Established in British Columbia in 1886 shortly after Banff, Yoho National Park, a land of discovery, is a lesser-known park situated along the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Although often overlooked because it is located less than a half-hour drive from the Icefields Parkway, where most of the area’s tourist attractions are, Yoho is actually the quieter alternative to the other parks, while still boasting spectacular alpine scenery. Yoho – an exclamation of awe used by the native Cree people – is the perfect name for this park: its majestic peaks, expansive glaciers and impressive waterfalls never fail to amaze, making it easy to understand why the park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let’s discover some of Yoho’s highlights together!
Takakkaw Falls
Since Yoho is crossed by the Trans-Canada Highway, it is accessible year-round. However, the final 13.5 km of Yoho Valley Road, which leads to the waterfall, is accessible only seasonally, from mid-June to mid-October. Fortunately for us, it was end of June, so we enjoyed the scenic drive through the valley – especially since the sky was clear, free of the wildfire smoke we had left behind at Lake Louise. Our anticipation grew as we caught sight of the towering waterfalls, long before we even reached the parking lot.
A short path leads from the large parking lot and follows the course of Yoho River and we hurried across the bridge to reach the base of the waterfalls. The mountain opened its arms allowing the waterfall to reveal its power and majesty, welcoming us with a pleasant hum.
Step by step we realized that the water spray would have completely obscured the view had we ventured any closer. A fine mist was all over us, and the air currents coming from behind the mountains didn’t help at all. We decided it was about the time to go back, but not before taking another look at the plummeting 300+ metres-high waterfalls. It certainly put on an impressive show for us! I think we were very lucky with the timing of our visit, as the falls are fed by the meltwater of the Daly Glacier (part of the Waputik Icefield), which keeps the volumes up during the summer months.
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The Natural Bridge
Located 20km west of Takakkaw Falls is the Natural Bridge, an impressive natural rock formation spanning the Kicking Horse River as it descends through a canyon.
Sculpted by the erosive forces of these rushing waters, Natural Bridge is not merely a natural wonder but the entire outcrop looks really interesting. One can trace the passage of millennia in all those layers visible within this natural barrier; and yet the “stone bridge” is still there, enduring thousands of years following the last ice age, despite the relentless torrent of water surging at tremendous speed through the narrow opening.
There are several vantage points on both banks of the river where we could see the rock formations from different angles. Mesmerized by the power of nature, we did not rush, wishing somehow to take in some of the natural forces from here.
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Emerald Lake
Another famous place to visit in Yoho is Emerald Lake. Located just 10 minutes away from the Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake is very conveniently located at the end of Emerald Lake Road. But while we had enjoyed spacious and empty parking lots at the previous stops, it seemed as though everyone else went to Emerald Lake. We saw cars parked along the road about a kilometre before reaching the actual parking lot and naively wondered why so many cars parked on the shoulder.
Here, at Emerald Lake, you can spend an entire day if you wish. You can choose one or two hikes: to Yoho Pass or the Lake, you might want to rent a canoe or just go for a stroll around the lake. Yoho Park (along with Kootenay) is famous for being home to one of the earliest fossil-bearing deposits in the world, dating from middle Cambrian time, more than 500 million years ago. Several panels located along the Emerald Lake Circuit provide information about the Burgess Shale, known for the exceptional preservation of both hard and especially soft parts of the fossils.
Eventually the smoke from the wildfire caught up with us, and thick and dark layers blanketed the sky. We had left Lake Louise because of them yet it seemed they were following us. Even under the darkened sky we could see the lake’s turquoise hues, and we could only imagine what it would look like on a sunny day, surrounded by all those mighty peaks.
Tip(s) of the day:
*There is no public transportation in Yoho National Park. Highway 1 Trans-Canada Hwy runs 45 km through the centre of the park, and it’s the only major route; it is also conveniently located between Lake Louise in Alberta and Golden in BC, where you can rent a car in case you don’t have one already;
*If you want to visit these parks especially during the summer time, you need to plan ahead, including lodging, car rentals, camping, or any other services or reservations you might need;
*Summer is the busiest season, and some parking lots fill up very quickly; I have seen many cars in all locations parked on the shoulders, but personally I won’t recommend to do that. We had only one exception at the lake, and everything was well;
*For a first-time trip, plan for a 7 to 10-day road trip between the National Parks. You can download the visitor guide from Parks Canada website for more information and inform yourself about trail condition if you’re planning to hike one;
*Respect the wildlife and remember this is the bear country; bear spray is highly recommended if you plan to hike in the wilderness. Proper disposal (dropping it at a fire station) is required if you leave the area and not using it.
~visited in June 2026
