One Day in Yoho National Park: My Ideal Itinerary
Yoho National Park is an alpine paradise that often flies under the radar compared to its more famous neighbor Banff National Park. But if you’re planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies, I highly recommend spending at least one day in Yoho National Park. Whether you’re doing a day trip from Banff or adding it to a longer stay, visiting this magical, less-crowded park is absolutely worth your time.
While not exactly a hidden gem, Yoho tends to attract fewer tourists than Banff or Jasper, making it a refreshing escape (especially in peak season). If your schedule allows, two or more days in Yoho will give you time to explore at a slower pace. But one day in Yoho National Park is the perfect way to get a taste of its stunning landscapes, waterfalls, alpine lakes and dramatic peaks.
If you’ve already seen the main highlights or are returning for a second visit to Yoho, I’ve included a few additional suggestions at the end for extending your trip and discovering some quieter corners.
One Day in Yoho National Park: Overview
Yoho National Park is one of my favorite places in the Canadian Rockies. Not only is it a perfect stop on a Canadian road trip, but it’s also close to other popular attractions, such as Banff and Lake Louise.
- Where: British Columbia, Canada
- Parks Pass: I recommend Discovery Pass if visiting more than one national park in Canada
- How to visit: by car ideally but you could also use guided tours
- Best time to visit: June to September
- Camping: four front-camping as well as six backcountry campsites
- Highlights of ONE DAY in Yoho National Park: Emerald Lake, Lake O’Hara, Takakkaw Falls, Wapta Falls
- Other things to do in Yoho National Park: Iceline Trail, Natural Bridge, Laughing Falls, Twin Falls, Paget Lookout
Where is Yoho National Park?
Yoho National Park is located in British Columbia, just across the border from Alberta, making it an official part of the Canadian Rockies.
Do you need a Parks Pass for Yoho National Park?
If you want to spend one day in Yoho National Park, you’ll need a national parks pass. You can get a ticket from a visitor center in Golden or Fields if driving from Vancouver or Western Canada. But if you’re coming from Alberta, you’ll likely pass through a Parks Canada gate just after Canmore on the Trans-Canada Highway.
You can also buy your pass online in advance, which can save time, especially during busy travel months. There are two main options:
- Day Pass: Around $11 per adult, valid for entry into one national park for a single day.
- Discovery Pass: Costs $76 per adult and gives you unlimited access to all national parks and historic sites in Canada for 12 months.
If you’re traveling with your family or with a group up to 7 people in one vehicle, you could buy the Family/Group Discovery pass for $151. In fact, this is often the best value for families and small groups.
💡Travel Tip: if you’re staying for 2 days in Banff or more, then I recommend getting the Discovery Pass.
How to visit Yoho National Park in One Day
Yoho National Park sits right on the border of Alberta and British Columbia, just a short drive from Banff and Lake Louise. So if you’re spending three days in Banff or even a full week, adding Yoho National Park to your itinerary is a fantastic way to experience even more of the Canadian Rockies.
The easiest way to explore Yoho is by car, giving you the freedom to visit its many stunning sights at your own pace. But if you’re visiting Banff without a car, no worries. In fact, you can join a guided tour bus that will take you directly to Yoho.
Just keep in mind that there’s no public transit service within Yoho National Park, so planning your transportation ahead is key.
🚗 RELATED: The Best Stops on the Icefields Parkway Drive
Get to Yoho National Park from Banff
Yoho National Park is just a 20 minute drive from Lake Louise and about 1 hour from Banff. It is conveniently connected by Trans-Canada Highway, making it the perfect destination for a one day itinerary outside Banff.
Get to Yoho National Park from Golden
If you’re driving from Western Canada, Vancouver or Golden, getting to Yoho National Park is very simple. You have to follow the Trans-Canada Highway east until you reach Yoho National Park. The first stop on your way will be Wapta Falls, followed by Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls and Lake O’Hara Trailhead.
When is the Best Time to Visit Yoho National Park?
The best time to visit Yoho National Park is between June and September. But keep in mind that in early June some trails may still have snow and by late September snowfall can begin again.
So, July and August are generally the busiest months in Yoho National Park. But even then, the crowds are nowhere near as intense as those in Banff or Lake Louise during the same period.
If you’re hoping to catch the stunning fall colors, September is the perfect time to visit. The valleys come alive with golden larches, creating a truly breathtaking landscape that’s well worth planning your trip around.
Where can you Camp in Yoho National Park?
Yoho National Park camping is one of the best ways to experience the Canadian Rockies. While it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely the most affordable accommodation option. This holds especially true during the busy peak season.
In Yoho National Park, you can choose between four front-country campgrounds, which are accessible by car and offer more amenities, as well as six backcountry campsites for a true wilderness adventure.
Front Country Campsites in Yoho National Park
| Campground | Open (2025) | Reservable | Sites | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kicking Horse | May 15 – October 5 | May 30 – October 5 | 88 | $30.5 |
| Monarch Campground | May 1 – October 13 | First-come, first served | 44 | $19.75 |
| Takakkaw Falls | June 12 – October 13 | June 20 – September 16 | 35 | $19.75 |
| Hoodoo Creek | June 12 to September 1 | First-come, first served | 30 | $17.50 |
We chose to stay at the Kicking Horse Campground during our visit to Yoho National Park. But there are plenty of other options, between front-country as well as backcountry campgrounds. While front-country sites are accessible by car, backcountry campsites require hiking to reach, offering a more remote experience.
Yoho National Park has four front-country campgrounds: two require reservations (Kicking Horse and Takakkaw Falls) and two operate on a first-come, first-served basis (Monarch and Hoodoo Creek). You can reserve sites at Kicking Horse and Takakkaw Falls through the Parks Canada website.
What we appreciated most about Kicking Horse was not only the availability of hot showers but also the cell service, which made it easy to book our Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. On the downside, the campground can get noisy in the evenings when trains pass by on the nearby railway.
Monarch and Hoodoo Creek campgrounds are first-come, first-served, so availability isn’t guaranteed. Especially at Monarch, which is very popular from June through September. It’s located right next to Kicking Horse campground and close to many of Yoho’s main attractions, so spots fill up quickly.
Backcountry Campsites in Yoho National Park
If you want to sleep in the backcountry in Yoho National Park, you’ll need to reserve a backcountry permit. The reservation window typically opens at the end of January and campsites tend to fill up quickly! So many I know (me included) set an alarm on their phones to make sure they don’t miss the day backcountry permits become available.
- Lake O’Hara Camping: (high-demand!)
- McArthur Creek: in the Ottertail Valley
- Yoho Lake: in the Yoho Valley
- Laughing Falls: in the Yoho Valley
- Twin Falls: in the Yoho Valley
- Little Yoho: in the Yoho Valley
You can book a backcountry permit at six backcountry campground in Yoho National Park. Also please follow the Leave no Trace principles and aim to minimize your impact on the surrounding vegetation.
Things to do in One Day in Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park is a marvel of the Canadian Rockies. So spending one day in Yoho National Park is the perfect opportunity to soak in the breathtaking mountain scenery.
Below, I’ve highlighted the main attractions you can comfortably visit in a one day. But if you have more time, feel free to explore additional activities from the section below to make the most of your trip.
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies. On your visit, it won’t take long to see exactly why the lake earned its name. In fact, its stunning glacier-fed waters are truly breathtaking and will leave you speechless.
Although Emerald Lake is not as popular as Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, it still attracts a lot of tourists. We visited around 6 pm on a rainy day and found the parking lot surprisingly empty. But during the day the parking lot fills up quickly. So, aim to visit Emerald Lake either early in the morning or later in the evening.
Emerald Lake is a must-see for anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies and Banff. It’s actually just 1 hour drive from Lake Louise but if you’re staying at one of the Yoho National Park campsites (as we did) it’s even closer.
At Emerald Lake you can decide whether to take a walk around the lake, rent a canoe or visit the shop at the lodge. Also, you can book a room at Emerald Lake Lodge for a magical stay (even in winter).
Canoeing on Emerald Lake
- Renting rate: $100/hr per canoe
- Open Hours: 10 am to 4:45 pm
- How many people: 3 adults per canoe
- Pets: not allowed
- Reservations: first-come, first-served
📌 Good to Know: Parks Canada has prohibited the use of personal watercraft, such as paddle boards and kayaks, to stop the spread of whirling disease. Watercraft used in other lakes can carry tiny organisms that cause the disease, which harms fish and wildlife. If these watercraft aren’t cleaned properly before entering Emerald Lake, they can bring the disease and hurt the lake’s ecosystem.
