Yoho National Park camping is one of the best ways to experience the stunning section of the Canadian Rockies. There are several nearby front-country and backcountry campgrounds in Yoho National Park. You can also book three ACC huts or stay at the HI Whiskey Jack Wilderness Hostel.
While the front country camping options are not as great as camping in Banff National Park, there are some fantastic backcountry spots. Yoho sees fewer visitors than Banff, so it’s easier to score a campsite, aside from Lake O’Hara which is the most difficult in all of the Canadian Rockies.
Yoho National Park Camping Information
Front Country Campsites
| Campground | Reservations | Facilities | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kicking Horse | Yes, (May 31 to October 14) | Water, flush toilets, Showers, firepits, sani dump | 30.50 |
| Monarch | No | Overflow camping, potable water, sry toilets, sani dump | $19.75 |
| Takakkaw Falls | Yes (June 20 to September 16) | Potable water, dry toilets, bear bins, firepits | $19.75 |
| Hoodoo Creek | No | Potable water, dry toilets, bear bins, firepits | $16.75 |
Kicking Horse Campground
The Kicking Horse Campground is the nicest campground with facilities that include hot showers, flush toilets, fire pits, and a sanitation dump. Reservations are required for the Kicking Horse Campground from May 31 to October 14. However, there is not much privacy at the campsite asides from a few so it’s best for RVs and Campervans.
- Operating dates: May 16 to October 14
- Reservation: Reservable (from May 31 to October 14)
- Amenities: Firepits, flush toilets, hot showers, sani dump, disability accessible
- Fees: 30.50
- Number of sites: 88
Monarch Campground
There is sort of an overflow campground, Monarch Campground, next to the Kicking Horse that does not require reservations, but it is limited on facilities and right next to the highway. We would not recommend either campground for tents unless you’re in a pinch. The campsite itself even has an overflow parking lot if you can’t find a place to camp for the night.
- Operating dates: May 2 to September 16
- Reservation: No
- Fees: $19.75
- Number of sites: 44
Takakkaw Falls Campground
If you’re tent camping opt for the campsite at Takakkaw Falls which operates on a first-come-first-serve basis walk-in campsite. You’ll have to make a short walk into the campsite, but they have a number of carts that can carry your camp gear.
Not far from the Takakkaw Falls campsite is the backcountry campsite Laughing Falls which could be a good option if you’re looking for a wilderness campsite without too much work to reach. From Takakkaw Falls, you can hike over the Yoho Pass to Emerald Lake arriving at the lake on foot, but plan your return to camp.
- Operating dates: June 13 to October 14
- Reservation: Yes (June 20 to September 16)
- Amenities: Fire pit
- Fees: $18.75
- Number of sites: 35
Hoodoo Creek
Not far from the town of Golden Hoodoo Creek is located on the Western Edge of the park right before Wapta Falls. The waterfall is one of the best sights in all Yoho.
The campground is fairly basic as it’s located in a large open meadow that provides some great views of the surrounding mountains, most notably Mount Hunter. The campground can facilitate both small RVs/Campers and tents.
- Operating dates: June 13 to September 2, 2024
- Reservation: No
- Amenities: Firepits, Disabled access
- Fees: $18.75
- Number of sites: 30
Yoho National Park Backcountry Campsites
There are four backcountry campgrounds in the Yoho Valley. Most visitors will want to choose from the campgrounds located in the Yoho Valley as this is where four of the backcountry campgrounds are located. You can choose from Yoho Lake, Laughing Falls, Twin Falls, and Little Yoho Campground. All of these campsites are accessible from the Takakkaw trailhead.
The fifth Yoho backcountry campsite is McArthur Creek, which connects to the famous Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park. It’s a tremendous multi-day hike in the Canadian Rockies that draws in visitors worldwide. Reservations for the hike are a hot commodity, so be prepared to plan your trip when reservations open up at the beginning of the year.
You are also required to have a reservation and backcountry camping permit. Fires are not permitted in backcountry campsites. All backcountry campgrounds have tent pads, dry toilets, picnic tables, and food storage so you won’t need to pack a bear bin.
Lake O’Hara Camping
Lake O’Hara is the premier destination for hiking and backcountry camping in the Canadian Rockies. Parks Canada has taken a strict approach to limit numbers to the area to preserve the wilderness. All reservations for this small campground of 30 sites sell out in one day. So it’s best to be on the Parks Canada reservation site before campsites open up to scoop one up.
Access to the area is controlled by a bus permit system requiring reservations. If you don’t score a reservation, you can still hike into Lake O Hara via a boring access road. The access road is an easy 10km, so if you’re in shape and prepared to add an extra 20km to your hike in the area, it’s worth the effort. Go for the All Souls Hike, as it’s easily one of the best hikes in Yoho!
ACC Huts
The Alpine Club of Canada operates three mountain huts that visitors can book. To book a hut, you’ll need to go through reservations with ACC. The Stanley Mitchell Hut and Elizabeth Parker Hut are open year round and provide an endless amount of objectives, whether that’s hiking (the Iceline Trail is the most well-known), skiing, mountaineering, or climbing. The Scott Duncan Hut is only open in the winter months and is used for ski tours of the Wapta Icefield Traverse.
Elizabeth Parker is located in the Lake O’Hara region and is a hot commodity so you’ll need to plan well in advance if you hope to score a reservation in the summer months.
Yoho National Park Camping Tips
Reservations
Kicking Horse Campground and Takakkaw Falls are the only front country campsites that accepts reservations. You can book your site on the Parks Canada website. Reservation launchs on Tuesday, January 23 2024 at 8:00 am MT.
Pack a Tarp and Rainfly
If you plan on camping in a tent I’d recommend a ground tarp to protect your tent from the ground. Yoho National Park camping can be a pretty wet and muddy place so a tarp will be very handy.
“Bare” Campsite
All visitors are advised to practice the bare campsite policy. This means no food left unattended or out and all campsites are clean to reduce conflicts with wildlife, most specifically bears.
Come Prepared For Cool Temperatures
Summers in the park are lovely with temperatures that range from 16° to 23° Celsius. While temperatures at night frequently drop below zero especially in the shoulder months. We like to camp in the park with a -7C/20F sleeping bag as it allows for the greatest comfort in the park. Remember you can always unzip a sleeping bag, but you can’t add more insulation.
Free Camping/Random Camping
There is no free camping or random camping allowed in Yoho National Park. You must camp in a designated campsite and/or have a backcountry permit. If you do want to free camp or random camp nearby you can head north of the town of Golden into Crown Land.
The Best Yoho National Park Hikes
Looking for the best Yoho hikes? We rank our favorite hikes around the park and share all of the details in this guide to experience the best in the park. You’ll find on these hikes in Banff high alpine passes lined with wildflowers, jagged peaks topped by glaciers, and a healthy dose of turquoise blue lakes.
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Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Tours (New in 2024): The Banff Blog is partnering with one of the leading tour companies in Western Canada so readers can experience the magic of the Rockies with other travelers – without having to think about a thing. See all our 2024 tour offerings here!
- 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. Or embark on an epic campervan trip. We like to compare prices on Motorhome Republic and Outdoorsy.
- Cheaper Airfare: We also use Going to watch for cheap airfare deals!
- Hop On, Hop Off: This tour is taking Banff by storm. It’s exactly what it sounds like, hop on and off a bus bound for all the best attractions at your own pace!
