How to Spend One FULL Day in Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park neighbors the beautiful Banff, but it’s far less thought about when visitors plan their Canadian Rockies trip. Boasting similar views of the Canadian Rockies, Yoho is well worth at least a day of exploring. We recommend at least two days so that you can enjoy an epic day out on the Iceline Trail.
That being said, we know many are scrunched for a time in the Canadian Rockies, so we wanted to put together a one-day Yoho itinerary that makes complete logistical sense. You can make this day as long or short as you want, but we have added a few options at the end for those who don’t mind getting up at the crack of dawn and staying out late into the evening!
Drive to Emerald Lake
Wake up early and start your day driving to Emerald Lake, or better yet, book a night at Emerald Lake Lodge so that you can stay right on the lake and be one of the first to wake up there.
Emerald Lake is one of the finest lakes in the Canadian Rockies and, in our eyes, the most beautiful of the famous lakes. Like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, it’s popular but not nearly as busy as Banff’s famous lakes. Because of its popularity and limited parking, we highly recommend arriving before 8 a.m. so that you can enjoy the lake without all the crowds and have an overall quiet time.
Once you see Emerald Lake, it’s easy to figure out where It gets its name. The glacial waters refract light in a vibrant display of color between June and October. If you visit Emerald Lake in the summer, you can enjoy a nice patio experience at Cilantro Cafe, but be warned that tables are a hot commodity around lunchtime.
Canoe on Emerald Lake
One of the best things to do while at Emerald Lake is take a canoe out on the water. Especially because canoeing on Emerald Lake is a much cheaper experience than canoeing on Moraine Lake or Lake Louise. You can rent a canoe right from the Emerald Lake Boathouse for under $100 for an hour, and three people can fit in a canoe.
Free Option: Hike Emerald Lake Loop
If you don’t feel like spending the money on a canoe rental, a nice free option is to enjoy a walk around the lake. The Emerald Lake Loop is a moderate 5.2 km hike that takes hikers around the entire Emerald Lake, giving views from every angle. The trail is nearly flat and will take 1 to 1.5 hours to complete, leaving plenty of time for other activities.
Stop at the Natural Bridge
If you’re heading to Emerald Lake anyway, a stop at The Natural Bridge is a must. On your way to or from Emerald Lake, you’ll see a turn-off for The Natural Bridge. It is easy to miss, so watch it on your left as you head up to Emerald Lake, or on your right when leaving Emerald Lake.
The natural bridge is exactly what it sounds like—a natural bridge made out of rock cut by the Kicking Horse River. It’s a unique sight to see during all seasons. Just a short walk from the parking area will get you a great view, and the best part is that this short stop will take you just under 20 minutes to enjoy.
Stop in Field for Brunch
Once you finish at the Natural Bridge and continue back to the Trans Canada from Emerald Lake Road, you’ll see a small town. This is the tiny hamlet of Field, which is the only town in Yoho National Park, with less than 200 people living here. There’s not a ton to do in Field, but it’s well worth stopping and walking around.
If you’re hungry, we highly recommend stopping at Truffle Pigs. It’s recently been named the best restaurant in the mountains and a true gem near Emerald Lake. Their menu has some absolute delights, like Slow and Low Lamb Shank and the Galbi Korean Ribs.
Drive Yoho Valley Road
After lunch, hop back in the car and get on the Yoho Valley Road. The Yoho Valley Road is located 5 km east of Field and is a stunning drive in the Canadian Rockies. Due to avalanche dangers, it’s only open seasonally from mid-June until mid-October, weather permitting. It takes you to the famous Tak Falls as well as the trailhead for the stunning Iceline Trail hike (a full-day hike).
Tak Falls
Takakkaw Falls is at the end of the Yoho Valley Road. At 373 meters, it is the highest waterfall in the area, and one of the Rockies is one of the tallest in all of Canada. Unlike many amazing sights in the Rockies, this one requires very little effort to see.
Just a 5-minute walk from the parking area, you can get up close and personal with Tak Falls. Multiple picnic benches and chairs surround the area, allowing you to take in the scenery of the Yoho Valley. We recommend spending 30 minutes to one hour here.
Short Hike to Laughing Falls
If you’re up for a bit more of a walk, there’s a great one to another waterfall. Look for the trail to Laughing Falls from the Tak Falls parking lot. This 8km (round trip) hike will lead you to Laughing Falls, a much quieter, albeit not as impressive, waterfall. With minimal elevation gain, it should take less than 1 hour to reach the falls, but will be a nice way to get some walking in and say you went for a hike in Yoho!
Off Season Option/Additional option: Wapta Falls or Sherbrooke Lake
Some people may leave the Tak Falls area and realize they have had a fulfilling day already, while others may want a bit more! For those who want a bit more in their Yoho itinerary, keep reading! Also, if you’re visiting Yoho between mid-October and mid-June while Yoho Valley Road is closed, these are also alternatives to Tak Falls!
Wapta Falls
Wapta Falls is another impressive waterfall in Yoho located about 40 minutes and 40 km from the Town of Field. It’s the largest waterfall of the Kicking Horse River at 18 meters high and a whopping 107 meters wide. It requires a 5km (round trip) hike to reach, which should take you 1-2 hours to complete. If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s an impressive sight, but I think it’s even more incredible in the winter as the falls freeze and create a natural winter wonderland.
Sherbrooke Lake
If you’re driving back to Lake Louise or Banff from Yoho, stop at Sherbrooke Lake, as it’s a great lake to add to your Yoho itinerary. It’s just as bright blue as the famous Lake Louise or Moraine Lake but sees far fewer visitors.
