Getting there | Emerald Lake is found in Yoho National Park, 38km west of Lake Louise.There aren’t currently any shuttles, so the only way to get to Emerald Lake is by car hire or private vehicle. Yoho Pass (1815 m) was a link to the Iceline Trail that we completed the previous day. Emerald Lake is a gorgeous sight and a stunning lake in Yoho National Park. This resource includes information and tips to help plan your adventure in Yoho National Park. Practical Information Yoho’s campgrounds keep you close to the adventure! For me, the challenging climb, the rewarding landscape, and the feel of immersion in nature separate this hiking routes from others. Yoho XC Trail Maps. The trail follows along the lakeshore and moves in and out of the forest. This includes a … And after a long 3-hour hike, we finally reached Yoho Lake, entirely frozen. The only downside of coming here is that the parking lot is super tiny. Emerald Lake is one of the most beautiful and varied hiking destinations in Yoho National Park. The best part of Lake O'Hara is also part of the reason why it gets a lot of one-star ratings on TripAdvisor; only a limited number of people can visit each day. Backcountry Lodging may be found at Lake O'Hara, within the Yoho Valley, and at the end of the Amiskwi Fire Road. Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. It’s well worth the drive! Take the trail past Whiskey Jack hostel towards Yoho Lake. We literally ran as fast as we could out of Lake Louise. It is only a 2-mile trek, however, the layer of snow increased to forty inches, and hiking over that terrain became very exhausting. We've done it a few times and have yet to see anyone else on the trail, so it's a great option to get away from the crowds. Lake O' Hara: Best.Hike.Ever. For information, visit www.khsc.ca. The only downside is that it’s a popular trail especially on a weekend, so don’t go expecting solitude. It was tempting. We will pass again by Yoho Lake and the Takakkaw Falls, to make one of the most popular multi-day hiking routes in Yoho, the Iceline Trail, that runs through different glaciers. The Lake Oesa trail is the best trail I have ever hiked, you pass multiple lakes on your way up to Lake Oesa and the views are outstanding at each. For more of a challenge, head to The Iceline Trail starts from Takakkaw Falls in the heart of Yoho National Park. It is a very rewarding hike. We had to take (Aug.2, 2007) the longer loop via Little Yoho Valley as the bridge just near where the Celeste Lake Trail meets the Little Yoho Trail … You can hike to Yoho Lake from Takakkaw Falls for a shorter option (roughly 4.5 km), but we've always started at Emerald Lake. It is most easily accessible via a 11km gated unpaved road. If you come to the Yoho National Park this is a must-see on your trip. - See 191 traveler reviews, 278 candid photos, and great deals for Yoho National Park, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Other things to do in this general area after going to Emerald Lake would be to check out Takakkaw Falls and the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park as well. To skip to a specific topic of interest, use the quick links below for easier navigation. See page 7. There’s a sign called Hamilton Falls. The Emerald Lake hike is a family-friendly 5.2 km circuit with negligible elevation gain. Feb 19: Emerald Alluvial Fan Loop; Emerald Lake Horse Trail; Emerald Lake Nordic Trail; Emerald Lake Connector; Tally-Ho. The hike to Sherbrooke Lake was an easy 3.2 mile out-and-back trail without much elevation gain. Welcome to our Lake O’Hara Trail Guide! ... hike to Sherbrooke Lake. Emerald Lake Circuit. Feb 11: Kicking Horse. ), we drove over to Takakkaw Falls and gazed up to the mountain range in front of us. At the treeline, the trail relents a slightly for a few steps and we get our first viewpoints into the Yoho Valley and the range across from us. Sometimes large creeks flowed right across the trail, and we had incredible views of waterfalls. This trail is rarely busy, even though it is relatively short and not very difficult, so take advantage of the isolation. More details to come soon, but for now enjoy this observation of a Comma Butterfly (inaturalist.org) that I made along the Yoho Lake Road roadside trail. Recent tracksetting: Feb 22: Great Divide. In fact, the hike length can be shortened by taking the cutoff to Celeste Lake, which is shortly south of the Iceline Trail?s highest point of elevation. The only downside of coming here is that the parking lot is super tiny. The trail can be a little muddy and full of roots so it’s good to wear boots. It is a very rewarding hike. It is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Banff or one hour from Golden. TAKAKKAW FALLS. Yoho Lake trail starts at Takakkaw Falls, which is an incredible powerful waterfall worth walking to the base of. From Yoho Lake, SPHP knew Lupe could go on to Takakkaw Falls. The best part of Lake O'Hara is also part of the reason why it gets a lot of one-star ratings on TripAdvisor; only a limited number of people can visit each day. Early alpinists climbed Mt Wapta (south) and Michaels Peak (north). This lake is gorgeous and one of the most beautiful ones I have been to ever. After some hesitation and actually heading a short distance on past the trail to Yoho Pass, SPHP turned around. Emerald lake and Yoho pass Hiking trail in Field, British Columbia (Canada). The Alluvial Fan was trackset a few days ago, and as you can see in the photo above, has lots of new snow. The cross-country ski race "Virtual Yoho Challenge" will run from Feb. 10th to 24th. This lake is gorgeous and one of the most beautiful ones I have been to ever. The only settlement, Field, has the park visitor centre, some services and limited accommodation (the nearest towns are Lake Louise, 28km east, and