Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

On Tuesdays, there are a number of my friends and I that do not have any classes, and so we have specially designated this as an adventure day for exploring Vancouver and BC. So far, we’ve visited Grouse Mountain, Dog Mountain and Jug Island. This week, 5 of us decided to make the most of our day off by heading up to the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.

We eerily set off from campus in the early (and dark) hours of Halloween morning, picked up a hire car, and embarked on our road trip to the Lakes. It took us about 3 hours to drive to Joffre, plus the time needed to collect the hire car, so it was quite a journey. But of course, this is BC, and so the road trip in itself was part of the adventure. It was a gorgeously sunny day, and we drove through Squamish, and then Whistler, and then snow topped mountains, stopping briefly in a rustic café on the way.

After a slightly wrong turning which resulted in a bit of a detour, we arrived at Joffre Lakes, reading to begin our hike. There are 3 lakes to see during the hike. We were pretty alarmed when we first arrived, and the display board informed us that it would take 3 hours to get to the Top lake, making it a 6 hour round trip. We only had 5 hours of day light left so this would NOT have been ideal. However, if you end up going to Joffre Lake, feel free to completely ignore this sign. A distance it suggests will take 15 minutes will actually take you 5 – there is no way it will take 6 hour to hike there and back.

The hike itself is beautiful. You climb through the valley, and as it was October, we were walking through snowy trails, which added to the atmosphere. As it was a Tuesday it was very quiet on the hike, with few people around, which was exactly the way we wanted it. The air was completely fresh and clear and the only sound was running water from the many streams and mini-waterfalls we passed on the way. After working up a bit of a sweat (we had been wrapped up in our thermals and hats, which we quickly discarded once we started to climb), we arrived at the second lake. And we were blown away.

As it is glacial water, the lake is a deep turquoise colour, which is astounding – it hardly looks real. Completely surrounded by evergreens and with a snow topped mountain peak over-looking it, this view was phenomenal, made all the better by the post-hike adrenaline. Due to the time of year, the lake was also partially frozen, which added to its magical quality. We had a lot of fun picking up huge sheets of ice – the size of window panes – and skimming them across the water. On top of this, the birds in the area were extremely friendly. This is true of Canada in general – the wildlife is completely unafraid of humans. If you hold your hand out flat, the birds will come and land there, even without the temptation of food. We also spotted chipmunks. It is so exciting to see these animals in their natural, beautiful environment, and for them to be so approachable.

Another twenty minutes of hiking, and we reached the top lake. This is by far the most incredible. The water appears even more turquoise, and we were right opposite the snow-capped peak of the mountain. As you do the hike, the views definitely get progressively greater until you reach this last spectacle. After taking our many touristic photos, we spent a long time just sat staring at the lake in pure wonder. This is by the far the most phenomenal place I have ever been.

Visiting Joffre Lakes Provincial Park has definitely given me a taste for glacial lakes, and I am desperate to hike and see more. Hopefully, next week we will be embarking up Garibaldi before it gets too cold and snowy and we won’t be able to hike anymore. There is an eternal struggle within the year abroad, in which you have to work very hard to keep up with constant assignments of university, but simultaneously want to make the most of the place you are visiting. Days such as this day reminded me that I need to make time to experience this incredible country, rather than stressing about class quizzes and small assignments. Of course, uni is important, but it is more important to create a balance, and grab the opportunities I have here with both hands.

Hopefully I will be able to show you more hikes and stunning views in the future! x