Trail stats
Distance: 6.9 KM out-and-back
Elevation gain: 478m
Time needed: 4-5 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate
Parking: Yes, at the trailhead – passes required (book 2 days in advance)
Getting to the trailhead
Joffre Lakes is located about 30 minutes drive beyond Pemberton. There is very little cell service once you pass Pemberton, so make sure you have your maps downloaded. As mentioned above, passes are required from June – October to protect the area from overuse. They’re released 2 days in advance at 7:00 AM and are extremely difficult to secure at weekends. There are also some dates throughout the year when the area is closed, so keep an eye on the BC Parks website for updates. (https://bcparks.ca/joffre-lakes-park/)
Because of its high elevation, the road to Joffre is subject to winter conditions. We went in mid-December 2025 and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The carpark had some snow but we were able to park easily and since there wasn’t a lot of snowfall that day, we were also able to leave with ease.
The Trail
There are 3 lakes; upper, middle and lower – all which vary in colours and surroundings. The intense turquoise-blue of the water is the result of glacial flour/silt and is most evidently seen at the middle lake.
Within a few feet of the parking lot, you reach the first lake that’s surrounded by thick forest. In the winter, the lake was unrecognisable as it was blanketed with snow. The trail continues up through the trees, a gradual incline the whole way so on a hot day it can be pretty tiring. I found the trail easier in the winter, since there was so much snow it didn’t seem as steep but the cooler temperatures also definitely helped. Snowshoes/spikes are needed but the snow was fairly compacted on the trail, this was one of my first real winter hikes and I would rate it moderate in terms of difficulty.
The distance between the first and second lake is the longest part of the hike. It is an uphill climb the whole way but once you reach the middle lake, you’ll realise it’s worth it! In the summer, the water is such a gorgeous turquoise-blue color. There are a few rocks and logs to sit and relax on, as well as a gushing waterfall a little further on. My advice is to continue on to the third lake for lunch as there are less people, more space and it is even more incredible seeing the glacial mountains up close. Even in the winter, we could see from the lack of footprints that a lot of people ended their journey at the second lake, but it’s definitely worth continuing on especially since it’s only about 10 more minutes.
In summer, we went for a dip at the top lake and it was glorious. There are lots of rocks so be wary, but the water was perfect albeit absolutely freezing. During the winter, the lake was solidly frozen over and was covered by some eerie fog shifting around which shielded the mountains at times but as it moved, the sight of the glaciers was breathtaking. We were the only people there but during high season, it’s obviously more crowded, but there is still a lot of space at the upper lake to relax and take in your surroundings.
The hike back down is quick given that it’s all downhill. The area seemed like a completely different place in the winter compared to the summer. It was beautiful in both seasons for different reasons. You can’t beat seeing turquoise-blue waters and snowy, glacial mountains standing tall under blue skies. But blanketed with winter snow, it seemed otherworldly. There are also far less people, we met maybe 6 other hikers in total which made it all the more special.
Tips / Advice
Be ready to book your pass in advance at 7:00 AM two days before – trust me, it is near impossible to get them on the weekends.
You can also camp but you will need a backcountry pass through BC Parks, these can be booked 3 months in advance.
There is no cell service so have maps downloaded.
Stop at North Arm Farm on your way there or back, it is a cute little farm that you’ll be passing on the way to Joffre and they make great sandwiches and coffee!
