Pemberton sits in a wide mountain valley north of Whistler: three turquoise lakes at Joffre, a 60-metre waterfall on the Green River, and a swimming lake two kilometres from town.
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Photo: Upper Joffre Lake, with glacial silt in the water and the peaks above, Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 2.0
Pemberton is a small valley town about 35 minutes north of Whistler, on the traditional territories of the Líĺwat Nation and N’Quatqua. Official BC Parks pages place Nairn Falls inside the village boundaries, five minutes from the town centre: a 60-metre waterfall reached by a 3-kilometre round-trip trail along the Green River.
East of town, on the Duffey Lake Road, Joffre Lakes Park is known for three turquoise lakes coloured by glacial silt. The lower lake is an easy five-minute walk from the parking lot; the trail then climbs about 400 metres to Upper Joffre Lake. A free day-use pass is typically required in peak season. One Mile Lake, two kilometres north of Nairn Falls, is a local swimming and picnic lake with no lifeguards.
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Free No charge to enter · Cheap A small entry, permit or parking fee · Paid Tickets, tours or rentals
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Nairn Falls Park
A provincial park on the Green River, five minutes from the town centre and 32 kilometres north of Whistler. Official pages describe a 60-metre waterfall and a 3-kilometre round-trip trail to the viewpoint, part of a traditional Líĺwat route to the falls and Mount Currie. Stay on the trail; official pages warn of steep banks and a fast, cold river. Park gates are listed as open 24 hours.
Season Official pages listed park gates as open 24 hours, with park operators on site between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Confirm current conditions (check before you go).
A swimming and picnic lake about two kilometres north of Nairn Falls on Highway 99. Official BC Parks pages say there are no lifeguards. A trail also leaves the Nairn Falls campground toward the lake, but official pages say that trail is not regularly marked or maintained.
Season A swimming and picnic lake; official pages say there are no lifeguards. Confirm current access before you go.
A quieter walk inside Nairn Falls Park, along riparian ground and the bank of the Green River, on looping trails that official pages say start near campsite 17 and end near campsite 47. The river is fast; stay back from the bank.
Three turquoise alpine lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper Joffre) coloured by glacial silt, east of Pemberton on the Duffey Lake Road. Official pages say the lower lake is an easy five-minute walk from the parking lot, and that the trail to the upper lake climbs about 400 metres. A free day-use pass is required from 11 May to 25 October 2026; the park may close at times, so check advisories and book your pass before you go. The park is open year-round, but winter vehicle access may be blocked by snow.
Season Official pages say the park is open year-round, but winter vehicle access may be blocked by snow, and access is weather-dependent from November to May. A free day-use trail pass is required from 11 May 2026 to 25 October 2026; the park may also close for periods in that window (check advisories and book a pass before you go).
Beyond the lower lake, the official trail winds up through old-growth forest and talus, growing steeper as it approaches Middle Joffre Lake, then continues to the upper lake. Confirm trail conditions and your day-use pass before you go.
Season Same trail and day-use pass rules as Joffre Lakes Park. Confirm current conditions (check before you go).
Highway 99 east of Pemberton, the official approach to Joffre Lakes Park. Official pages say parking for the park is allowed only in designated lots, not along the highway. Confirm winter road conditions, as vehicle access to the park is weather-dependent from November to May.
Season The official approach to Joffre Lakes. Vehicle access to the park is weather-dependent from November to May (check before you go).
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
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Pemberton Museum
A local museum on the territory of the Lil’wat and St’át’imc Nations, collecting and sharing the region’s stories since 1982. Official pages listed it as open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from June to October, with admission by donation; confirm current hours before you go.
Season Official pages listed hours as Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from June to October (check before you go).
A Tourism Pemberton kiosk at 7424 Frontier Street. Official pages listed hours as Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May to October; confirm before you go.
Season Official pages listed hours as Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May to October (check before you go).
Roadside farm stands around the Pemberton Valley, the meadows, and Mount Currie, mapped on the official Tourism Pemberton tour page. Stands and hours change with the season; confirm current details before you go.
Season Stands and hours change with the season; confirm current details before you go.
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Experience
Pemberton Farm Stand Tour
A self-guided drive to roadside farm stands in the Pemberton Valley, mapped on the official Tourism Pemberton page. Stands and hours change with the season; confirm current details before you go.
Season Stands and hours change with the season; confirm current details before you go.
Tourism: Tourism Pemberton is the official destination site. A visitor information kiosk at 7424 Frontier Street was listed as open Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May to October; confirm current hours.
Joffre Lakes day-use passes: Official BC Parks pages say day-use trail passes are free, and that they are required from 11 May 2026 to 25 October 2026. The park may also close for periods during that window; check current Joffre Lakes advisories. Book online in advance, and download or print your pass before you go, official pages note that cell service is limited at the park. Parking is allowed only in designated lots, not along Highway 99. Dogs are not permitted.
River safety: Official Nairn Falls pages warn that the Green River is fast and very cold, with steep banks and drop-offs. Stay on developed trails and within fenced areas.
We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Upper Joffre Lake, with glacial silt in the water and the peaks above, Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Middle Joffre Lake, a turquoise alpine lake in Joffre Lakes Park, Nicolas May, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nairn Falls, dropping through a rock canyon on the Green River, mpslxz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: One Mile Lake in Pemberton, with mountains across the water, Ruth Hartnup, CC BY 2.0
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