A climb through forest past three glacier-fed lakes, each a brighter turquoise than the last, with Matier Glacier hanging above the upper lake. Popular enough that BC Parks controls numbers with passes.
Moderate · 8–10 km out-and-back · +400 m climb · 3–5 hours · Dogs: no dogs
Verified on October 24, 2026 against the official park page: gain, dogs, passes. Other figures are approximate. · Sources · Cite this page
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Sea-to-Sky · ~170 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks (Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park) before you go.
From the Joffre Lakes lot on Duffey Lake Rd, reach Lower Joffre Lake within minutes and cross its boardwalked outlet with views of the glacier, Matier and Joffre Peak. Climb the west side on rocky, rooty trail, cross a big rockfall, and keep climbing above wild Joffre Creek to Middle Lake (about 2 h). Cross its outlet and continue to Upper Joffre Lake at the foot of the glacier and icefall. Return the same way.
Watch for: Harder than the numbers suggest: talus, repeated creek crossings on narrow, slippery log bridges. Best July to October.
Best season: Best July to October
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | Sea-to-Sky |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | Summer to early fall, when open |
| Trailhead | Joffre Lakes trailhead, Duffey Lake Rd (Hwy 99) |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | BC Parks free day-use trail pass per person, May 11 to Oct 25, 2026. The park closes for periods during the season; check advisories. |
| Dogs | No dogs |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views |
| Crowds | Busy, especially weekends |
| Managed by | BC Parks (Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park) |
Rocky trail with steep sections between lakes. Limited cell service.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks (Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park) for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 8–10 km (out-and-back) with roughly 400 m of elevation gain. Most people take 3–5 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks (Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park) before you go.
No. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
BC Parks free day-use trail pass per person, May 11 to Oct 25, 2026. The park closes for periods during the season; check advisories.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Hikes with the best views · Lake hikes · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Joffre Lakes (Upper Lake)." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/joffre-lakes/
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton