Table of Contents Yoho National Park: Banff's Less Famous Neighbour Where Is Yoho National Park In Canada? What a lot of people dont know about Yoho National Park is that its actually home to the oldest known evidence of complex life on Earth: the Burgess Shale fossils! If youre staying in Golden, you can purchase a pass at the visitor center in town. Of course, there are top natural attractions that every traveler road tripping the area should not miss, but you can also customize the journey according to your preferences. British Columbia is a large province and traveling between the best places to visit in BC requires transport. This tour costs $1,590 CAD per person (or $1,154 CAD each for a group of 4), so its definitely not cheap, but given how much accommodation and renting a car in the Rockies can cost, it might not cost you that much more than it would to organize everything yourself. Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! But what we find most exciting about this tour is that it includes a night at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a historic castle thats basically been plucked out of a storybook! Golden is actually surrounded by six national parks, so its an awesome base for exploring the Canadian Rockies, and were actually pretty taken with its old-world downtown area, too. Lake O'Hara Trails Condition Jun 30, 2022. While you can come to Yoho just to see the lakes famous green waters, we highly recommend sticking around to explore and go hiking, spot wildlife, and visit waterfalls. Except for otherworldly scenery, Yoho National Park is also one of the most important fossil areas in the world, which is from 1984 designated as a World Heritage Site. Itinerary advice June 3 - 13 Feb 19, 2023. Since its just you and your group, you can customize it to ensure that you get to visit all of your must-see natural attractions in Yoho National Park and beyond. Price range between CAD 16-28. Natural hazards are a part of the national park experience. Its a true bucket list stay and definitely not something you get to do every day (unless youre Scrooge McDuck, that is). Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. Trust us, it really does make life 10 times easier when you know where youre going! If you're staying in the Rockies for more than a few days, I highly recommend a Discovery Pass. Two spiral tunnels were built to allow trains to gain and lose elevation without losing control, and they were so successful that theyre still in use today! The road to Wapta Falls parking lot is not very well-signposted, which is the reason why many travelers miss the turn-off, and Wapta Falls is visited only by people intentionally looking for it. Plus, there are some cool natural attractions to marvel at along the way, including a quick detour to see Point Lace Falls and the Yoho Gorge! Theres basically no cell service in Yoho National Park, so make sure you download maps offline before you go. The base tour costs $618 CAD per person for a group of 2, but falls to $494 each for 6 people. There's one more public transport option, but we haven't tried it ourselves. Using Motorhome Republic, you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. There are two viewpoints, the one on Trans-Canada Highway is called Lower Spiral Tunnel Scenic Viewpoint alias Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site (where you can read a lot about history) and is accessible all-year-round. Its a nice, quick stop but definitely one thats worth adding to your itinerary. You can check availability and book a room once they re-open on Hostelworld.com. To get started, park inthe small lotacross from Wapta Lake along the Trans Canada Highway and check out the views before you head into the forest in the other direction towards Sherbrooke Lake. So if youve got time, this 2-day tour lets you see even more of the epic natural beauty that Banff and Yoho National Parks have to offer. 1-250-343-6783, Email The tour lasts 8-10 hours which is tons of time to see both parks after youre picked up in Calgary. If you've been wondering whether it is worth it to travel to Yoho National Park with a limited time, the answer is still yes. Plus, you can stay for up to 3 nights (if youve reserved camping in advance), so you dont have to trudge back down the road again straight away. Wear outdoor clothes and always keep extra layers in your backpack just in case. When discovering Yoho National Park, it could easily happen that the high Takakkaw Falls overshadow all other cascades, and a first-time visitor could get an assumption there's no other worthwhile waterfall in the area. Contact Rocky Mountaineer for details. Similarly, the park quiets down later on in the afternoon, and dusk is also prime time to see animals. Emerald Lake is absolutely beautiful during the winter and there are lots of opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on and around the lake, which is really cool. Or you can buy them from Parks Canada in advance online. If youre lucky to have Storm as your guide, hes passionate about exploring the Rockies and really brings all these amazing places to life. Wapta Falls is 4.6 kilometers out and back trail, and despite its undemanding profile, you should not underestimate the gear as the path is often muddy. 