Joffre Lakes Park: No Cap, Closed to the Public for a Bit in '25 🏞️🚫

The Deets

Alright, listen up, fam. Joffre Lakes Park is hitting pause on visitors for a sec in 2025. Word is, the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua Nations are reclaiming the space for cultural practices, like hunting, fishing, and grabbing their natural medicines. Think of it as a vibe check for the land and a chance for them to reconnect, no cap.

So, when is this happening? Mark your calendars: June 13-17 and August 22 to October 23. Those are the dates the park is gonna be closed to the public. It's all part of an agreement with BC Parks, a move to prioritize cultural land use equally with recreation. They’re saying they're already seeing a glow-up in the park's ecosystem because of these closures – a win-win, fr fr.

But not everyone's stanning this. Some people are sus about restricting access, wondering if claiming Indigenous title should automatically block everyone else. The government is saying it's all about reconciliation, trying to build a shared chill vibe for managing the parks, but some politicians low-key hinted this might not be the blueprint for other park situations. Parks Canada is also doing similar closures in other parks too.

Even when the park IS open, remember those day passes? Still a thing. Gotta reserve online if you wanna hike those trails. Joffre Lakes blew up in popularity, especially around 2019, so they brought in the day pass system in 2021 to keep things from getting too chaotic. The Nations hope this all helps them deal with some real stuff like grief and mental health within their communities. So, next time you're planning a trip, keep it 100 and check those dates!