Even though my trip to Canada mostly cantered around Banff, my tour bus did take us into Yoho National Park for a part of the day. Yoho is the smallest of the four contiguous national parks. The other ones are Jasper, Kootenay and Banff National Parks. Yoho is an interesting name for a National Park and comes from the Cree language. It means "awe and wonder". After a stop at Lake Louise and Moraine, we ended up finishing our day at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. One of the things that I enjoyed about this park and lake was that it was less crowded than Banff and the other two popular lakes. I ended up walking the nature trail around beautiful deep-green Emerald Lake. I enjoyed the views and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. Sadly, Emerald Lake was the only area of Yoho National Park that I was able to explore. Hopefully I am able to see other areas like Takakkaw and Wapta Falls, Lake O'Hara and the Natural Bridge next trip. read more

After spending most of our week stay exploring Banff and Kootenay National Park's, we decided to check out Yoho as well. We stayed at a timeshare in Radium Hot Springs, which was a perfect central location for exploring all three! Yoho was less busy than Banff and Kootenay, which we appreciated after almost a week of crowded stops. Our drive up to Golden was gorgeous in the Fall. We then headed over to Field, to visit Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake. Both were gorgeous! We even had lunch at The Emerald Lake Lodge during our visit. You can rent canoes on Emerald Lake. It's cheaper and less crowded than the more popular Lake Louise in Banff National Park. We also stopped to visit Natural Bridge. The glacial blue water was absolutely beautiful. My husband enjoyed the Spiral Tunnels stop more than I did. He found all the placards interesting. It would have been cool to see a train enter or exit the tunnel, but it didn't happen during our visit. Overall, we enjoyed our time here. It was much more relaxing than the busier ones. Don't sell this national park short. If you have extra time, it's definitely worth a visit! read more

See all

Yoho National Park was such a pleasant surprise. It's definitely a must go location if you have the time. I did a day trip to Yoho National Park. It was about 40 minutes away from my hotel and I knew I wanted to go to a few locations based upon some research that I did. So, I went to the following: 1. Emerald Lake - Beautiful and such a great site to see. I really liked Emerald Lake because it wasn't as crowded as Lake Louise and there is a pretty easy walking path around the lake. If you go a little further around the lake, it's definitely less crowded and you can get a pretty good pictures. Parking lot gets quite full, but they have plenty on the road leading into the lake. 2. Natural Bridge - Probably my least favorite of the 3 spots that I went to. It is beautiful, but it was overcrowded and not a whole lot to see. It is on the way to Emerald Lake, so I would definitely still go and check it out on my way in/out. 3. Wapta Falls - This was the BEST thing that I saw during my whole trip. The hike is pretty even until the last part where you have to scramble a little, but you can get super close to the waterfall. It was an amazing site to see. Just as a tip, when using Google Maps, make sure to type in "Wapta Falls Main Trail". I just typed in "Wapta Falls" and ended up in a campground about 30 minutes away from the actual trail. It was definitely way less people and it was a super amazing site to see. Definitely is a must to check out. I know that the Takakkaw Falls is also a another popular spot. But, I wasn't able to make it because I had to do a detour at Wapta Falls. But, will definitely want to check it out. A few additional tips about Yoho, I had cell service pretty much most of the time (unlike Banff and Jasper). But, I would definitely put in the location you are going to next anytime there is cell service. There were restrooms at each location I went to, but it is a dry toilet (porta potty), so was pretty gross. Aside from that, I will definitely come back here again. read more