6. Here are a couple to get you started: How to Get to Moraine Lake (from Banff, Canmore, Calgary, and More! Lake Louise is a super famous place in the Canadian Rockies, and although its a small mountain village, there are lots of cool things to do here besides just visiting the well-known lake. Of course, same as in other destinations in the Canadian Rockies, the top season is summer from June to September, but there are still plenty of things to do even in the spring, autumn, and winter. Yoho National Park is part of the Canadian Rockies UNESCO Heritage Site, with spectacular scenery and fun things to do. waters of Emerald Lake after completing one of the nearby hikes! If you plan on spending time in Canadas national parks (including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Kootenay, and more) then youre going to have to pay for a Parks Pass. Youll need to give them a call at (250) 343-6418 between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. But even after all those years, Yoho's popularity still cannot be compared with the stars such as Banff National Park or Jasper National Park. The facilities arent as good, as there are no showers and only dry toilets, and its right next to the highway so it can be a bit noisy. Just so that we dont bore you by repeating ourselves about fees and facilities, there are a couple of things you need to know about the backcountry campgrounds in Yoho National Park. Its always a good idea to head to a national parks visitor center before you head out on your adventures, and we found that the one in Yoho National Park was excellent. Home Destination Guides North America Canada British Columbia Revelstoke and Golden 13 Things to KNOW Before Visiting Yoho National Park, Categories Banff, British Columbia, Canada, Destination Guides, North America, Revelstoke and Golden. Both beautiful parks offer some great hiking, wildlife viewing, cool rainforests, and alpine valleys and villages. Feb 25, 2023. Book this tour online and you can also take advantage of the buy now, pay later option! Destinationless Travelis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Most people travel in a personal vehicle. Rooms can cost as little as $169 CAD during the off seasons, rising to $719 CAD per night during the peak of summer, so take this into account when budgeting for your stay! You can do this hike in a single day, but since its so long and has a 710-meter (2,329-foot) change in elevation gain, you will need the entire day to do it. Backcountry campsites service hiking trails and are not accessible by cars. The Natural Bridge! This river is an important water source for the national park, but grades 1 to 4 are also here for adventure travelers who want to have some fun and see the Rockies from a different perspective. The tour costs $195 CAD per person which includes roundtrip transportation from Banff or Canmore. When you apply, you can choose up to 6 dates and times to ride the shuttle. There are only 30 tent sites available at the Lake OHara Campground, and they all become available on the same day in late March (the exact date changes from year to year), so youll need to plan ahead and book your spot online through the Parks Canada website. Plan your visit Maps and directions, visitor centre hours, park fees, local attractions, accommodation, facilities and services, fire information and visitor guidelines. Winter is certainly a more challenging time for visiting Yoho National Park in terms of preparation for outdoor activities; it often requires having backcountry skills, but when you opt for this period, you can expect a tranquil experience that is pretty unique. The peak season is during July and August. After lunch, youll take a chairlift ride even higher up the mountain to the wildlife refuge, where youll get to see and learn about Boo, the famous resident grizzly! As you can guess from the name, the Laughing Falls are close by, so you could also split the Laughing and Twin Falls hike across two days by staying here. If youre traveling in a group or with family, you can buy a single-day admission for your entire vehicle (up to 7 people in one vehicle.). Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore are all east of Yoho National Park, but its also pretty close to Golden, BC, an underrated small town thats 58.7 kilometers (36.4 miles) west of the park. 3. Autumn is a perfect time for road tripping the Rockies, and although this period is very short, you can enjoy free hiking trails and beautifully colored trees. Okay, not really, but its definitely not easy to visit Lake OHara, as there are some pretty tight restrictions on visitor numbers. Make sure to book this full-day tour online here! A few hiking trails also start here, in case you're looking for an authentic backcountry experience. Parks Canada Passes can be bought online here or at one of the Visitor Centers or booths at the entrance to many national parks. We spent in area three full days where we combined sightseeing of must-visit places with hiking and camping in the Lake O'Hara destination, which is a bit exclusive as it is not accessible to all traveler who made it to Yoho, only to those who made the booking well in advance and the number of visitors is strictly limited. Prices range from a reasonable $169 CAD per night during shoulder season to a more costly $719 CAD per night during peak summer. None are open during the . in some cases a permit may be issued to undertake these activities. Choose a hotel, bed and breakfast, guesthouse, lodge, chalet, campground in the area around Field and Golden, BC. Yoho National Park is certainly not such a famous winter destination like Lake Louise that is known for the ski resort, but it is perfect for travelers preferring off the beaten path or families with kids who love to stay away from party travelers. Weve found this to be one of the best wildlife tours offered in Banff and the surrounding area! This pass will give 365 days of access to all participating national parks in Canada. It is also perfect for travelers who want to enjoy a day in nature without the necessity to arrange stuff; this company will arrange everything on your behalf. There are several campgrounds spread across the area, which is great for budget travelers