If you’re staying near Whistler or close to Pemberton in British Columbia, Canada, this is a great place to venture out and take a hike. Although Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is more than a six-hour drive from where I live in Washington, the photos that I’ve seen of the lakes was enough to make me get up at 4 am and make my way over the border. So with just a few hours of sleep and a hot cup of English breakfast tea, I loaded up my day hike bag with my DSLR, lens, batteries, and a few snacks and hit the road.
Surprisingly, I didn’t hit any traffic on the way up but alas it was super early in the morning and I was able to make it past Seattle around five o’clock so the workweek traffic wasn’t bad yet. I hadn’t driven this distance in quite a while so I thought I’d get tired quick but my podcasts and Spanish lessons kept me busy.
It was smooth sailing once I got past the border and the drive past Whistler and other cities and parks on BC Highway 99/Sea-to-Sky Highway made for a beautiful scenic drive. I understand why they have signs all over that tell drivers not to stop on the Sea-to-Sky Highway since the views are so marvelous. It could be tempting to stop and just pull over to see the sun reflecting off the water Squamish River or scan the lush valleys covered in trees.
I made it to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park around 11 AM. I wanted to get there early since anyone who goes hiking knows that trails can get busy the later you go. The main parking lot was full but don’t worry as there is another parking area across the road that you can park in. Honestly, I’d say you probably should park there as it’s easier to get out of that lot as opposed to the main lot. Eleven actually is kind of late for me but since it was a workweek day, the trail wasn’t too busy.
First things first, the mosquitos are NO JOKE here in the summer months. I was dumb and didn’t bring insect repellent. As there are three lakes to visit on this hike there are large swarms of mosquitos that huddle near the water’s edge waiting for some tasty morsels of animal blood to devour. Don’t be a victim.
They have vault toilets before you head out on the trail and a decent map to take note of so that you know where you’re going. You might not need it since it’s really only one course and….it’s all…up….hill.
The first lake is very close to the parking lot, maybe about 1/2 of a mile/50 meters. The first lake was where I knew I was in trouble with the mosquitos. They tore me up..big time! Of course, it doesn’t itch right away but just wait. I did spend a decent amount of time swatting and smacking my skin along the hike because mosquitos are super sneaky. Nonetheless, the first lake was gorgeous. It’s just a taste of the lakes to come. The sun hadn’t come out fully yet so it didn’t give off the super fluorescent green-blue hue that you often see in pics.
Due to the mosquitos, I hurriedly made my way to get back on the trail to the second lake. The sign says it’s 1.86 miles/3km from the first lake to the second lake. It’s 2.49 miles/4 km from the first lake to the third lake.
It seemed like the trail was at a 45-degree angle the entire 2.5 ish miles. There are also steps within the angle of the trail. I believe it’s about 1300 elevation gain. I’m not going to lie, this trail is tough but not too tough. I would say it’s definitely not a beginner hike though. There are lots of points where you just look out at the surrounding mountains and lush hillsides and it’s very peaceful. People were pretty courteous but a lot of people don’t understand yielding the right-of-way or allowing faster hikers the right to pass, but just be patient. Take your time and don’t rush. You are out in nature remember. Enjoy it!
There is no water on or near the trail that is drinkable so make sure you bring enough water and maybe a few snacks. I made an amateur mistake in my rush to leave my house and forgot the top to my water bladder so I had to resort to taking two bottles of water in the hopes that would be enough for the hike.
Surprisingly, I made it to the second lake in about an hour but some people that I passed on the trail took about 2-2.5 hours. Like I said, it’s all uphill so pace yourself and breathe. Once you get to the second lake, take time to enjoy it. There really aren’t words to describe accurately how marvelous the color of the lake is.
Don’t fret if the sun isn’t out right away, it should peek out from the behind the clouds and you can see the shine of the lake of antifreeze. Just kidding, it’s not that green but more blue-green. I thought there would be a lot of selfie sticks and Instagrammers blocking all the view but people were actually ENJOYING nature without just trying to take pics. Just lovely!
I decided not to go to the third lake because seeing the second lake was actually enough for me, plus I wanted to get back to the border by around 6 pm so I had a bit of a time crunch. It’s only about another mile from the second lake though just in case you decide to keep going.
Overall, I will definitely be back if I’m in the area and do a few other hikes probably in Garibaldi or near the Wedgemount glacier. British Columbia has some really great parks and places to just be outdoors and they are free unlike most of the parks in Washington. It’s a wonderful drive to get there, a calm and clean hike, and a spectacular surprise ending once you get to each of the lakes.
Tips:
- Like a lot of the areas around Joffre Lakes, this area is bear country. There have been sightings of grizzlies and black bear among other wildlife. Don’t leave trash on the trail and dispose of food wastes in designated bins at the trailhead.
- Pack it in/pack it out if you decide to camp or hike. Follow the principles of “Leave no trace”.
- Campsites are first come first serve and fill up fast especially on weekends. There are also fees to camp.
- Dogs and other domestic animals are not allowed at Joffre Lakes
