Joffre Lakes

Distance: 11 km (round trip)

Elevation gain: 400m (most of it within 2km of the 5.5km ascent, and this can be dry/loose or wet/slippery, so proper hiking shoes required and hiking poles make it easier )
Total time needed: 6 hours return + more if wanting to check out the glacier, hiking up to the side of it, before late September. Best to check the BC Park's website for glacial calving activity monitoring, see link below.

Difficulty: Moderate to Intermediate (some rough terrain)

From BC Park's website:

"A highlight of the park is the turquoise blue waters of Lower, Middle and Upper Joffre lakes, all three of which are located along the trail, and each more stunning than the last. Their striking, saturated blue colour is caused by “rockflour” – or glacial silt – that is suspended in the water and reflects green and blue wavelengths of sunlight. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park has opportunities for hiking, camping, mountaineering, wildlife viewing, and fishing."

1. We were greeted by really friendly Whisky Jacks as we got geared up to start our hike in the parking lot. There are two outhouses here, so perfect time to empty those bladders.
2. A 5 minute walk into the trail, there's a fork leading you to the Lower Joffre Lake. I caught sight of the aqua colour through the trees before the forest parted to reveal the beauty, the colour made me gasp, I have never seen a colour in nature like this, and the combinations of the water grass green with the aqua, so beautiful!
3. Heading off to the right, you start your journey towards Middle Lake. Before you know it, you arrive at a gruelling ascent.
4. A reprieve from the first gruelling ascent, you enter the valley,  with spectacular views down to the Lower Lake, and the rest of the valley. We make our way between the mountains, heading towards the glaciers.
5. Next you go through another couple of steep ascents, traversing up approx 300m+ of elevation within 2km. A welcomed clearing greets you with glimpse of turquoise, now you know you're making the descent into Middle Joffre Lakes, Seriously breathtaking.
6. Part way around Middle Joffre Lake, there is an outhouse, so again, make good use of it. 1.5km to the top.
7. Just a short ways past is a spectacular ladder-like waterfall of fresh glacial waters rushes down the mountain from the Upper Joffre Lake.
8. Whomever the trail builders are, one of them is seriously talented at carving. Along the trails where they've been upgrading, periodically there would be a wood statue of some animal or other, a lovely surprise to see.
9. The rest of the 1.5km is moderate. Soon we catch a glimpse of Upper Joffre Lake, along with the glacier. We were all relieved to know we could rest soon.
10. We make our way around the side of Upper Joffre Lake to reach the head of it. A lot of boulder scrambling is involved.
11. The trail ends at the other end of the lake, where the glacier falls feeds it. At the top end is where the campsites are, and access to the glacier trail starts for mountaineers. ** (see below tips)
12. We find an empty campsite with some shade - the sun is seriously more piercing up this high - and snack on our lunches while taking in the stunning views of the lake, mountains, Matier Glacier to the left, and Stonecrop Glacier to the right, and a ladder water fall. Absolute love. 
13. Make sure to rest up for a min of 45 to 1 hour, so that your leg muscles have a rest, before needing to scamper around boulders and the steep descents at the tail of of the journey. This is so you don't end up tripping or twisting your ankles.