Duffey Lake is a long, green-blue lake lying beside the road in a bowl of high mountains, and when the wind drops, it holds a clear mirror image of the peaks. On the far shore the slopes rise in forest and then in grey rock, topped with snowfields and small glaciers, and the whole scene feels remote, though the road runs right beside it. The provincial park at the lake provides a pull-out, a picnic area and a trail, so it is easy to stop and look.
The lake is a landmark on the Duffey Lake Road, between Lillooet and Pemberton, and it sits in the territory of the Lil'wat Nation. The road was built in the 1960s, and for decades it was a rough gravel track, a hard route for logging trucks and the occasional adventurous driver. It has since been paved and improved, and now carries tourists, riders and cyclists in summer, though it remains narrow, with few passing places and steep drops. The peaks above, including Joffre and Matier, are some of the most photographed in the region, with hanging glaciers that gleam in the sun.
The riding along the lake is a pleasure, with curves that follow the shoreline, glimpses of water through the trees, and then a climb away from it into the mountains. The road surface can be rough in places, with frost damage, and in cool weather the shaded sections stay damp. Traffic is generally light, but logging trucks and campers use the road, and they do not always keep to their side on the bends. Allow more time than you expect, since the road has a way of making you stop.
Fishing is popular on the lake, with rainbow trout and char, and in summer you may see people paddling on the water. Black bears feed on the berries on the slopes, and you should treat the area as bear country, keeping food stored and giving animals plenty of room. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance in the still evenings, and the water is cold enough to stop you swimming for very long.
Pemberton, about thirty-seven kilometres to the west, is the nearest town with services, and Lillooet lies a long way to the east. The campsites around the lake fill early in summer, and some are first-come, first-served, so plan accordingly. Early morning, when the lake is calm and the light touches the peaks, is the best time for photographs.