Canada · British Columbia
Yoho
Where the Rockies Reveal Their Wild Side
Across the Continental Divide lies Yoho, a landscape shaped by immense waterfalls, ancient rock and emerald waters.
Discover the destination
More than a destination
Across the Continental Divide lies Yoho, a landscape shaped by immense waterfalls, ancient rock and emerald waters.
From the brilliance of Emerald Lake to the thundering Takakkaw Falls, every turn reveals a quieter, wilder expression of the Canadian Rockies.
GEOLOGICAL WONDERS
BURGESS SHALE EXPEDITION
Ascend high above the Yoho Valley on an exclusive guided pilgrimage to the Walcott Quarry — home to pristine fossils of complex life from the Cambrian explosion.
SANCTUARY ACCESS
LAKE O’HARA SOLITUDE
Enter an ultra-exclusive alpine bowl protected by strictly managed permits. Crystalline sapphire waters reflect towering peaks with silence broken only by cascading glacial streams.
The essentials
A place to understand before you wander
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Best time
- July — September
- Ideal stay
- 2 — 3 days
- Known for
- Signature Lake · Thundering Cascade · Geological Wonder
- Climate
- Wetter west-slope alpine
- Protected since
- 1886
In the landscape
Things to do
Protected Sanctuary
Lake O’Hara Exploration
One of the Canadian Rockies’ most exclusive hiking environments, with access carefully limited to protect the landscape.
Ancient Heritage
Burgess Shale Fossil Experience
Join a guided hike into one of the world’s most important fossil sites.
Trail System
Scenic Hiking
Yoho offers more than 400 km of trails, from lakeside walks to demanding alpine routes.
Creative Arts
Wildlife & Photography
Quieter valleys, waterfalls and forests create exceptional opportunities for landscape and wildlife photography.
Golden Adventures — Nearby
Extend the journey west toward Golden for whitewater rafting, mountain biking, gondola experiences and high-adrenaline adventures such as canyon swinging.
Thrills & Expeditions
On the trail
Walks and climbs
01Emerald Lake Circuit
easy · 5.2 km loop
A beautiful walk around the shoreline of Yoho’s most famous lake.
02Takakkaw Falls
easy · 1.8 km return
An easy walk bringing visitors remarkably close to the base of the falls.
03Yoho Lake
moderate · Approx. 10 km return
A steady climb from Takakkaw Falls to a peaceful mountain lake.
04Laughing Falls
moderate · 8.8 km return
Follow the Yoho River through forest to a secluded waterfall.
05Iceline Trail
challenging · 17–20 km depending on route
One of the Rockies’ great hikes, travelling beneath glaciers high above the Yoho Valley.
06Emerald Triangle
challenging · 18.8 km loop
A full-day alpine journey above Emerald Lake with expansive mountain views.
07Burgess Shale Guided Hike
challenging · 21 km return
Journey into high alpine fossil beds preserving marine life more than half a billion years old.
Must visit
The landmarks that define Yoho
Signature Lake
In pictures
Scenes from the park
The story of the place
A landscape shaped by mountains, water and time
Yoho was established in 1886, just one year after Banff, taking its name from a Cree expression of reverent awe and wonder. Its geological fame exploded in 1909 when Charles Doolittle Walcott unearthed the Burgess Shale fossil beds on Mount Field — preserving soft-bodied marine organisms from over 500 million years ago.
Perched on the western slopes of the Continental Divide in British Columbia, Yoho catches weather systems moving inland from the Pacific, bestowing the park with thundering rivers, lush rainforest pockets, plunging waterfalls, and striking vertical limestone walls including Mount Goodsir (3,567 m).
Wildlife of the park
Grizzly Bear · Black Bear · Mountain Goat · Pika · Marten · Wolverine · Clark's Nutcracker · Hoary Marmot
Find it
Where is Yoho?
Yoho sits in British Columbia, Canada. The panel marks the park until a live map is connected.
National park
British Columbia
Canada
- Coordinates
- 51.3999° N, 116.4868° W
- Elevation
- 1,301 m (4,268 ft)
- Protected area
- 1,313 km²
- Established
- 1886
- UNESCO
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984)
Practical notes
Travel with the mountain, not against it
Arrival
Getting there
Airport
Calgary (YYC) or Vancouver (YVR). Most visits begin with the drive from Lake Louise.
Road
The Trans-Canada crosses Yoho between Lake Louise and Golden. The Yoho Valley Road turns north to the falls.
Train
Field sits on the historic Canadian Pacific line through Kicking Horse Pass.
In the park
A car is the practical way between Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls and the Natural Bridge.
The year
Weather
Summer
July through September provides access to Takakkaw Falls and high-alpine passes like the Iceline Trail. Late June witnesses the most explosive waterfall cascades from melting glaciers.
Autumn
Clearer trails and thinner crowds around Yoho, with frost arriving first on the summits.
Winter
Snow settles over Yoho. Daylight is short, the air is dry, and the landscape feels newly emptied.
Spring
Waterfalls run full as the snowpack releases. Higher routes around Yoho open late.
Before you go
Travel tips
What to pack
Layers, a rain shell, broken-in shoes and sun protection. Mountain weather turns inside an hour.
Safety
Stay on marked routes, carry water, and read the day’s trail and road alerts before leaving town.
Wildlife awareness
Give Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Mountain Goat plenty of room. Never approach or feed an animal.
Park rules
A valid national park pass is required. Drones, off-trail travel and feeding wildlife are restricted.
Through the year
Experience the destination
Spring
Meltwater fills the rivers around Yoho. Lower trails open while the high country is still waking.
Suggested · Emerald Lake Circuit
Summer
July through September provides access to Takakkaw Falls and high-alpine passes like the Iceline Trail. Late June witnesses the most explosive waterfall cascades from melting glaciers.
Suggested · Lake O’Hara Exploration
Autumn
The light softens over Yoho. Crowds thin, and the high country turns gold before the first lasting snow.
Suggested · Takakkaw Falls
Winter
Yoho settles under snow. Days are bright, cold and made for a slower kind of mountain travel.
Suggested · Snow and silence
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Canada · British Columbia
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Discover the places that make Canada unforgettable — beginning with Yoho.