URL: https://bcparks.ca/joffre-lakes-park/
Status: 200
Final URL: https://bcparks.ca/joffre-lakes-park/
Title: Joffre Lakes Park | BC Parks

TEXT
Joffre Lakes Park | BC Parks
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Joffre Lakes Park
Joffre Lakes Park
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Highlights in this park
Know before you go
Maps and location
Things to do
About this park
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Contact
On this page
Highlights in this park
Know before you go
Maps and location
Things to do
About this park
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Contact
Highlights in this
park
Joffre Lakes Park is famous for its turquoise-blue lakes, jagged peaks, icefields, and cold rushing streams. The park offers stunning views and opportunities for
hiking
,
camping
, and
climbing
. This is an increasingly popular park, so
backcountry camping reservations
and
day-use passes
are often required.
The Indigenous heritage of this area
The area between North Joffre Creek and Cayoosh Pass is known as Pipi7íyekw, meaning a camping place where storage houses were, in the St̓atímcets language.
Learn
how to pronounce Pipi7íyekw
from elder Charlie Mack.
Ku̓kwpi7 Skalúlmecw Dean Nelson, Political Chief, Líĺwat Nation, speaks about the significance of the area
“Joffre Lakes Park lies within the unceded territories of the Líĺwat Nation and N’Quatqua and is integral to who we are as N’Quatqua and Líĺwat7ul (Líĺwat People). The establishment of Joffre Lakes Park has served to protect this unique and beautiful place from impacts of industrial activities. However, it also disrupted our traditional use and access to these lands.
Today, Líĺwat Nation and N’Quatqua are working with BC Parks in good faith to address the current challenges we are all facing with the increasing popularity of Joffre Lakes Park. We are striving to build a new relationship with BC Parks based on mutual respect and the recognition of our Aboriginal title and rights."
Visiting Joffre Lakes Park
The waters of Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre lakes draw many visitors to the park. Their striking, saturated blue colour is caused by the ‘rockflour’ (or glacial silt) that is suspended in the water. You can access views of all three lakes via a trail that starts at the parking lot.
Camping is allowed only at Upper Joffre Lake Campground, usually from spring to fall. This is an extremely popular camping destination and reservations are required throughout the season. For information on camping at Upper Joffre Lake, see the
camping
section.
The area now known as Joffre Lakes Park has special significance for Indigenous Peoples. It also contains valuable biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. All visitors to this park are expected to follow
Leave No Trace
outdoor ethics. For more information, see our
backcountry guide
.
Show more
Know before you go
Advisories
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Visitor guidelines
Get park information
Joffre Lakes Park is a very popular destination. It is busy seven days a week and extremely busy on weekends. Make sure you have any
camping
reservations or
day-use passes
you may need.
Look at the visitor guidelines below for essential information about this park. To get the latest updates on conditions and closures, see the
advisories
section.
No emergency services
This park is in a remote area where no emergency services are available. There is no cell service in the park. You must be properly prepared and equipped for the conditions. For more information, see our
backcountry guide
.
Avalanches can happen for much of the year. Consider taking formal avalanche training before visiting the park during winter or spring. For the latest information on park conditions that may impact your visit, see
advisories
.
Prepare for winter conditions
Expect severe winter conditions from November until the end of May. Winter recreation in this park is suitable only for experienced, properly equipped outdoorspeople.
For more information, on staying safe when visiting BC Parks in winter, see the
winter safety
page.
No drinking water
Bring your own water, as drinking water is not available in Joffre Lakes Park. Always boil, filter, or otherwise treat water from lakes or streams before drinking it or using it for anything.
For more information, see HealthLink BC’s advice on
purifying your drinking water
.
Make a camping reservation
Camping is allowed at Upper Joffre Lake Campground from spring to fall. We require camping reservations throughout this period and strongly recommend you book as early as possible.
To learn more about making a camping reservation for Upper Joffre Lake Campground, see
camping
.
Camp on designated sites
Camping is allowed only at Upper Joffre Lake Campground, and only designated tent pads. Making a reservation guarantees you a spot but does not assign you a specific tent pad.
For more information on camping in Joffre Lakes Park, see the
camping
section.
No campfires
There is a permanent campfire ban in Joffre Lakes Park. Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the park, at any time of year. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
Leave No Trace
Joffre Lakes Park is in a remote area with fragile ecosystems and important biodiversity. Always follow
Leave No Trace
outdoor ethics. To learn more, watch this video.
For detailed information on outdoor ethics, see the
backcountry guide
page.
Park in designated spots
Parking is allowed only at designated parking lots. It is not allowed along the edges of Highway 99. Parking in other areas causes erosion and damages ecosystems.
