Is One Day in Yoho National Park Enough? Best Things to Do
Yoho National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in British Columbia. It’s just a short drive from Banff but with a fraction of the crowds. I visited Yoho National Parks a few times, including on a road trip from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies and in this article I’ll walk you through exactly how to spend one day in Yoho National Park.
If you’re visiting Banff in summer or doing a Canadian Rockies road trip, Yoho National Park is a perfect addition to your itinerary. You can drive to most of the stops mentioned in this article but you can also go on backpacking trips, such as at Lake O’Hara.
One Day in Yoho National Park: Overview
How to Spend One Day in Yoho National Park
If you only have one day in Yoho National Park, you’ll be able to see the main highlights, such as Emerald Lake, Lake O’Hara, Takakkaw Falls and Wapta Falls. Aside of these 4 main attractions in Yoho, there are also additional stops you can add to your itinerary. I’ve listed them below.
Drive to Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies. On our trip, we were surprised how vibrant the turquoise water was, even on a rainy day!
Although Emerald Lake is not as popular as Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, it still attracts a lot of tourists every day. 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 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 less than 30 minutes.
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. This is caused by tiny organisms, which harm 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.
Hike to 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 getting 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 missed out on the lottery, so we decided to hike to Lake O’Hara without a reservation. 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.
Drive the Yoho Valley Road and Stop at 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.
Hike to 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 Wapta Falls in summer, we had the 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.
Things to Do in Yoho National Park in 2 Days or More
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 National Park, 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. Another backpacking trip that I loved is the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park, just 50 minutes drive from Banff.
Burgess Shale Fossil Beds
If you’re looking for a unique experience to add to your Canadian Rockies trip, a guided hike to the Burgess Shale fossil site is a fantastic idea. These UNESCO World Heritage fossils are some of the best-preserved Cambrian-era fossils in the world from over 500 million years ago.
The access to the fossil beds is only possible on a guided hike, which runs from July to mid-September. You can choose between 3 main hikes, where the shortest Mount Stephen Trilobite Beds hike is 5 hours long and the longest 20 km Walcott Quarry hike is a full day hike.
The Burgess Shale site is a fantastic stop on a two day Yoho National Park itinerary and requires advance booking.
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 take 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.
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.
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.
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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.
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? I loved most of my trip to Yoho, 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 Yoho National Park. Trust me, it’s absolutely worth it!
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