Golden, 54km west). Since there was absolutely no where legal to camp without a long drive, we decided to end out road trip with a bang. Turn right at Emerald Lake Road and drive 9.4 KM (5.9 miles). An interesting backpacking trip here is the Yoho Pass Trail to Emerald Lake, which I’d like to do in the future. The sparkling emerald color lake is a stunning sight and one of the premier attractions in Yoho National Park. ICELINE TRAIL. The spectacular Iceline Trail located near Field, British Columbia in Yoho National Park joins the my list of all time favorite hikes.High impact scenery on the Iceline Trail is the name of the game – almost from start to finish. The road ends at the Emerald Lake parking lot.The trail is located at the Emerald Lake parking lot. 1882 Emerald Lake was accidentally discovered by the mountain guide Tom Wilson when he caught a few torn horses and came across the lake coincidently. Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park - […] Lake O’Hara […] 15 Day Hikes near Calgary with Jaw-Dropping Views - […] Hiking & camping at Lake O’Hara: the complete guide to Yoho’s paradise […] Hiking in Jasper National Park: 17 best hikes for all levels - […] Guide to hiking Lake O’Hara, Yoho National Park […] Peyto Lake… The Alpine Circuit trail in Lake O’Hara is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and exciting trails in the Canadian Rockies. Lupe was near the NW end of Emerald Lake and about 2/3 of the way around it when she came to a side trail heading NNE to Yoho Pass and Yoho Lake. To aid in trip planning – and before you start hiking, I highly recommend purchasing the Gem Trek Lake Louise – Yoho map and the Lake O’Hara Map & Trail Guide. If you have ever seen a picture of this lake it is a million times better in person. If you come to the Yoho National Park this is a must-see on your trip. To complete this hike you will need at least two days, staying overnight at the Stanley Mitchell Hut. David Stanley Flickr cc by 2.0. We had a few hours of dropping down the Yoho Pass Trail to Emerald Lake. #justtoomuch Escaping to Yoho sounded like bliss, and Iceline Trail was the one that I was most looking forward to exploring. The path straight ahead leads to Yoho Lake campground, Yoho Pass and the Emerald Lake area of Yoho National Park. From Yoho Lake, you can continue on the trail until you reach the Takakkaw falls. The light softened to grey as we walked down single-track and washouts. A walk around the lake is fantastic as you view the lake from different angles with a background of various mountains. Mt Wapta. Walk along the pretty and peaceful Lakeshore Trail to discover incredible views of the lake and plenty of photo opportunities. At some point there is a creek crossing without a bridge... and believe me, the water is freezing cold right from the melted snow up the hill. Emerald Lake Lodge | While you’d probably expect any lakeside lodge in the national park to cost a fortune, Emerald Lake Lodge is a rare exception. Length: 5.1 km ; Duration: 1 -2 hours Emerald Lake Trail / Emerald Basin – Similar to the loop trail, but it makes a detour up the Emerald Basin where the lake’s water source originates from glaciers high above. Returning from our Twin Falls hike, we resupplied at the vehicles parked at the Takakkaw Falls trailhead.. Then started with great views over to Takakkaw , the second highest Falls in Canada. Follow the trail through mature forest to the shore of this glacier-fed lake, then relax and take in the views of surrounding mountain peaks. Tally-Ho and Kicking Horse were trackset on Jan 5. So after sleeping in till 6am (best hike time is an early hike time! If you enjoy skiing at Emerald Lake, consider buying a membership in the Kicking Horse Ski club to support the grooming.. Yoho Lake . ... Lake O’Hara’s extensive trail system is simply unparalleled in British Columbia, with more than a dozen hiking trails intersecting this wonderous landscape. Length: 8 km Time: 2 - 3 hours Elevation Gain: 300 m. Featuring waterfalls, wildflowers and lush wilderness, Yoho Lake is a beautiful day hike. . Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles. Now back to story time! Yoho Lake was the site of the original Alpine Club of Canada camp in 1906.. However, there is still an incredible reward at the end! Easy trail around the lake, but quite tricky up the Yoho pass. It starts off a bit steep, but the trail is only 4.3 km (2.6 miles). I would definitely recommend visiting here if you are staying in Yoho or Banff. Beyond the second junction the trail climbs steep switchbacks up the west side of the valley. If you have ever seen a picture of this lake it is a million times better in person. The Lake Oesa trail is the best trail I have ever hiked, you pass multiple lakes on your way up to Lake Oesa and the views are outstanding at each. The Yoho Lake hike is one of the shorter options in Yoho National Park. Lake O’Hara is situated in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada. Follow this trail. Moderate difficulty. Parking here can be tricky in the middle of the day, but if you’re patient a spot will open up. Sherbrooke Lake is a lake you will DEFINITELY want to hike to while in Yoho National Park. Grizzly Bear habitats within Yoho where limited summer access is permitted become the playground of winter warriors. The Trans-Canada Hwy divides Yoho neatly in half, climbing from Lake Louise over the Kicking Horse Pass to share the broad, glaciated valley bottom of the Kicking Horse River with the old Canadian Pacific Railway. Once you pass Lake Louise, continue for 26.8 KM (16.7 miles), passing the small town of Field in British Columbia. To spread our love of nature, the Yoho Lake Association is starting a new section on our website dedicate to the ecology of Yoho Lake called the Weekly Wildlife Spotlight.