Joffre Lakes Park closed to recreational users until May 16

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, near Pemberton, B.C., will be closed to recreational users from April 25 until May 16, according to the B.C. Parks website. 

B.C. Parks said the three-week closure will give the Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua First Nations time to connect with the land. 

A similar closure was announced around the same time in 2024, as the result of an agreement between the province and the First Nations. That agreement was made after a month-long closure in 2023, brought on by a conflict around the park's public use. 

Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson said in 2024 that the park area is sacred to his community.

"By implementing these closures, we are striving to reintroduce our community to an area where they have been marginalized," he said. "The time and space created by these closures will allow our youth, elders and all Líl̓wat citizens to practise their inherent rights while reconnecting with the land."

When the park reopens to the public on May 17, adults and youth over age 12 will have to have a day-use pass to visit the park. Reservations can be made online starting at 7 a.m. PT two days before you plan to visit. 

B.C. Parks is warning people planning to visit Joffree Lakes that the park is still experiencing wintry conditions, and to plan for ice and deep snow. Micro spikes or snowshoes are recommended, as winter could stick around through May and June.