|
Wholly in British Columbia on the western side of the Continental Divide, YOHO NATIONAL PARK 's name derives from a Cree word meaning "wonder" - a fitting testament to the awesome grandeur of the region's mountains, lakes and waterfalls. At the same time it's a small park, whose intimate scale makes it perhaps the finest of the four parks and the one favoured by Rockies' connoisseurs. The Trans-Canada divides Yoho neatly in half, climbing from Lake Louise over the Kicking Horse Pass to share the broad, glaciated valley bottom of the Kicking Horse River with the old Canadian Pacific Railway. The only village, Field , has the park centre, services and limited accommodation (the nearest full-service towns are Lake Louise, 28km east, and Golden , 54km west). Other expensive accommodation is available at the central hubs, Lake O'Hara , the Yoho Valley and Emerald Lake , from which radiate most of the park's stunning and well-maintained trails - hiking in Yoho is magnificent - and a couple of lodges just off the Trans-Canada. Thus these areas - not Field - are the focal points of the park, and get very busy in summer. Side roads lead to Emerald Lake and the Yoho Valley, so if you choose you can drive in, do a hike and then move on at night. Access to Lake O'Hara is far more difficult, being reserved for those on foot, or those with lodge or campsite reservations, who must book for a special bus . The other five park-run campsites are all much more readily accessible, and there's a single road-accessible youth hostel in the Yoho Valley. The park also operates six backcountry campsites . The Trans-Canada also gives direct access to short but scenic trails; as these take only an hour or so, they're the best choice if you only want a quick taste of the park before moving on. If you have time for one day walk, make it the Iceline-Whaleback-Twin Falls Trail , rated among the top five day-hikes in the Rockies . If you're cycling, note that mountain biking - very popular in the park - is restricted to several designated trails only: these are Kicking Horse (19.5km); the Amiskwi Trail to the Amiskwi River crossing (24km); the Otterhead Trail to Toche Ridge junction (8km); Ice River to Lower Ice Ridge warden cabin (17.5km); the Talley-Ho Trail (3km); and the Ottertail Trail as far as the warden cabin (14.7km).
Your Tip for Yoho National Park
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Yoho National Park - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Yoho National Park - visit the main Yoho National Park forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Yoho National Park webguide section below! Thanks.
|
