Strap on a backpack and hit the trails for a wilderness camping experience at Lake O'Hara or one of our backcountry campsites. Or stay at the Alpine Club of Canada's Stanley Mitchell Hut in the Little Yoho Valley. There are some fallen trees on the trail from Twin Falls Camground to Twin Falls so you'll need to go over them. and on top of it, this lake I found is more pleasant without the touristy hustle n bustle found at. Revenues from Yoho National Park Visitor Entry and Service Fees help maintain . Though it can be crowded during this time there are some tricks to avoiding the masses. This is a must see area of the country, Canada, that is. For more information: Burgess Shale fossil guided hikes. You will cross the river providing views upriver while also having chances to see wildlife and wildflowers. There's also a fantastic viewpoint ~2km SE from the summit. Yoho National Park is in the Rocky Mountains, in eastern British Columbia, Canada. Yoho National Park contains Burgess Shale, which holds one of the richest areas of fossils anywhere in the world. It has a total area of 507 square miles, which includes montane landscapes, forests and alpine lakes. We are willing to stay in campgrounds and will have a car. It offers great views up past the treeline and presents amazing vistas across the Yoho Valley. The audacious route was chosen in the 1870s for its proximity to the U.S. border and the Pacific Ocean. The route combines a circuit of a green glacial lake surrounded by mountains, with a diversion to Emerald Basin through forests and avalanche chutes to see the glacier that created it all. Virtual Sea Odyssey Observe the creatures who lived in the Burgess Shale community from a "virtual submarine". See launch dates and times 4 Best Hikes in Yoho National Park - Ruhls of the Road If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. don't take the steep slick trail down from the bottom of the fence line. Thanks. The Twin Falls are very beautiful (and IMO better than Laughing Falls)! That it came this way at all was the result of desperate political and economic horse trading. Yoho National Park is part of the Canadian Rockies UNESCO Heritage Site, with spectacular scenery and fun things to do. Wapta Falls were lovely too. Explore one of 8 easy hiking trails in Yoho National Park that are great for the whole family. AB Canada - Kananaskis Country, Highlights Edition (05/23) BC Canada - Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake (05/23) AB Canada - Banff National Park, Icefields Parkway, Peyto Lake and Mistaya River (05/23) AB Canada - Banff National Park, Bow Valley Parkway, Johnson Canyon (05/23) Reservation launch dates Homepage - The Burgess Shale Recommendations? We were not happy that lake was closed. Yoho National Park is located on the western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Things to do, camping, hiking, trails, Burgess Shale fossils, guided hikes, backpacking, points of interest and Lake O'Hara. The Emerald Lake Trail is one of the best examples of a glacial runoff lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park. List of national parks of Canada - Wikipedia We visited this National Park as part of a tour through the Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer. Points of interest - Yoho National Park - Parks Canada Includes a level, gravel path from the parking area to the bridge at the back of the lake. A northerly route would have ignored great tracts of valuable prairie near the US border (around Calgary), and allowed much of the area and its resources to slip into the hands of the US. It was amazing and truly the best way to explore Yoho on our own in our rental car. By 1911, Yoho had become Canadas second national park. Stay in a unique guesthouse, pick out the perfect souvenir, or enjoy the culinary delights of this charming community. The longest and least-walked path is the Linda LakeCathedral Basin trip, past several lakes to a great viewpoint at Cathedral Platform Prospect (7.4km one way; 305m ascent; 3hr). Prices should be listed on the Parks Canada website. Visit one of the most significant fossil finds on earth! Its fossil beds show active evolution of soft-bodied marine animals during the middle of the Cambrian Period (about 520 to 510 million years ago). Another SPECTACULAR falls is Takakkaw falls, off of Yoho Valley road, which is very scenic (especially on the way down) and whoa, be aware of sharp hairpin turns on the way up. East of Field on Hwy 1 is the Takakkaw Falls road, open from late June to early October. Take a gentle hike through verdant forests to a stunning viewpoint. You need to create a new account this year,even if youve used our system before. The Icefields Parkway extends from Lake . The first train to attempt the descent plunged into the canyon, killing three railway workers. This was our first exposure to the emerald lakes that BC and Alberta are known for; WOW, just WOW! Yoho National Park of Canada - Cartography Vectors This trail is 4.8 km long with an elevation gain of 125 m. According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Yoho National Park is Great Divide Trail Section D: Field to North Saskatchewan River Crossing. The park occupies 507 square miles (1,313 square km) of the western and central slopes of the Rocky Mountains and is adjacent to two other national parks Banff to the east and Kootenay to the south. This regions species include western red cedar and western hemlock, both at the extreme eastern extent of their range. From epic hiking trails to the chance to kayak in the legendary Emerald Lake - here are some of the best things to do in Yoho National Park. