If you are looking for an incredible spot to spend a night, add backpacking to Jade Lake in Revelstoke to your list! This is a great hike, including some beautiful meadows and a mountain pass with huge views. End at a small backcountry lakeside campground, a perfectly peaceful spot which few day hikers make it too.
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Quick Stats For Backpacking To Jade Lake
Distance: 18.8km return
Elevation: 714m change
Best Time To Hike It: July through September, keep an eye on the Parks Canada trail conditions website as snow can linger on this high route into July.
When Can You Book A Site: Reservations for Parks Canada typically open in February each year.
Hiking To Jade Lake
The Jade Lake trail starts with a short hike up to the Mount Revelstoke Summit Area where a lot of short day hikes area available. If you have the energy, check out the fire lookout and the beautiful views from the summit area.
Leaving the summit area, follow signs for Eva Lake and Jade Lake. The trail cuts through the forest to start with. There is little elevation change as the trail rolls along, passing through meadows which will be packed with gorgeous wildflowers in July.
The trail blazes through some rocky areas which are more open, providing beautiful views. The first real elevation comes towards Eva Lake, the trail heads upwards through the forest before you get to a junction. Head right to see Miller Lake, left takes you to Eva Lake. Turn left and shortly after there is the junction for Jake Pass.
If you want to check out Eva Lake, it’ll take you around 10 to 15 minutes from the junction to reach the lake,
After you get on the Jade Pass trail the real climbing begins. The trail heads up and offers beautiful views looking down over Miller Lake. As it carries on going up, the trails winds through a beautiful green meadow before it leaves the treeline and the trail gets a little more rocky and steep with a few switchbacks on the way to Jade Pass.
Once at the Pass the views are incredible in both directions! You look over Miller Lake and forward, down over Upper Jade Lake. It is a great spot to stop for a break, enjoy a snack and relax for a few minutes.
From the Pass, the descent down to Jade Lake is long and very steep in places. It cuts down the rocky mountain side before curving round into a more grassy area. There is some excellent trail building to navigate the steepest parts with rock steps put in place.
Eventually you enter the treeline and continue descending before popping out at the lakeside. There is a map which explains the layout of the Jade Lake campground, pick a tent pad, set up and relax.
Heading back the following day is back out the same way you came. Since it was hot, we got up and hit the trail as daybreak since there is little shade on the long climb up to the pass.
Camping At Jade Lake
There are four tent pads at the Jade Lake backcountry campground, most of which offer views over Upper Jade Lake. There are also bear proof lockers at the campground and an outhouse with an incredible view but no door, so you truly get to appreciate the view when sat down.
All sites can be reserved through the Parks Canada website and I’d recommend booking your spot early since this is a popular campground to stay at. However the reservable dates are slightly shorter than the open dates, so if you want to go early July or late September, you can snag a spot by popping into the Snowforest campground and registering there.
One thing to note is that unlike a lot of other Parks Canada managed backcountry campsites there is no cooking area at the Jade Lake campground. We set up on a large rock near the food lockers to cook as this was a good walk away from the tent pads and the rocks made great chairs and tables.
For a water source at the Jake Lake campground, we followed the well beaten trail past the food lockers to the outflow of the lake to get water. This seemed like the easiest and most commonly used spot to pull water from.
Trailhead
The trailhead for Jade Lake is located at the top of the Meadows In The Sky Parkway. The road is clearly signed off of Highway 1 and a short 3 kilometer drive from downtown Revelstoke. It is then just over 20 kilometers up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway to the parking lot.
Before heading up the road, you have to check in at the Snowforest campground when you arrive, they will give you your permit and you can then go up through the park gate and continue on to the parking.
Parking at the summit area of Mount Revelstoke is very limited, arrive early or expect to park along the road. Worst case they close the road when the parking is full and you’ll have to return later.
Things You Need
Hiking Boots – You’ll need a sturdy pair of hiking boots for the Jade Lake trail since it it rough and rocky, particularly heading over the pass.
Sun Shirt – There was little shade heading over Jade Pass and down the other side, If going in the middle of summer I’d definitely recommend a sun shirt to help protect you.
Bathing Suit – You’ll want a bathing suit and a packable towel if you fancy taking a dip in Jade Lake to cool off when you arrive at camp.
Tent – A small backcountry tent is what you’ll need to fit on the tent pads at the Jade Lake campground.
