Yoho National Park is often overshadowed by its big brothers Banff in the east and Jasper north of the park. Yet, like its brothers, Yoho has beautiful lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Reason for us to also visit this park during our Canada- roadtrip and give you the best tips. These are the most beautiful places in Yoho National Park!
Our journey through the United States and Canada
This article is part of a large one-year tour the United States en Canada, with a Dutch 4×4 camper that we shipped ourselves… It is a bucket list worthy and an once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.
We wrote almost 100 articles about this ultimate tour. Visit our North America page for more information.
About Yoho National Park
The history
Yoho National Park was established in 1886, simultaneously with Glacier National Park in the West. The Canadian Pacific Railway had just completed its transcontinental line connecting the fledgling nation of Canada. The spectacular scenery along the railway was an opportunity for the railway company to attract tourists.
Lodges and hotels were built to lure travelers into what was wilderness just a few years earlier. The famous Roger's Pass is located in the center of Glacier and Yoho National Park. The pass is named after Major AB Rogers, chief engineer for the railways. It has been designated a National Historic Site in memory of its role as an essential, yet dangerous, link in the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
The highest mountain and fossils
The highest mountain in the park is Mount Goodsir at 3567 meters high. Another well-known mountain is The President of 3138 meters. Due to the presence of claystone in these mountains, many fossils have been found. The Kicking Horse River flows through the park and Trans-Canada Highway 1 runs alongside it.
The size and location
The park is located in British Columbia, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The park has a relatively small area of 1.313 km². From Lake Louise you drive there on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, in about half an hour. To the west is the town of Golden, about a 25-minute drive away. In the park you will still find the town of Field, which is very small with its 300 inhabitants.
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
Things to do and places of interest
1. Takakkaw Falls
De Takakkaw waterfalls (location here) are easy to reach by car or camper. There is a parking lot and after a few hundred meters of walking you are in front of it. You will therefore find many tourists who make a stop here. The waterfall is very high with its 373 meters. Canada's second highest waterfall. The water comes from the higher elevations Daly Glacier. Even in the warm summer months there is still enough water coming down!
2. Laughing Falls
Via the Iceline Trail you walk through the Yoho Valley, along the Kicking Horse River to Laughing Falls (Location here). It is a walk of about 4,2 kilometers if you walk from the parking lot at the Takakkaw waterfall. You still have to go back and then walk a total of 8,4 kilometers, unless you want to challenge yourself and walk the entire Iceline Trail. Then you walk a challenging route of 21,7 kilometers where you go up at least 1000 meters.
A bit too much of a good thing for us! On this warm, but cloudy day, it was a beautiful walk through the woods with 9 kilometers. We regularly had to cross a river on wooden bridges as the melted glacier water thundered below us deafeningly.
We ate our lunch at the trail's end point, the Laughing Fallsbefore continuing on our way back. The waterfall is the largest of the Little Yoho River which makes its way to the Kicking Horse River. Of course there were also chipmunks here that we had to keep a close eye on. They can easily grab something from your hand or bag if you're not paying attention!
3. Wapta Falls
Another waterfall in the park, or rather waterfalls, is the Wapta Falls (location here). This time not a high, but wide waterfall. It is 30 meters high and 150 meters wide.
To get there you have to walk at least 5 kilometers there and back. The walk is not difficult and the waterfalls make it worth it!
4.Emerald Lake
On a sunny summer morning, we found our way to Emerald Lake (location here). From the parking lot you can see how picturesque this lake and its surroundings are. Time to shoot some pictures. It wasn't even necessary to grab the 'good' camera, but of course Chris did!
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We didn't take the time to hike at Emerald Lake. We do know that you can make a beautiful round (a short walk) around the lake, with the route called Emerald Lake Trial. For enthusiasts and sports enthusiasts, you can also make a de-tour from this route to Emerald Glacier, where you will have a nice view of the lake.
5.Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge (location here) is, as the name suggests, a natural bridge. The rock formation forms a bridge over the Kicking Horse River. It is easy to reach by car and after a short walk you can admire the bridge from different points of view.
6. Lake O'Hara
Lake O'Hara is located at an altitude of 2020 meters (location here) and again beautiful blue. It is easily accessible by car. From here you can take a beautiful, fairly easy walk of 9 kilometers, where you will encounter more of these mountain lakes, namely Lake Usa en Mary Lake.
7. Extra tip for train lovers
From the Trans-Canada Highway 1, a lookout point on the so-called Spiral Tunnels. This one is 7,4 kilometers east of Field. This is not indicated on Google Maps, but it is well along the road.
Practical Information
1. How to get there / travel providers
The best way to discover Yoho National Park is of course with your own (rental) camper. We shipped our camper to America ourselves for this trip, but that is of course not the 'normal' way. It is best to rent a camper for trips of 2 to 10 weeks via Travel home from ANWB. They are the experts in the Netherlands in the field of camper trips in America and Canada and are also known for offering very good prices.
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
2. Refueling and shopping
You will not find gas stations and supermarkets in the park. For this you will go to Lake Louise of Golden should. Golden has the supermarket Safe On Foods, which is quite affordable. In both places you pay a lot for your diesel or petrol, unfortunately…
Also read: Travel setbacks | Inflation, weak euro and car problems | Roadtrip USA (37)
3. Conviviality
Golden, on the other hand, offers fun again! It has restaurants, bars and a small cinema. After doing our laundry at a Laundromat we had a nice beer, eaten and then the movie 'Bullet Train' seen. The latter is also a nice activity during a long journey.
4. Camping in Yoho National Park
There are three campsites in the park, where you can go with a camper. Those are Kicking Horse Campground, Monarch Campground en Hoodoo Creek Campground. The Monarch and Hoodoo Creek are first come, first served campsites. There are three other campgrounds in the park, but these are for hiking with your tent.
Kicking Horse is the only one of the three with showers and luckily Chris and I found a place for 2 nights via the Parks Canada reservation system.
Conclusion
If you have time during your tour in Canada, you will also find the most beautiful lakes, rivers and waterfalls in Yoho National Park. It is steps away from Lake Louise. In the park you can drive to the sights at your leisure or you can opt for a walk in this beautiful nature here and there. We can only imagine how beautiful the park will be in winter!
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
Plan your vacation to Canada here
- Camper trips compare to Travelhome from ANWB.
- Itineraries : TUI, canada plus, sawadee.
- Winter sports in Canada book yourself OAD.nl.
- Flight tickets For Canada you can book via Skyscanner.
- Rental cars : Sunnycars, Alamo en rental cars.
- Tours and Activities in Canada you book through GetYourGuide.
- Campsites in National Parks you book on Park Canada.
- Hotels & Resorts in Canada you book with Booking.com.
- Travel insurance for Canada you close at Allianz.
- SIM cards en e-sims for Canada you buy at International sim.
- Parking at the airport you can arrange via Parkos, Central parking of iParking.
- travel items (you can order suitcases, world plug adapters, etc Bol.com.
