The hike to Eva and Miller Lakes is an out-and-back day hike in Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia. It offers hikers beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys, green meadows alive with wildflowers, boulder fields home to chirping pikas and marmots, and remarkably picturesque alpine lakes.
Because you start at the top of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway near the summit of Mount Revelstoke, you can experience the alpine without an exhausting climb. You walk through meadows, in and out of forests, along the edge of mountains and have stunning views the entire hike. Then, you’re rewarded with pretty lakes surrounded by rugged peaks and the fresh smell of an evergreen alpine forest.
We did the hike in late August. After doing some research, it seemed like the best day hike option in the park for our group with varied fitness levels and experience. It was a minimum-effort hike for a high-elevation trail, with maximum reward.
Revelstoke is the traditional homeland of the Sinixt First Nation and within the overlapping territories of the Secwépemc, the Syilx, and the Ktunaxa peoples. Information about the area’s First Peoples, including Indigenous placenames, is largely unknown due to colonial displacement and disruption of oral histories.
With respect, we acknowledge the impact of this loss and thank the Sinixt, Secwépemc, Syilx, and the Ktunaxa people for their care of this land, past, present and future. We are grateful to them for the opportunity to experience their beauty, and are committed to visiting these special places with hearts of respect, stewardship and reconciliation.
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Eva and Miller Lake Hike Information
This trail leads to four lakes: Eva, Miller, Upper Jade and Lower Jade Lakes. For our trip, we hiked to Miller and Eva Lake.
The above information was provided by Parks Canada. However, we tracked our hike and, in total, travelled 18.5 km and gained 563 metres of elevation.
Time: Parks Canada trail information says this hike will take between 5 and 7 hours. The hike to Eva and Miller Lake took our group 6 hours to complete, including an hour for lunch and photos.
Difficulty: Moderate due to distance.
Trailhead: Upper Summit Parking Lot, located 1 km from the Meadows in the Sky Parkway parking lots. Vehicle access is not permitted, so hikers can go up a trail or the road to the Summit Parking Lot. There are also private shuttles that offer rides up to the Summit, including Revy Rides and Mount Revelstoke Shuttle.
Trail Conditions: Check trail conditions for advisories before you go.
Backcountry Camping: There is designated backcountry camping at Eva and the Jade Lakes. Backcountry camping permits are required for overnight trips.
Trail Rules
- Bikes are not permitted on the trails.
- Dogs are not allowed on the trail or anywhere beyond the Columbia Viewpoint (12 km) on the Meadows in the Sky Parkway.
- Stay on designated, marked trails.
- Don’t feed or disturb wildlife.
What to Know Before You Go
- The Meadows in the Sky Parkway is narrow with tight switchbacks.
- Buses, RVs, or vehicles over 7.9 metres are not permitted. Neither are towed trailers or towed vehicles.
- There is no cell service on this trail.
- Outhouses are at Eva and Miller Lakes, but you must pack in your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
- Check trail conditions for advisories or closures.
- Carry bear spray and travel in a group.
- Follow leave-no-trace and responsible travel principles.
Hiking to Eva and Miller Lakes
Because cars are not permitted at the Summit Parking Lot, with the exception of handicapped parking, our hike started at Parking Lot 2. You can either walk 1 km up the road or a trail. We chose the trail. It starts out steep, but soon levels out when you reach the summit.
The trail to the lakes is at the top of the Summit Parking Lot. After a few minutes of forest, we were quickly rewarded with pretty meadows and open vistas. In some areas, you can see the winding Columbia River snaking through the valley below.
It was late August, so there were still a few wildflowers in bloom. If wildflowers are your thing, we suggest you take this hike at the start of August to see them in full bloom.
After the meadows, you come across the boulder fields. Keep a lookout for a pretty little waterfall to your left along the trail. These fields look like the remains of several rockslides from days gone by and are alive with the bleats and whistles of pikas and marmots. We could see the pikas darting across the rocks, finding shelter beneath boulders and in tunnels.
Keep your eyes peeled to see these critters. We saw a large hoary marmot sunbathing on a boulder, looking out over its rocky domain. It was silver-grey with a black face, tail and paws and seemed completely unbothered by us.
After passing a few more rockslides, you come to the junction for Miller and Eva Lake. From that junction, Miller is 400 metres to the right and Eva 800 metres to the left. The turnoff for Jade Lakes is down the Eva Lake trail. We chose to visit Eva Lake first and catch Miller Lake on our way back.
Eva Lake
Eva Lake is postcard-perfect, surrounded by alpine meadows and boulder-strewn shores. It was chilly up there, but the lake was completely calm. There is a backcountry campground at Eva Lake, complete with an outhouse, so it makes a good lunch stop. There is also a 1920s warden cabin and some benches near it with nice views of the lake. Had the weather been a little warmer, a swim in Eva Lake would’ve hit the spot.
The trail circumnavigates the lake. Not far from the backcountry campground, the trail parallels a cliff, and the forest opens up to a viewpoint of the steep valley and surrounding peaks. Further around the lake, you’ll hop over a rocky creek at its far end and return to the main trail. From there, you can backtrack to the junction and turn into the Miller Lake trail.
Eva Lake Gallery
Photos by Chris Bayley and Amy Hancock
Miller Lake
Miller Lake was also beautiful and different enough from Eva Lake to make it a must-see. It has a rocky point that juts into the water like a peninsula, making it an excellent place to stop for lunch. It has a few small islands that are accessible via rock-hopping. You can see the hikers traverse the Jade Lakes trail high on the mountainside from Miller Lake. If you have time, rest here for a while and dip your feet in the cool water before starting your return hike.
Fun Fact: Miller Lake was formed during the last ice age by a moving glacier that once sat in the basin now filled by the lake. When you’re at Miller Lake, take a 360-degree look around, and you will see that you are in a perfect bowl.
During the hike back, you get to see all the views from another perspective.
Miller Lake Gallery
What to pack on the Eva and Miller Lake Hike
This hike takes about 5-7 hours return, depending on your pace. Even though it’s a day hike, you should be prepared for changing weather conditions and emergencies. Here’s what we brought in our backpacks on our Eva and Miller Lake hike:
- Drinking water
- Packed lunch, plus extra snacks
- Layers, including a warm layer and a windproof and waterproof jacket
- Small first aid kit
- Bear spray
- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer for the outhouse
- Cameras!
If you’re hiking in the shoulder season, we recommend bringing micro-spikes and hiking poles. Those boulder fields would get very slippery in wet or snowy conditions.
Getting There
The trailhead to the Eva and Miller Lake is located at the top of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway. You can turn onto the parkway from Highway 1, and follow it to the parking lot near Balsam Lake.
Where to stay near Mount Revelstoke National Park
Revelstoke is the closest town and offers the full gamut of accommodation options. Within a short distance, there are campgrounds, chain hotels and motels, B&Bs and vacation rentals. I stayed at the Blanket Creek Provincial Park campground and at the Valley Retreat, which is a vacation home and B&B.
Find places to stay in Revelstoke, BC.
If you’re a camper, the closest front-country campground is Snowforest Campground along the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in Mount Revelstoke National Park.
