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ABOUT JOFFRE LAKES
The Joffre Lakes hike is one of British Columbia's most popular and beautiful hikes. Three exquisite lakes with turquoise water, breathtaking views, and majestic glacier-laden peaks towering high above, make this a relatively moderate hike with incredible rewards. The Joffre Lakes hike should be on both locals' and visitors' bucket list!
HOW TO GET TO JOFFRE LAKES
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is located off the Duffey Lake Road north of Pemberton. It is about a 2.5 hours drive from Vancouver if you take the Sea to Sky highway towards Whistler and Pemberton. The Joffrebus is a convenient and affordable bus service from Vancouver and Whistler to Joffre Lakes and is operated on weekends and most weekdays from May until October.
STATISTICS
Time: 4 hours
Round-trip: 10km
Summer: May - Sept
Winter: Nov - Feb
From Vancouver: 2.5 hrs
Camping: Yes. Reservations are required
Difficulty: Intermediate
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ABOUT
The Joffre Lakes hike, located in the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park north of Pemberton, is relatively easy to access compared to other alpine lakes. Easy access, breathtaking views of exquisite turquoise coloured lakes and hanging glaciers on top of towering mountains, make this a very rewarding hike for everyone.
The Joffre Lakes hike should be high on everyone's "bucket list" as it offers an exquisite diversity for what you would expect from a day hike. The overall hike does not take too long and can be considered a modest hike. The hike to Joffre Lakes will take you to three spectacular turquoise coloured lakes that are being fed by the Matier Glacier that can be seen hanging high above. The three lakes are appropriately named Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre Lake. Each lake is more breathtaking than the previous.
The two to three hour long hike to Upper Joffre Lake commences from a parking lot that are located minutes away from Lower Joffre Lake. From Lower Joffre Lake, you will hike past creek crossings, a raging waterfall and several viewpoints to first reach Middle Joffre Lake and finally Upper Joffre Lake. A rugged campsite is available for those wanting to spend the night. For the more adventurous hikers, it is possible to hike alongside Upper Joffre Lake and to climb all the way to the Matier Glacier. However, caution should be taken as ice sheets may break off the glacier at any moment! Learn more about the hiking route and map here...