Joffre Lakes Park
Lake Road, Mount Currie, Canada
With a trio of beautiful glacier-fed lakes with bright turquoise water and snow-capped mountains, Joffre Lakes Park is one of the prettiest provincial parks in British Columbia. Located northwest of Whistler, visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, mountaineering, and camping at this popular backcountry park.
The basics
With a well-maintained trail over the summer, it’s easy to explore Joffre Lakes Park independently. The 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) one-way trail winds past all three lakes and culminates at the Upper Joffre Lakes Campground. Fishing and camping are also popular over the summer, and you can snowshoe the park in the winter. Guided tours from Whistler and Vancouver are also available, including hiking, photography, or snowshoeing tours.
Things to know before you go
A day pass or a backcountry camping reservation is required for every person to visit Joffre Lakes between May and October.
Wear sturdy shoes, and bring plenty of water. There are no places to fill up on water, and water from the lakes is unsafe without treatment. Toilets are available.
Swimming in the lakes is not a good idea as the glacier-fed water is icy, and hypothermia is a real risk.
A license is required to fish in the park.
Dogs are not permitted at the park.
How to get there
Joffre Lakes Park is off Highway 99, around 37 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Whistler. Take Highway 99 until just past Mt. Currie and look for signs for Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. The main parking area will be on the left, with overflow parking before the main lot. You can also take the Parkbus from Vancouver to Joffre Lakes Park.
When to get there
Joffre Lakes Park can be visited year-round but is most popular over the summer. Day passes are required between May and October and can be booked quickly on summer weekends. Over the winter, or when snow and ice are on the ground, microspikes or snowshoes may be required, along with avalanche gear and training. Camping is not permitted between mid-November and mid-June due to the risk of avalanches.
Duffey Lake Park
Just past Joffre Lakes Park, Duffey Lake Park is a day-use park featuring scenic Duffey Lake and views of snow-capped Mt. Rohr. It’s a popular destination for hiking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, and kayaking, with a rough gravel boat launch. Dogs are also permitted in the park.
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