can get here by using the sea-to-sky highway and enjoy the views of Duffey lake road.
- The next focus is getting a pass to enter the Joffre trailhead. You need to book a free day-use pass with a full-day validity. Otherwise, the forest rangers can ask you to return. You should also have a camping reservation if you want to stay overnight.
- The main point is the best time to visit Joffre Lakes, Provincial Park. This area is surrounded by many mountains and glaciers( Matier Glacier), which results in extremely cold weather. If you want to hike and camp in Joffre lakes, the perfect time is from April to August. Also, it’s better to visit here midweek rather than on weekends as it gets overflowed with crowds on weekends.
- Three parking lots are also available near the entrance of Joffre Lakes trailhead, but be sure to reach here as early as possible because the parking lots get filled quickly.
- Swimming and fishing are allowed in Joffre lakes, so don’t forget to bring your towel, fishing kit, and fishing license.
6. Make Your Hiking Trip to Joffre Lake Memorable
British Columbia is full of natural hotspots to fulfill your cravings for a little break from the daily life hustle. Joffre lake provincial park is one such bc park that is perfect if you want to go on a weekend getaway. It offers you various activities to explore, be it a short-trail hike or camping in a beautiful natural setting.
Joffre lake camping perfectly combines scenic lakes, glacial views, and raw natural vibes. If you are a nature-seeker and love adventure, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park of Canada must be on your bucket list.
We hope that we have given you enough information regarding Joffre lake camping. Share your experience if you’ve ever been to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park!
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