Yoho National Park is good for a 1-day side trip exploration. It is located 14 kilometers away from Lake Louise Village. After seeing Lake Louise and Moraine Lake...you should then begin your adventure here at Yoho NP. First off...Yoho NP was definitely my least favorite in terms of sights and surroundings for the 4 National Parks of the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Kootenay and Jasper being the others). For my daytrip excursion, I was letdown by the attractions and landmarks. I was so stunned by what Banff offered and even nearby Kootenay was terrific...so my expectations for Yoho were set really, really high. Yet I never had any memorable moments. But within the disappointment, I'd like to explain why.... Interesting how the parks of the Canadian Rockies are situated... A few days earlier right nearby Banff was Kootenay NP which extended down into British Columbia and was a scenic, worthwhile daytrip. Now here for Yoho NP...it's situated right near Lake Louise and is set within British Columbia as well and serves as a 1-day side trip as well. Lol, what I am trying to say is that Banff and Jasper are the main attractions and Kootenay and Yoho are the side attractions. And all 4 parks sit within...200 - 250 kilometers of each other with Jasper being the one that extends north along epic Icefields Parkway. To the sights and attractions... Btw...the Yoho Visitor Center is located in the small/quiet town of Field, BC...28 kilometers west of Lake Louise. At the VC...they had very, very minimal in terms of souvenirs at the Gift Shop. plus I noticed during off-peak seasons, the Gift Shop isn't even open 7 days a week. But at least I purchased a magnet and postcard here and picked up a map/pamphlet of the park while speaking with a ranger. - Lake O'Hara - I had read in my research this was one of the most beautiful lakes in the world! But the Ranger at the VC said you must make a reservation for Lake O'Hara months in advance and they do a lottery system for choosing who gets to visit this wondrous lake. So...Lake O'Hara needs to be planned way in advance! - Takakka Falls - 2nd tallest waterfall in Canada. I had read in my notes that Takakka Falls is a fantastic waterfall to view and it must be done/visited in afternoon time for the best photo opportunities. But...problem! I visited Yoho on Sunday, June 12th, 2022 and the roadway towards Takakka Falls wasn't opened yet. Grrr...frustrating! The Ranger said it opened the following week June 19th. I was 1-week early. So Takakka Falls was a no-go. One extra thing...there's no cell phone reception whatsoever throughout Yoho, FYI. - Spiral Tunnels (The Lower One) - 20 km from Lake Louise. A quick stop of 5-minutes to view where a train passageway enters a tunnel in the distance. Nothing special. - I quickly drove around the town of Field. I had read the Truffle Pigs Lodge was a good place for lunch. - Natural Bridge - popular area. I was not impressed. It offers views of rushing waters splashing over canyon rocks. Tourists were taking tons of pictures and climbing on the rocks here, but I left after 15 minutes. - Emerald Lake - right nearby/next door to the Natural Bridge. Again, very popular here. You can do water activities and have a picnic by the lake. There's a trail that goes around the lake to immerse yourself in the setting of Emerald Lake and breathe in fresh air. I walked a portion of the trail around the lake and after 1-mile turned around and headed back to the parking lot. Overall, Emerald Lake wasn't so scenic. Not nearly like the others - Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake. Granted, I was visiting on an overcast day, but it had some dark green coloring to it and there were barely snowcapped mountain coverings in the distance to showcase more beauty. I guess, just, Banff really spoiled me and I found Emerald Lake forgettable. I spent 1-hour here. - Wapta Falls - an out of the way side trip of 47 kilometers south and can be hard to find since there's no cell reception. I decided to venture here because I was still yearning for more out of Yoho. To get to Wapta Falls, it's a 4.8-kilometer roundtrip hike (mostly on flat ground). Before arriving at the falls there's a side overlook vista point area that's just okay. Then walking down to the base/beach area of Wapta Falls...you can view the falls in the distance but there's a giant sand-like mound blocking a majority of the waterfall. I didn't get this. The "mound" didn't appear natural as if it was manmade. Anyhow, I took a picture or two and then decided to return back on the trail. I did notice some families having a picnic lunch by the beach with the falls splashing in the distance. Eh...nothing great. - Back near Takakka Falls Road: 1. Upper Spiral Tunnel - waste of time. 2. Meeting of the Waters Confluent - stop to view a flowing river setting. Yoho NP was subpar. I never connected with it. Still, National Parks are few and far between. I'm grateful for the experience, regardless. read more

See all

Home to the beautiful Emerald Lake, we drove a few hours past Banff National Park to have a peaceful, less touristy day in Yoho. Emerald Lake offered lots of canoes without the wait times. We loved how beautiful the lake was, as well as the fact that it was much less populated than Lake Louise, the spot we originally tried to go canoeing. Our drive through Yoho was gorgeous, and you can't go wrong by hitting the road and just seeing what natural beauties you'll find along the route! read more

We spent the day here while in the area visiting Banff. We stopped at Takakkaw Falls, Spiral Tunnels, Natural Bridge, Emerald Bridge, and Wapta Falls. Everything was really pretty, but it was mostly just stops off the side of the road. Wapta Falls was a short hike. Compared to what we've seen in Banff, I don't think it was nearly as beautiful. It was a good break day from all of the hiking we did in Banff, but if you don't have time, I don't think you're missing a lot. read more

See all

One of the most beautiful national parks I've been to!! I choose Yoho NP as my first backpacking spot and it was perfect! The terrain was not too difficult (perfect for new backpackers) and the campgrounds were so scenic. Some of my favorite destinations were the multiple waterfalls around the park and the glaciers! The only thing I didn't like were the outhouses... Make reservations for campsites online. The last week of June was the perfect time time visit (scattered showers and cool temperatures). read more

See all

Wapta Falls is incredible! It is a hike, and I mean a hike, to get to the falls itself. I went right under it which was maybe not the best decision because I was freezing for the hike back to my car. But, it is a big waterfall so would I do it again, yes! I'm curious to see what the area looks like in winter but I don't know if I could make that hike in the freezing cold. You need to go when you are in Yoho! You also need to go to Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, and to the town in Yoho. I'm surprised there aren't separate pages for each! I have included pics of all of them on here. read more

See all

Yoho National Park of Canada is at the middle of the Canadian Rockies. The four point of interests are the Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge, Wapta Falls and the Emerald Lake. The Wapta Falls required a hike of 2.3 km. It has two view points. One at the top of the falls and other is additional hike to bottom of the falls. This falls may be the widest fall we have seen in this trip at Canadian Rockies. The Emerald Lake is easy access park the car and the scenery is there. A lot of tour bus in this attraction. I would said afternoon visit is the best since the sunlight from west to east made it picture perfect photo taking. Hike a bit to the cabin with a small altitude and in the look down angle position will make this lake greener. Yoho is access through Canada 1 highway. It is a half day tour. Before enter to emerald lake, you will pass by Natural Bridge. The force of the water creates a penetration through the Rock and formed a zigzag rock bridge. It is very cool. Our trip did not have access to Takakkaw Falls since the snow is not fully melt. We enjoy this park with their natural beauty. read more