To reach this lake, you will need to hike 6 km (round trip), with 150 meters of elevation gain. Although it may be a bit of work, it’s well worth the effort when you reach the lakeshore and the views open up to Mount Ogden and Mount Niles.
Hiking Addition – Iceline Trail
The Iceline Trail is one of the best hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies. It’s been left separate on this itinerary as it’s a full-day outing, and many do it as an overnight backpacking trip. The 14.2 km trail is simply stunning, offering waterfalls, glacier views, glacier lakes, and beautiful wildflowers if you hit it in the summer.
This trail is rated as difficult, but we found it very easy. There isn’t much elevation gain involved and no scrambling to overcome. However, it is a very long day out that you’ll have to plan for. Expect the Iceline to take you anywhere from 6-8+ hours.
To Recap (Drive Times Not Included):
- Start Your Day at Emerald Lake (30 minutes)
- Canoe or Emerald Lake Loop (1.5 hours)
- Natural Bridge (30 minutes)
- Brunch in Field (1 Hour)
- Drive Yoho Valley Road (30 minutes)
- Tak Falls (30 minutes)
- Laughing Falls (1.5-2 hours)
- Optional
- Wapta Falls (2 hours)
- Sherbrooke Lake (2 hours)
Some Notes on This Yoho Itinerary
You Need a Parks Pass
Yoho is a National Park, and you need a National Park Pass to recreate in the park. If you are already visiting Banff or Jasper, you may already have this pass. The same pass gets you access to all the Canadian National Parks and costs $11 per person/day or $22 for the family. Read all about getting the pass here.
Yoho National Park is Close to Lake Louise
Many people venture to Yoho from their hotel in Lake Louise, as it’s less than an hour’s drive away. You could easily follow this itinerary by staying at a hotel in Lake Louise, like the Paradise Lodge or the Fairmont Chateau.
It’s also Close to Golden!
Yoho National Park is also close the Town of Golden, which is a BC mountain town that is a good alternative to staying in Banff (much cheaper hotel options!) Golden is a great option if you want to spend a few days exploring Yoho. You can even spend a morning on the Golden Skybridge!
You Can Stay in Yoho!
If you want to stay in the heart of it all, there are a few fantastic (and higher-end) places to stay. We recommend looking into Cathedral Mountain Lodge for a super-luxurious stay or the Emerald Lake Lodge to wake up on Emerald Lake.
This is a Summer Focused Itinerary
This is a summer-focused itinerary, mainly because we have very long days here in the summer, making it easier for you to fit all these activities in just one day! Also, Yoho Valley Road typically opens up around June 14th, which is the only way to access the famous Tak Falls. If you’re visiting in winter or shoulder seasons, you can still complete a lot of this itinerary. Just make sure to start early and be realistic—nighttime falls as early as 4 p.m. in December!
This Yoho Itinerary is best for those with their own car.
Not many tours focus solely on Yoho National Park, and if they do, it’s typically ones like this that stop in Lake Louise and then go to Emerald Lake before heading back to Banff. This itinerary is best for those with their own set of wheels and who have ultimate freedom. There’s no public transport options to any of these attractions.
Lake O Hara
Lake O Hara is a pristine area in Yoho, but it has not been included in this article because getting back to it requires advance planning and booking on a very competitive reservation system. It cannot be incorporated into an itinerary for Yoho as Lake O Hara needs its own special planning and itinerary! If you want to learn about how to visit Lake O Hara, we have a full article for that.
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Recommended Experiences: There are many things to do in the Rockies, but our top recommendations include the Banff Gondola and a cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island in Jasper. If you want a stress-free way to get to Moraine Lake, we highly recommend looking into Moraine Lake Bus Company.
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get to Banff or Canmore Without a Car: The Banff Airporter provides fantastic service connecting you from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Banff or Canmore.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. For a campervan trip, you can check prices and compare on Outdoorsy.
- Cheaper Airfare: We also use Going for airfare deals and travel credit cards to earn points on purchases. Those credit card points can be redeemed for free flights and hotels! Our favorite cards is the Capital One Venture X (which has an insane welcome bonus right now) as it has no foreign transaction fees.
- Hop On, Hop Off: This tour is taking Banff by storm. It’s exactly what it sounds like, hop on and off a bus to visit all the best attractions at your own pace!
We want to go to Wapta Falls. We will be going to Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, Town of Field, Takakkaaw Falls. Where do we fit Wapta Falls? What order? We are staying in Canmore.
I would go after Tak Falls
Hi! We are a family composed by two adults a 15 years old girl. We are going to travel Banff-Jasper area in August and we can dedicate only one day to Yoho area. I would like to ask you about which of these two option you would prefer:
1) Iceline Trail and visit Emerald Lake, Wapta Falls, Takkakaw falls, etc.
2) Walk the 22 km to the Lake O’Hara area (we bought some options for the random draw but we didn’t have luck) and then make a hike there. We are ready for a 30 km day, this is not an important problem for us.
Can you help us? Thank you very much and thank very, very much for all the information in this blog.
Bye, bye from Spain!
Hi Francisco,
I would recommend to walk the Iceline Trail and see the other sites. Although if you walk the entire Iceline Trail and hit Wapta Falls, Tak Falls, and Emerald Lake it would still be a VERY long day.
The 22km + to Lake O Hara is very boring and will likely eat up 4 hours of your day unless you are running. It’s possible to get spots on the bus back but that’s not gauranteed.