Pemberton’s most popular day hike — Joffre Lakes — is famous for 3 stunning turquoise glacier-fed lakes.
- 11km round trip plus scramble above the highest lake
- elevation gain 350m
- access from high elevation, paved highway 99
Seems to me Joffre Lakes is the perfect hike. Let’s say you want to take non-hikers or small children to wilderness. The first lake is only a few minutes from the parking lot on very good trail.
Groups that turn back here have a good experience in a rich, temperate rain forest.
Most hikers continue on to Middle Joffre. The trail gets increasingly rugged. It’s a challenge, actually.
Still, everyone looked extremely happy here.
The bravest venture out like gymnasts on the “fallen log”.
English is not the first language of the trail. I heard more Mandarin and German.
A surprise. I bumped into Canadian Olympic gymnast Scott Morgan. He and his girlfriend had come up to Whistler for a couple of days getaway.
Holloway Falls
The climb to Upper Joffree is a scramble at times though some sections have been improved. A hike you’ll not forget.
I carried a tent up the mountain despite the trailhead sign saying the campground was permanently FULL. (Worst case scenario I planned to wild camp.)
As expected, campsites were not nearly full. Many who book online for $5 later decide not to go. 😦
Only a few continue to scramble up the scree above the lake to the face of the cliff.
I left a Summit Stone on a large boulder.
At this point it was about 2pm. Too early to set up the tent, I thought. Should I circle Upper Joffre and then set-up?
Finally I decided to pack my tent back down to my rent-a-car. Get ready for tomorrow’s hike. (I tented for free on the river from the Wedgemount turn-off, a cyclists hangout.)
Still, I highly recommend Joffree to everyone.
See my high resolution photos on flickr.
Guidebook – 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia
Elfin Lakes campground. A beautiful scene.
Elfin Lakes are not lakes, they are meltwater ponds. One for drinking water. One for … swimming.
