Joffre Lake Park

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is located 185 kilometers (2.5 hours) north of Vancouver Canada and about 60 kilometers from Whistler.  It is a paradise for the experienced hiker.

The park is home to the Matier Glacier, waterfalls and three gorgeous glacial-fed lakes.

The Matier Glacier originates from the last ice age which occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch some 20,000 years ago. Since that time, it has been retreating and has left behind debris including glacial silt.

Joffre Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Glacial silt or till is the mixture of clay, sand, pebbles, cobbles, and boulders that results from an extremely heavy glacier grinding through a valley. When suspended in water, it creates the classic blue colour seen below.

Metier Glacier at Joffre Lake, BC Canada

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is suitable for either a (very long) day hike or an overnight hike from Vancouver BC . There are a number of primitive campsites at the foot of the glacier.  

The return trip from the Joffre Lake parking lot to the foot of the Matier Glacier takes about five hours to complete. The trail meanders along primitive trails through west coast forests, mountains and along glacial streams.

If hard-core hiking is not your cup-of-tea, helicopters trips over the Metier glacier are available from both Pemberton and Whistler.