No domestic animals
Dogs and other pets are not allowed in Joffre Lakes Park. This rule protects pets as well as the park’s wildlife, fragile ecosystems, and valuable biodiversity.
No harvesting
Harvesting mushrooms or any other crops is forbidden in all BC Parks. The only exceptions are for Indigenous Peoples and harvesting permit holders.
Swimming not recommended
The glacier-fed lakes in this park are very cold and are not recommended for swimming. There are no lifeguards on duty in any BC Parks.
Pack out your garbage
This park has no backcountry garbage or recycling facilities. Pack out everything you pack in. Do not bury or burn garbage under any circumstances.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Staying safe
Responsible recreation
Day-use guide
Wildlife safety
Winter safety
Fishing and hunting guide
Reservation policies
Get information on:
Backcountry camping reservations
Day-use pass
Maps and location
Joffre Lakes Park trail map [PDF]
Getting there
The entrance to Joffre Lakes Park is off Highway 99, east of Pemberton, on the Duffey Lake Road.
Things to do
Expand all things to do
Hiking
The park is open year-round. Vehicle access in winter may be blocked by snow.
Day-use passes
Day-use passes are typically required for visits during peak season. If you have a camping reservation, you do not need a day-use pass. Simply carry your reservation details with you throughout your stay. For full details, visit the
day-use passes
page.
Hiking trail
The trail from the parking lot leads past three lakes: Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre lakes. Elevation gain from the parking lot to Upper Joffre Lake is approximately 400 m.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Pack insect repellent, as mosquitoes and black flies are common. There is no garbage pick-up, so pack out what you pack in.
For a trail map, see
maps and location
. Always check the
advisories
.
The viewpoint at Lower Joffre Lake is an easy, five-minute walk from the parking lot. Continuing, the trail winds upward through old-growth forests of hemlock and spruce and along talus slopes.
This section becomes steeper and more challenging as you approach Middle Joffre Lake. Here, the pristine turquoise waters are fringed by sub-alpine forest and backed by rugged scenery.
The final stretch is narrower and rougher. It brings you to the largest and most stunning of the three lakes, Upper Joffre Lake. Here, you stand beneath the frozen cascade of Matier Glacier, with a great view of the 2,721 m Joffre Peak.
In the warm afternoon sun, you can hear crashing ice falling from the glacier, and rockfall from the slopes above. Because of this instability, we strongly discourage scrambling further uphill.
From here, only experienced and well-prepared mountaineers should attempt mountain climbing or venturing onto the glacial terrain and snowfields. For more information, see
climbing
.
Fishing
There are fishing opportunities in Joffre Lakes Park, especially in the Lower and Middle lakes.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the
fishing and hunting guide
.
Climbing
All climbing opportunities are classified as mountaineering. They should only be attempted by experienced and properly equipped mountaineers.
Winter recreation
Joffre Lakes Park is a busy destination year-round and offers many winter recreation opportunities. Backcountry skiing and snowshoeing are both popular activities here.
Be prepared for coastal winter weather, which can change rapidly, affecting visibility and travel conditions. You will encounter deep snow, ice, and slippery terrain. We strongly recommend wearing micro spikes or snowshoes.
During the fall, winter, and spring months, you will be exposed to avalanche risk. Bring an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel. Consider taking formal avalanche training before visiting the park during winter and spring.
Parking spaces are limited in winter due to snow clearing and weather conditions. Vehicle access to the park is weather-dependent from November to May. Always check the
advisories
before visiting.
About this
park
Expand all about this park
Cultural heritage
For information on the Indigenous cultural heritage of Joffre Lakes Park, please see the
highlights
in this park section.
History
The area now known as Joffre Lakes Park was established as a recreation area in 1988. It became a Class A provincial park in 1996. In recent years, it has become one of the most popular destinations in the BC Parks system.
Wildlife
Deer, black bears, grizzly bears, and mountain goats live in Joffre Lakes Park. You may spot pikas along the hiking trail. When camping, please store your food in the metal cache provided at the campground, to avoid attracting bears.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
Reservations, changes, and cancellations
Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
Phone number:
1-800-689-9025
(toll-free from Canada or the US)
Phone number:
1-519-858-6161
(international)
Contact form and live chat
Frontcountry questions
Frontcountry facilities in Joffre Lakes Park are operated by Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd. The term ‘frontcountry’ refers to any area within 1 km of a highway or park road.
Email
:
info@seatoskyparks.com
Phone
:
1-604-986-9371
Website
:
seatoskyparks.com
General questions and feedback for BC Parks
We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time.
Email:
parkinfo@gov.bc.ca
We acknowledge all First Nations on whose territories BC Parks were established. We honour their connection to the land and respect the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories.
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