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There are hiking trails that meanders around this natural beauty spot. The trail up to Oesa is beautiful and almost always clear of obstacles. Takakkaw Falls and Wapta Falls are two of the highlights for visitors venturing into the national park. From camping to hiking to sightseeing, I'll give you a rundown of the best things to do in Yoho in both winter and summer. The first waterfall as you enter the park is the Wapta Falls. We had always wondered when we should visit it. Viewing The Northern Lights in Yoho. Several short walks can be accessed off the Trans-Canada Highway as it passes through Yoho. Am i able to go hiking and visit this park during Spring? This is straightforward in fine weather and when all the snow has melted; very fit and experienced walkers should have little trouble, though theres considerable exposure and some scrambling. It was established as a park on October 10, 1886. The tree density lessens somewhat as you near the lake, and youll hear the creek rushing downhill nearby as you glimpse peaks rising above. Yoho National Park is located in western Canada as part of the Rocky Mountain range of southeastern British Columbia. The drive is incredibly scenic as the road passes through beautiful lush forests with #4 - Emerald Lake and Emerald Glacier Trail. It lies on the western side of the mountain range and borders the Banff National Park of Alberta. Takakkaw Falls is the tallest in the park reaching a height of 1,224 feet (373 m) with a single drop of 833 feet (254 m). Many people prefer Wapta Falls feeling it is more majestic because of its width which is 490 feet (150 m). Discover powerful waterfalls, emerald lakes, national heritage sites and a welcoming mountain community. The lakes rugged and remote setting in the Valley, You'll have already seen the indescribably vibrant blue color of Peyto Lake in a thousand publicity shots, but there's nothing like gazing at the real, A thundering torrent of water tumbles from its source in the nearby Daly Glacier over a sheer cliff face for 255m (836ft), making it the second-highest, For most visitors, this vividly colored lake is Yohos most unmissable sight. Research the Canadian National Park website as it is full of great information, especially about activities. We support you to make the most of your time on earth. The trail features an ascent of 1,223 feet (372.77 m) while traveling through the forest, along a river, and past a waterfall. A gentle, lakeshore trail surrounded by mountain and glacier views. The trail is user friendly to all capabilities. Yoho is home to an abundance of wildlife. Whaleback connector Trail has some really nice waterfalls to enjoy, but that adds a bit of distance to the hike. Black and grizzly bears, moose, mule deer, wapiti (elk), mountain goats, and beavers inhabit the park, as do a wide range of bird species. Yoho National Park is located in British Columbia, Canada. You can start by walking from the parking lot for Takakkaw falls to Whiskey Jack Hostel to the trailhead which is a challenging hike upward or you can start the easy way up along the river and the hard way down, especially for those with knee problems. Year-round Make sure the place you want to visit is open as it's still during the CoVid pandemic so check the website. Yoho National Park is a protected area located in the Rocky Mountains, in the southeast corner of British Columbia. As in other national parks, it was the railway that spawned tourism in the area: the first hotel in Field was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1886 and within a few months sixteen square kilometres at the foot of Mount Stephen (the peak to Fields east) had been set aside as a special reserve. Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park | Canada landscape, Landscape January 9, 2023 by Katie Bell Everything you need to know about Yoho National Park in Canada - the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies, where to stay and tips from an expert! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Yoho-National-Park, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. Yoho National Park Field Field Hotels Field Lodges Cathedral Mountain Lodge 614 reviews #1 of 2 lodges in Field 1 Yoho Valley Road, Field, Yoho National Park, British Columbia V0A 1G0 Canada Write a review View all photos (432) Traveler (394) Room & Suite (105) Dining (52) View prices for your travel dates Check In / / Check Out / / Not sure where to start? Yoho is one of the more underrated mountain parks - Emerald Lake is beautiful but very busy, so our highlights were the Burgess Shale hike and Takakkaw Falls. The rocky mountain range is primarily made up of sedimentary rock, a type of rock which is made as sediments build up over time under great pressure. Hiked point-to-point from Emerald lake to Takakkaw falls, took around 3.5 hrs. This is a 6.7-mile (10.78 km) loop trail that meanders through the forest while making an ascent of 2,116 feet (644.96 m). Juggling further with the permutations brings the Whaleback into this last combination to make one of the best backcountry hiking routes in the Rockies: IcelineLittle Yoho ValleyKiwetinok PassWhaleback (35.5km; 1375m ascent), a route up there with the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay, Skyline in Jasper and Berg Lake in Mount Robson Provincial Park. Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Disclaimers Version: v1.3.2-21-g46580de7b, https://www.alltrails.com/parks/canada/british-columbia/yoho-national-park, https://www.britannica.com/place/Yoho-National-Park, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/british-columbia/yoho-national-park, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/parks/yoho-canada-park/. A trail circles turquoise-coloured Emerald Lake, with a nearby natural stone bridge. Timber wolves and coyotes also roam freely through the forests and ravines, hunting animals such as elk, and mule deer. While you could easily spend several days exploring Yoho National Park, you can see the major highlights in a day. It's a steady grind up through the forest. This is a great trail to go see the Laughing Falls, and folks will love how well-marked the route is. We had past through this park on many occasions on route to Alberta. A complete circuit returning to Takakkaw Falls with the Whaleback is 20.1km. I'm not sure because I usually rent there, but it's the Kicking Horse Campground that you would be looking for. Any insight on both spectacular hikes is welcome. All rights reserved. 250-343-6783 If you're looking for elevation gain, Yoho National Park has you covered. The park is part of the Rocky Mountains in the western slope of the Continental Divide of the Americas. Across the water, on the other side, the near-vertical cliffs of Mount Ogden form a jagged skyline, and beyond the lake, farther up the valley, even taller peaks make the backdrop. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Yoho, including campsite and hiking information. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. The historic Kicking Horse Pass between Banff and Yoho National Parks is one of the most important passes in the Canadian Rockies. It was discovered in. The mountainous landscape surrounding the lake is incredibly picturesque. Read our Privacy Policy. Yoho National Park has magnificent mountain scenery and is one of Canada's most spectacular national parks. Nice picnic tables along the river and convenient washrooms. If you only have time for one day-hike, the classic trails are the Wiwaxy Gap (12km one way; 495m ascent), or the Opabin Plateau Trail (3.2km one way; 250m ascent; 2hr), from the Lake OHara Lodge to Opabin Lake. Very worthwhile. This is a moderate rated trail with views of a lake, a river, a waterfall, and panoramic views of the mountains. It is home to a varied wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, timber wolves, cougars, moose, elks as well as many other species. Although it is the smallest of the national parks protecting the Rocky Mountains of Canada, there are well over 60 trails that provide visitors with a great chance to explore the wilderness and discover the natural wonders the park protects. 8. Length: 5.6 mi Est. Its demanding and steep in places and forested for the first hour or so but thereafter its magnificent, culminating in a classic alpine lake. I stayed at the "Twin Falls, Little Yoho & Yoho Lake campgrounds which are all clear of snow. Takakkaw Falls: The second highest waterfall in Western Canada is worth a visit just to see and to hear the impressive roar of its waters. Besides the shoulder season conditions, the Iceline trail is easily identifiable. The Spiral Tunnels are very neat to see and I encourage you to wait until a train passes through. Is the road decent? Another shortish, extremely popular walk from the same car park is the Yoho Pass (10.9km one way; 310m ascent, 510m height loss; 3hr), which links to Emerald Lake and its eponymous lodge (though youll need transport arranged at the lake). Lady Agnes Macdonald, wife of the Canadian prime minister, rode down Big Hill on the cowcatcher (a metal frame in front of the locomotive to scoop animals off the track) in 1886, remarking that it presented a delightful opportunity for a new sensation. Before we left our hotel, we downloaded the Gypsy Guide App, which navigated us through Yoho even when we lost cell and internet service. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Very little elevation gain, felt like a nature walk to me. Once at the lake, the scale of the landscape becomes really apparent. The trails range in length as well as degrees of difficulty from easy to challenging. Don't miss the falls! Most trails in the Yoho Valley area start from a car park at the end of the Yoho Valley Road by the Takakkaw Falls Campground and the Whiskey Jack Hostel. The Wapta Falls hike is a great nature walk along a well-maintained trail which leads to the left side of the falls, facing the falls directly with the water coming down. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.