Mount Revelstoke National Park is often treated as a pause button—a place to stretch stiff legs, check a viewpoint off the list, and continue east toward Banff. That’s a mistake. Not because Banff isn’t spectacular, but because Mount Revelstoke offers a quieter experience.
The wonderful—and wonderfully moody—Columbia Mountains reward commitment. The farther you go, the more it reveals. And if you’re willing to follow the road all the way up—and then keep walking—the Miller, Eva, and Jade Lakes hike delivers one of the most satisfying alpine days in British Columbia.
I’ve lived in BC long enough to be hard to impress by lakes. After a while, “beautiful” becomes the baseline. Miller, Eva, and especially the Jade Lakes cut through that fatigue. And while we are at fatigue: it’s a full day hike, and not an easy one. Here’s all you need to know:
Miller, Eva & Jade Lakes hike at a glance
- Region: Kootenay Rockies
- Distance: 14-25 km round trip (depending on whether you hike to the first lake only, or continue all the way to Jade Lakes)
- Miller Lake and back: 14 km
- Miller and Eva Lakes (and back): 16 km
- Elevation Gain: ~1200 m
- Difficulty: moderate for Miller/Eva; strenuous for Jade Lakes
- Time: 7-9 hours
- Best Time: late July (for the wildflowers) to mid-October (before the snow arrives)
- Accommodation:
- Luxury: Sutton Place Hotel Revelstoke Mountain Resort
- Mid‑range: Swiss Chalet Motel
- Budget: Alpine Inn & Suites
- See the trail on a map here.
First, drive the road to the Sky
The Meadows in the Sky Parkway is what I mean. It’s 26 kilometers of winding road that climbs from the cedar rainforests up into the sub-alpine of Mount Revelstoke. With dedicated viewpoint stops and slowly unfolding alpine scenery
Pro Tip: In peak summer, the summit parking lot fills up faster than snacks disappear from a mom’s handbag. If the top lot is full, you’ll have to park lower and take the shuttle or walk.
Miller, Eva & Jade Lakes trail breakdown
The beginning is gentle, with the first few kilometers being pleasant and relatively flat. You’re walking through sub-alpine meadows that, in August, are thick with wildflowers. That’s the teaser.
After the initial kilometers, the trail becomes more demanding. Elevation gain increases, and that’s where we started to sweat. Views remain expansive, but now they’re something you pause for rather than stroll through.
At the main junction, don’t think in terms of choosing just one lake. Choose everything: try all the possible routes (if you can).
A short detour leads to Miller Lake, a darker, moody alpine lake, with small islands breaking up its surface. We loved our secluded picnic spot on one of them.
The second detour is longer, and it took us to Eva Lake, brighter and more immediately photogenic. If you have younger kids, stop here. It will be about a 16 km round-trip, you’re still a hero (and your kid is even more so!).
If you must choose between the two, Eva Lake tends to win hearts. That said, Miller Lake is absolutely worth the additional 900 meters it adds to the total distance.
Now back to that junction where there’s a third choice: forward—and up! This is where the hike truly changes character. The final push over Jade Pass is steep, rocky, and unapologetic. Switchbacks demand steady pacing, and this is where many hikers turn around. Those who continue are rewarded with the Jade Lakes: remote, vividly colored (the kind of “so-blue-it-looks-like-Garibaldi”), and tucked into a high basin that feels removed from everything below. The fatigue doesn’t vanish, but it becomes irrelevant.
Is this hike family-friendly?
That depends on your definition of “family‑friendly.” Hiking 20+ km with kids can either be a core memory or a reason to seek family counseling. But wait, there are options.
We did this hike with a toddler for the first time! When you carry your child, your stamina is the limit. If your kids are under 6, make Miller Lake your goal. Eva Lake stretches the day further, so make sure the “Goldfish crackers per kilometer” ratio is high enough.
If any of these variations seem to be too much, do the Balsam Lake Trail or the Upper Summit Trail instead. High reward, low whining.
Things to know before you set foot on the trail
Be prepared for high-alpine conditions. Wear proper hiking boots (like the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus for women or the mens’ Newton Ridge Plus II). Dress in layers. Have a windbreaker and an emergency blanket.
It’s grizzly territory. While the trail is popular, it’s not a city park (anyway, in Canada you can meet with bears in city parks, as well). Carry bear spray on your belt (but definitely NOT buried in your backpack), and make noise (see, your kids are actually safety features).
Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray. Bug spray is just as important, because mosquitoes are abundant and persistent.
A water filter is useful. Lakes along the route make refilling easy and reduce how much weight you need to carry.
Where to stay in Revelstoke?
If you’re coming to Revelstoke in summer, chances are your days start early, your boots live by the door, and your evenings revolve around food, stretching, and questioning why you didn’t stop at the previous lake. The good news: Revelstoke has accommodation that works with that rhythm—not against it. And the town is a short drive to Mount Revelstoke National Park.
Here are three places to stay, depending on how much comfort you want after logging serious kilometers. And, yes, on your budget, too.
Luxury: Sutton Place Hotel Revelstoke Mountain Resort
For summer hikers who want maximum recovery and minimal logistics, Sutton Place is hard to beat. Located at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, it’s quiet, cool, and a welcome escape after long days on the trail.
The suites are designed for people who stay more than one night—and it shows. Full kitchens make early breakfasts easy, washers and dryers mean you don’t have to re‑wear “that” shirt, and the living space actually lets you spread out gear. The outdoor pool and hot tub are the real heroes here, especially after hikes like Jade Lakes. Check prices and availability here.
Mid‑range: Swiss Chalet Motel
If you like being close to food, coffee, and casual post‑hike wandering, Swiss Chalet Motel is a great summer base. It sits right near downtown, so once you’re done driving for the day, everything else is on foot.
The rooms are comfortable and practical, with good beds, mini fridges, and coffee makers—nothing flashy, just everything you actually need. The courtyard BBQ is a bonus if you want an easy dinner without changing out of your trail clothes, and secure bike and gear storage is a nice touch.
You’ll hear the train at night—it’s part of Revelstoke’s DNA—but the motel is upfront about it (ear plugs included). Check prices and availability here.
Budget: Alpine Inn & Suites
Alpine Inn & Suites offers excellent value for budget-conscious hikers. It’s clean, centrally located, and set up for people who come back dusty, hungry, and tired.
The free breakfast is genuinely useful for early starts, and the in‑room microwaves, fridges, and kettles make it easy to prep simple meals. If you book a suite, the full kitchen is perfect for longer stays. Check prices and availability here.
Planning a BC road trip?
If the Jade Lakes left an impression, the rest of the Kootenays will deepen it. I spent over a year mapping routes and identifying places that rarely make it into standard itineraries.
Instead of piecing things together from forums and outdated guides, you can use my Ultimate BC Road Trip Guide E‑Book. It’s the resource I wish I’d had when we first moved here—clear routes, local insight, and no filler.
