Yoho National Park

Top choice in British Columbia


Although the smallest (1310 sq km) of the four national parks in the Rockies, Yoho is a diamond in the (very) rough. This wilderness is the real deal; it's some of the continent's least tarnished.

East of Field on Hwy 1 is the Takakkaw Falls road, open from late June to early October. At 255m, Takakkaw Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. From here the Iceline Trail, a 20km hiking loop, passes many glaciers and spectacular scenery.

Near the south gate of the park, you can reach pretty Wapta Falls along a 2.4km trail. The easy walk takes about 45 minutes each way.

Don't miss the surging waters at Natural Bridge, which you can admire on the short drive from Hwy 1 near Field to iconic Emerald Lake.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby British Columbia attractions

1. Takakkaw Falls

2.17 MILES

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…

2. Emerald Lake

3.24 MILES

For most visitors, this vividly colored lake is Yoho’s most unmissable sight. Ringed by forest and silhouetted by impressive mountains, including the…

3. Burgess Shale Fossil Beds

4.44 MILES

This World Heritage site protects the amazing Cambrian-age fossil beds on Mt Stephen and Mt Field. These 515-million-year-old fossils preserve the remains…

4. Upper Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint

5.39 MILES

The main viewing platform for Canada's ingenious spiral railway tunnels is off Trans-Canada Hwy/Hwy 1, 8km east of the hamlet of Field.

5. Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint

6.06 MILES

Canada's marvel of railway engineering, the so-called 'spiral tunnels,' can be viewed from this pull-out on the Yoho Valley Rd.

6. Kicking Horse Pass & Spiral Tunnels

6.14 MILES

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…

7. Crowfoot Glacier Lookout

12.65 MILES

From this pullover viewpoint on the Icefields Pkwy you can see the icy behemoth of Crowfoot Glacier nestled on the rocky flanks of Crowfoot Mountain,…

8. Lake Louise

13.49 MILES

Considered by many to be the crown jewel of Banff National Park, Lake Louise is nearly impossible to describe without resorting to clichés. This…