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Joffre Lakes Camping: Tent Pads, Day-Use Passes & Cancellations
How the 26 Upper Joffre tent pads work, day-use passes, seasonal closures, and how to catch a cancelled tent pad at Joffre Lakes near Pemberton.
By CampPing
Updated June 10, 2026 · British Columbia
Joffre Lakes (Pipi7íyekw) near Pemberton is famous for three glacier-fed turquoise lakes, and it is one of the hardest overnight spots to get in the Sea to Sky corridor. Camping works differently here than at a typical campground: it is a hike-in, backcountry experience with a small number of tent pads.
If you can land a night, you get the lakes in quiet morning light, long after the day-use crowds have gone home. The catch is that the tent pads are few and they go fast. Here is how the system works and how to improve your odds.
Joffre Lakes camping quick facts
Overnight camping at Upper Joffre Lake
Overnight camping is only at the Upper Joffre Lake campground, which has 26 walk-in tent pads reached by a steep hike of about 5 km each way. It is a true backcountry campground: no vehicle access and no powered sites, so you carry in everything you need. Reservations are required and open on a three-month rolling window at 7 a.m. Pacific. For popular summer weekends, the pads are typically gone within minutes of release.
Day-use passes and closures
From May 11 to October 25, 2026, day visitors need a free day-use pass to access the trail. If you hold a valid overnight reservation, you do not need a separate pass, just bring your reservation details. The park also closes temporarily June 20–27 and September 8–30, 2026 to support First Nations cultural practices and conservation, so plan your trip around those dates and check the BC Parks pages before you go.
Things to know at Joffre Lakes
- Hike to Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre Lakes, each a vivid glacier-fed turquoise. Camping is at Upper Joffre.
- Spend a night to catch the lakes in calm morning light, before the day-use crowds arrive.
- Come prepared for real mountain weather: layers, sturdy footwear, and the ten essentials, even in summer.
- The park is Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park, and it temporarily closes June 20–27 and Sept 8–30, 2026 to support First Nations cultural practices and conservation. Plan around those dates.
- Overnight reservations for the 26 Upper Joffre tent pads open on a three-month rolling window at 7 a.m. Pacific and sell out almost immediately for summer weekends.
- If you have a valid overnight reservation you do not need a separate day-use pass; just carry your reservation. Day visitors need a free day-use pass from May 11 to October 25, 2026.
- This is alpine terrain. Camp only on the tent pads, pack out everything, use the food caches, and stay on the boardwalk and trail to protect the area.
- Details change year to year. Confirm closures, passes, and reservations on the BC Parks Joffre Lakes pages before you go.
How to get a tent pad when Joffre is sold out
With only 26 tent pads, cancellations are often the only way in. Instead of refreshing the reservation page, tell CampPing the dates you want and we'll ping you the moment a matching pad frees up. Free email alerts, no credit card.
Watch Joffre Lakes for cancellationsJoffre Lakes camping FAQ
Can you camp at Joffre Lakes?
Yes, but only at the Upper Joffre Lake campground, which has 26 walk-in tent pads reached by a roughly 5 km hike. Overnight reservations are required and there are no vehicle or powered sites.
Do I need a day-use pass to camp?
No. A valid overnight camping reservation covers your visit, so you do not need a separate day-use pass. Day visitors do need a free day-use pass during the May–October window.
What if the Joffre Lakes tent pads are sold out?
They book up instantly, so cancellations are often the only way in. Stay flexible on dates and let CampPing watch for a tent pad opening so you can grab it the moment one appears.
Details from BC Parks. Passes, closures, and fees change, so confirm the latest on the BC Parks Joffre Lakes page. See more popular BC campgrounds.