Turquoise B.C. lakes to consider for a summer road trip

A Daily Hive Vancouver summer travel roundup points residents toward several blue-green lakes across B.C., ranging from relatively short day trips to long northern drives. Kalamalka Lake, about four hours and 50 minutes from Vancouver, has 42 kilometres of shoreline and 10 beaches, many with washrooms, nearby parks and free parking.

Joffre Lakes is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive on Highway 99 and is also served by Parkbus, offering access to the provincial park’s three lakes without a personal vehicle. Birkenhead Lake, also reached via Highway 99 in about two and a half hours, has a sandy beach but notably cold water.

Closer options include Chilliwack Lake and Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Park, each about one hour and 50 minutes away. Lindeman Lake requires an intermediate hike; parking is listed at 63100 Chilliwack Lake Rd. in Hope. Garibaldi Lake, roughly one hour and 20 minutes from Vancouver, is known for its turquoise water and surrounding snow-capped peaks.

For more remote travel, the list includes Chilko Lake west of Williams Lake, with the final 63 kilometres to its north end on gravel road, and Boya Lake in Tā Ch’ilā Park. The latter is estimated at a 21-hour drive from Vancouver via BC-16 and BC-37.