Yoho Lake

Location

Yoho National Park, Banff, Canada

Website

Yoho National Park

Activity Guide

Day Hiking, Backpacking, Swimming, Ski Touring

General Info

Yoho Lake trail starts at Takakkaw Falls, which is an incredible powerful waterfall worth walking to the base of.
Take the trail past Whiskey Jack hostel towards Yoho Lake. It starts off a bit steep, but the trail is only 4.3 km (2.6 miles). Camp here and head onto the Iceline Trail towards Laughing Falls for night #2 or loop back down to the falls after one night, or just lunch.

Amenities

  • Tent platforms
  • Bear pole
  • Scenic viewpoint
  • Picnic tables
  • Pit toilet

Insider Information

  • The wildflowers were incredible at the beginning of August. Fields and fields of different varieties lined the entire trail
  • Bear spray is not allowed on flights, so you’ll have to buy some when you get there. We found it to be less expensive than buying it in the US anyway, running about $35 Canadian Dollars (right now, about $27 USD). We ended up donating it at the end of our trip to an outfitter.
  • Don’t bother with bear canisters. They are not required, and difficult to hang from the bear poles.
  • Don’t go the first weekend in August unless you want to hang out with everyone in Canada.