and travelers getting around by campervans. A day trip to Yoho National Park in British Columbia is a must-do if you are visiting Banff or Lake Louise. It is accessible year-round but is most popular between mid-May to early October. This rustic HI Yoho National Park Whiskey Jack Hostel is located right near the famous Takakkaw Falls, which is not only a great attraction in itself, but also acts as the trailhead for some of Yohos best hiking routes. Best Time To Go: May - June; Parking: Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot; . The mountains can be shrouded in clouds, but blue skies in the winter are not uncommon. We've handpicked the best hotels in selected areas where you can stay before or after visiting Yoho National Park. Theres also not the same abundance of accommodation in Yoho National Park as there is in Banff, so if you want to stay overnight make sure that you book your campsite, hotel, or hostel well in advance to avoid missing out. Unplug and enjoy a night under the stars with your family in one of four rustic, . We actually think that this is one of the best lakes in the Rockies to visit, especially given how crowded Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are becoming. Its all uphill and theres not really much scenery to enjoy along the way, but when you get to Lake OHara it will all be totally worth it. These two parks count visitor attendance as one unit, with a combined total visitor count for 2022 coming in at about 775,190. Calgary | Aloft Calgary University - A modern and clean hotel close to Calgary's university is the right place for you if you like design hotels with excellent service. Winter, when the waterfall freezes, is also an interesting choice, but you must know the road to Takakkaw Falls is accessible only seasonally, between roughly June and October, so outside this period, you can cross-country ski, but be aware of avalanche risk. What we also like about the Natural Bridge is that its an excellent place to spot wildlife because animals like moose and elk are attracted to the mineral lick. Its generally open from late June until September and attracts a friendly, adventurous crowd, although its closed for renovations in Ssummer 2023. If youre able to get a reservation, youll also need to pay a booking deposit because this place is very in-demand. You can basically feel it vibrating through your entire body! Not only it gives you more time for exploring Yoho itself, but you'll also get access to other national parks in the Rockies and Canada overall. LaidBackTrip 2018-2023. But even after all those years, Yoho's popularity still cannot be compared with the stars such as Banff National Park or Jasper National Park.It is a mystery for us, but the aura of these two parks linked by the iconic Icefields Parkway kept . Its home to the Yoho Visitor Centre, which is handy for getting information about conditions before you head out on a hike, and there are lots of excellent trails close by. The cheapest car with a pick-up and drop-off in different locations is around $100 CAD per day. If youre just visiting for a day or two, the pass is $10.50 CAD per person per day or $21 CAD for a family/group of up to seven people in the same vehicle. The atmosphere in the mountains in winter is completely different, and we believe you'll enjoy it as well, just exercise caution and always make sure you have a warm accommodation booked to relax after. Its a flat 4.8-kilometer (3-mile mile) hike fromthe main parking lotfor the Wapta Falls Trail. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada, and using crown land and campsites, you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable! If youre staying in Banff or Lake Louise, then you should already have one of these. Yoho National Park is a safe destination when it comes to traveling, but as at any other place, you should not walk around light-headedly. There are only eight rooms in the main lodge (starting at $860 CAD per night for two people) or one of their cabins for $1,215 CAD per night. You can check availability and book on Booking.com. The most common airports to fly into when visiting Yoho National Park are Calgary, AB (about 2.5 hours to the east of the park) and Vancouver, BC (about 8 hours to the west of the park). Instead, you can walk across the lake, make a few hikes (but you should definitely have either snowshoes or microspikes on), or try cross-country skiing. Is it free to visit Yoho National Park? Over thousands of years, water eroded the soft rock beneath a hard limestone band, creating a bridge. Yoho National Park is the home of Emerald Lake! from. Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance covers against risks of travel. 10. We are about to introduce you to our personal favorite place to visit in Yoho National Park, the Lake O'Hara area. Not only are the views from your room some of the best in the park, but youll also avoid the headache of fighting for a parking spot. Learn about wildlife, nature, bear safety and find contact information. If you want to see the tunnel from a different angle, carry on to Upper Spiral Tunnel Scenic Viewpoint that lies on Yoho Valley Road that is opened only from June to October. It really does pay to plan ahead when visiting Yoho National Park. There are so many things to do and a trip to the Canadian Rockies would be incomplete without a stop here. The facilities are great, with flushing toilets, showers, and firepits available, and in terms of location, its a 15-minute drive from Emerald Lake. And of course, there are also multi-day hikes that you can plan according to your skills and level of fitness, with campsites along the trail. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. 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