Joffre Lakes day passes are free and released at 7am PT two days before your visit. 2026 dates and closures, why resold passes are a bad idea, and why we don't monitor it.
Last checked: October 2026. 2027 dates hadn't been announced; anything for 2027 below is expected, based on 2026.
First: we don't monitor the Joffre day pass
Canada Camp Alerts does not watch the Joffre Lakes day-use pass. BC Parks' day-use pass system requires a login to see availability, and we don't log in to booking systems on anyone's behalf. So we can't tell you when a pass opens up. This guide explains how the system works so you can get one yourself.
We do watch overnight camping elsewhere in BC (see below), and an Upper Joffre Lake camping reservation replaces the day pass.
How the pass works
From BC Parks' day-use passes page and the 2026 provincial announcement:
- Passes are free. You book them online on BC Parks' day-use pass site, not on the camping reservation site or by phone.
- Released at 7am PT, two days before your visit. For a Saturday hike, passes go on sale Thursday at 7am.
- Up to four trail passes per transaction, per day, and each person in your party needs their own pass.
- A camping reservation replaces the pass. BC Parks: "If you have a camping reservation, you do not need a day-use pass."
- If none are left, BC Parks suggests checking back, since passes may reopen when someone cancels.
2026 dates and closures
| 2026 | Expected 2027 |
|---|
| Passes required | Mon May 11 to Oct 25, 2026 | a similar spring-to-fall window |
| Closure 1 | June 20–27, 2026 | similar, to be announced |
| Closure 2 | Sept 8–30, 2026 | similar, to be announced |
The province says Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park closes for those periods to support First Nations cultural practices and conservation goals, and coverage notes closures have happened every year since 2023. Check the Joffre Lakes Park page advisories before you plan; dates change.
Note for transit users: according to 2026 coverage, Parkbus didn't run to Joffre in 2026.
Getting a pass on release morning
- Count back two days. Want Sunday? Be ready Friday at 7am PT.
- Set up the day-use pass site in advance. If it needs an account, create it the day before and check you can sign in.
- Book for your whole group in one go. Up to four per transaction.
- Have a backup day. If Saturday's gone, Friday's or Monday's may not be.
- Mind the time zone. 7am PT is 8am in Alberta.
Don't buy a resold pass
Searches like "Joffre Lake day pass for sale" are common. Passes are free from BC Parks, and each person needs their own. Paying someone for one gets you nothing BC Parks gives you for free, and you have no way to check it's genuine or that it's valid for your name and date. Book through BC Parks only.
When there are no passes
- Check back after release morning. BC Parks says passes may reopen when someone cancels. Without an alert, that means refreshing the day-use site yourself.
- Camp instead. Upper Joffre Lake Campground has 26 tent pads and requires reservations for all overnight stays. The adult fee was $25 per person per night in 2026, and BC Parks notes fees are increasing. Camping reservations follow BC Parks' three-month window, opening at 7am PT. In 2026 Upper Joffre opened on Tuesday May 12 for arrivals from June 15, according to our research notes. A camping reservation means you don't need a day pass.
- Try another park. Garibaldi uses the same two-days-before release, but passes are only required on some days of the week at some trailheads. Golden Ears uses passes too.
What we can watch for you nearby
If you'd rather camp somewhere with a reservation and skip the day-pass scramble, Canada Camp Alerts watches several overnight sites in the Sea-to-Sky corridor: Garibaldi Lake, Wedgemount Lake, Elfin Lakes, Alice Lake and Porteau Cove. A Garibaldi backcountry reservation also replaces Garibaldi's day pass.
Set a watch on the facility page for your nights. We alert you when a night goes from booked out to open, meaning any site or pad there is free that night. We don't match party size or check that one site is free for consecutive nights; check on camping.bcparks.ca before you pay.
- Free: one watch for one night, email, 15 minutes after pass holders.
- Season pass: C$25 once, 12 months, no auto-renew. Up to 10 watches, date ranges, instant email, Telegram and browser push.
FAQ
How do I get a Joffre Lakes day pass?
Free, online through BC Parks' day-use pass site, from 7am PT two days before your visit. Up to four per transaction, one per person.
When are passes needed in 2027?
Not announced as of October 2026. In 2026 they were needed May 11 to October 25, with closures June 20–27 and September 8–30.
Can I hike Joffre without a pass?
Not during the pass season, unless you have an Upper Joffre camping reservation.
Does Canada Camp Alerts alert me when a Joffre pass opens?
No. BC Parks' day-use system needs a login and we don't monitor it. We watch overnight camping instead.
Is it worth buying a pass from someone online?
No. They're free from BC Parks and each person needs their own.
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