See all

Beautiful park! We did a guided hike to Walcott Quarry, which had beautiful views along the way of Emerald Lake and Mt. Burgess. Our guide, Cindy, was very knowledgeable and had cute poems celebrating some of the fossil species. It is an UNESCO heritage site with satellite linked cameras, so don't enter the quarry area without a guide (Parks Canada or geologic society). Self guided hike can be done as well, but apparently heavy fines can be incurred if removing fossils, and more importantly they should be kept behind for future generations! The hike to Walcott quarry had a surprising amount of shade/not too exposed. The day we went it was dry, so hiking wasn't too difficult. My parents went separately on a rainy day and said some areas got a bit slippery. There is a rock slide area that is a bit more tenuous, and Parks Canada doesn't allow hikers younger than 8 years, so read and plan ahead if interested. Happy hikes and fossil searching! read more

See all

Too bad we only had less than a day to spend here, but here's a must visit list at Yoho that we had time for: - Natural Bridge - Emerald Lake - Takkakkaw Falls (when they're open, always check first) We didn't have Wapta Falls due to the location, and as we're about to go to Takkakkaw, a couple who went there earlier told us that the road were closed due to avalanche. Apparently June month was still dangerous for potential avalanche in the area. Natural bridge is definitely a MUST stop, because the formation of the rocks were so unreal as it was carved by the melted snow and strong water force. The picture I took with the cellphone looked like a fake background as it was so pretty with all the color of the water and the trees, rocks, they just made a great picture. Emerald Lake was a very green lake, it's emerald for sure, but the lake wasn't as pretty as the other lakes I already visited, so just stop by here when you're already in the area, might as well. read more

Yoho National Park - Emerald Lake - Hiking Near Me - Field, British Columbia

See all

Yoho is a park that everyone should see at least once in their life. I had the pleasure of visiting Summer 2017 and my gosh, the scenery is stunning. This national park is huge but some notable (and more accessible) features are: -Emerald Lake -Wapta Falls -Takkakaw Falls -Natural Bridge Pair a visit to Yoho with Banff if you want extra bang for your buck on your trip. Take advantage of the free park admission in 2017 and go visit! read more

I understand David C.'s frustration with getting scolded about taking pictures, as I would have been too. But this park is beautiful and I really think it is unfair that the rating is so low for this place because of an unruly park ranger. I visited Takkakaw Falls and Emerald Lake and was entirely taken aback by the beauty of these natural wonders. My family took me to Yoho National Park from Alberta on the second day of my visit, with the first one being for recuperation from traveling from Atlanta (which was honestly not too bad, as I took the one direct flight from Atlanta to Calgary that Delta has every Saturday). Near Takkakaw Falls, my cousin and I saw the cutest gopher standing guard outside his/her hole. There are plenty of picnic tables for you to get some sustenance before taking the easy trail to the falls. Emerald Lake is the first lake that I had ever seen with its vivid blue-green color. Later on in my week in Alberta, I saw more bodies of water like this (just off the side of the highway and in Banff National Park--see my review at http://www.yelp.com/biz/banff-national-park-banff?hrid=Pku5nBrcwqMve77DczZJLQ) but the initial shock and enamorment happened at Emerald Lake, where I even go to share a ride on a rowboat. Being out on the clear lake surrounded by mountains was a serene experience that truly made me fall in love with nature over and over again. If you get the opportunity to visit British Columbia, Canada and can get over to Yoho, you will not regret it. read more

See all

An absolutely stunning park. I feel even though it has some popular spots, it isn't as crowded as Banff. It definitely isn't as built up commercially. It has more in common with Jasper in that aspect. I would stay in Lake Louise in Banff that way you have access to the Lake Louise area and Yoho is only a 15-minute drive. So many beautiful places in this park and the best customer service I encountered in the Rockies along with one place in Jasper. read more

See all

Beautiful park a definite must visit I want to head back in the summer time and hang out for the day on a hot summers day! So much beauty to offer, I am sure it's beautiful in the height of winter too but I want to do a summer visit chill on the lake enjoying the magical colours and sites! read more

See all

The hidden gem of National parks. JUST GO!!! it's amazing! Lots of great short and/or longer hikes.

Natural bridge - manmade destruction I visited the natural bridge in Yoho today. It's a gem of a natural wonder. Picturesque mountains tower near and high, a pristine river rushes coolly under a rock bridge. Tour buses rumble deafeningly at high idle for their visiting duration; diesel fumes fill the air consuming ones olfactory senses. The viewing platforms are pleasantly void of people as the throngs of tourists take to swarming off piste. This place is like an amusement park where instead of carnies the visitors operate the rides. Yikes! read more