Lake O’Hara
If you’re looking to spend one day in Yoho National Park, chances are that you’ve already heard about Lake O’Hara. Although Lake O’Hara is one of the prettiest lakes in Yoho National Park, getting there requires some planning.
You’re not allowed to drive directly up to Lake O’Hara, so there are two main ways to get there: either by securing a shuttle bus reservation or by hiking 11 km one way along the access road. The tricky part is that shuttle bus reservations are released annually through a lottery system each March, making them highly competitive.
We personally missed out on the lottery, so we decided to hike to Lake O’Hara without a reservation instead. And it turned out to be an incredible experience! If you decide to hike up, I highly recommend setting aside a full day. In fact, the round trip is roughly 30 km, and with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the stunning scenery, it’s definitely a long (but rewarding!) day of hiking.
💡Fun Fact: Lake O’Hara is named after Colonel Robert O’Hara, an Irishman who visited the area and was impressed by its beauty (I don’t blame him). He had connections with the Canadian Pacific Railway workers, which were mapping the area at the time.
Takakkaw Falls
Take the scenic Yoho Valley Road to reach Takakkaw Falls. It’s just a short 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot to the base of the falls, where you can enjoy the powerful roar of the cascading water. One of the best times to visit is in mid-June, when the heavy snowmelt sends the waterfall into full flow.
Takakkaw Falls is also one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada. Having hiked to Upper Yosemite Falls in the USA, I have to say that nothing beats a powerful waterfall.
Wapta Falls
Wapta Falls is located at the far end of Yoho National Park and is the first major stop you’ll encounter when driving from Vancouver or Western Canada. As the largest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River, it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Yoho.
To reach the falls from the Trans-Canada Highway, you’ll need to take a gravel road to the parking lot. The turn-off isn’t well marked, so I recommend using a GPS or navigation app to avoid missing it.
The hike to Wapta Falls is an easy 5 km round trip, typically taking 1 to 2 hours. When we visited in the summer, we had the entire trail almost entirely to ourselves. In fact, we’ve only met a few people at the parking lot and none on the trail, making it a peaceful escape.
Other Things to Do in Yoho National Park
Iceline Trail
The Iceline Trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in Yoho National Park and requires a full day to complete. The trailhead is located along Yoho Valley Road, the same route you take to reach Takakkaw Falls.
If you have two days in Yoho, the Iceline Trail is a perfect addition for your trip. You can also combine this scenic hike with a visit to Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls to complement your one day in Yoho National Park.
Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a stop along the Emerald Lake Road. The turn-off is quite easy to miss so you should keep an eye out for it.
This stunning natural formation was carved over thousands of years by the powerful Kicking Horse River. Not only is this a fascinating example of nature’s force but it can also be visited year-round.
Laughing Falls
To reach Laughing Falls, start by driving along Yoho Valley Road to the base of Takakkaw Falls. From there, you can embark on a 7.8 km round-trip hike to the falls. I recommend setting aside at least 2 hours to complete the hike comfortably.
Twin Falls
If you’ve made it to Laughing Falls, you can choose to continue a bit further to Twin Falls. As the name suggests, Twin Falls features two separate waterfalls side by side.
But they’re not always clearly distinguishable, especially during the heavy snowmelt in mid-June. To increase your chances of seeing both falls distinctly, it’s best to avoid visiting during that peak melt period.
Paget Lookout
Reaching Paget Lookout involves a relatively short hike, and if you’re up for a challenge, you can extend your adventure by combining it with a scramble up Paget Peak.
Final Thoughts: Is Yoho National Park Worth Visiting?
There are many breathtaking places in British Columbia and Yoho National Park is definitely one of them. I first visited Yoho as part of a Canadian Rockies road trip and loved every moment (hailstorm and rain in July included!). But hopefully, next time I’ll be greeted by more sunny days.
What was my favorite part of the trip? There are so many unforgettable memories, but a few highlights stand out: hiking to Lake O’Hara, exploring Emerald Lake on a rainy day and enjoying a peaceful morning at our campsite in Kicking Horse.
If you’re already visiting Banff and Lake Louise, be sure to take a day trip to spend one day in Yoho National Park. Trust me, it’s absolutely worth it!
