After two weeks spent in Banff National Park, exploring Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, as well as off-the-beaten-path spots in Banff, we head to the quiet Yoho National Park. Less known and less visited than its famous neighbor, it still offers some hidden gems to explore. Let’s discover it together!
Saturday, June 18, 2022
Yoho National Park is located in the Kicking Horse Valley. Indeed, one of the explorers’ horses made a kick that caused it to fall… For the first time in a long while, we find a really nice spot just outside the park. We set up camp by the river in a free campsite with a fire pit. After several nights spent in overcrowded parking lots in Banff, we appreciate this little bit of comfort in the great outdoors. And, as a bonus, we get to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Sunday, June 19
🥾 Wapta Falls – 5 km (3 miles)
Our day starts at Wapta Falls, a beautiful waterfall at the end of a muddy but quick trail.
Hoodoos – 5 km (3 miles), 300m elevation gain.
It seems that the Hoodoos in Yoho are more impressive than those in Banff! We’re heading out to check for ourselves.
A steep climb takes us to the viewpoints. From the upper viewpoint, we overlook these strange shapes created by erosion over time. But how can those large stones stay up there?
Under pouring rain, we make our way back to the car. We have a picnic sheltered under a tree near the Yoho National Park service center. Then, we take advantage of their Wi-Fi to work and their outlet to recharge our battery. In the evening, we return to the same spot as the day before, by the river. This time, we arrive earlier and can choose an even nicer spot. And in full sun (when it’s out, at least!).
Monday, June 20
The day promises to be sunny. However, after 10 days of unreliable weather forecasts, sometimes completely off, we prefer to stay cautious. In the mountains, things can change very quickly. Nevertheless, it is very nice when we hit the road to Yoho National Park, after taking our time with breakfast.
Natural Bridge
We passed by it the day before, but with this beautiful sunny weather, we can’t resist the urge to go back and take more photos of the natural bridge.
🥾 Emerald Lake Loop – 5.1 km (3.1 miles)
Next stop is Emerald Lake. We’ve heard that this lake is as beautiful as Lake Louise in Banff Park, and indeed, it’s well worth the trip. The south side offers beautiful views of the lake, while the north side is particularly muddy. Unfortunately, the trails that offer elevated views of the lake are all impassable due to snow. It’s worth noting that Yoho National Park is experiencing exceptional snowfall at this time of year. The park’s most iconic hikes are closed due to the still-present risk of avalanches (in fact, an avalanche occurred last week, blocking one of the park’s roads…).
We return to have a picnic at the service center, then head to the nearby campground to kindly ask if we can take a shower. While we wait behind three RVs checking in at the gatehouse, a couple from Montpellier (whom we had met earlier and recognized by their Montpellier t-shirt) wave us over to join them and park on their campsite! With pleasure! We enjoy a nice shower and even grab some firewood from the supply! Tonight, we’ll have a campfire! Thanks, friends, for your hospitality! 😁
As planned, we return to the same spot as the previous two nights and light a fire! It’s always such a joy to spend an evening by the fire. We take the opportunity to cook some potatoes in the embers, absolutely delicious. The cherry on top of this beautiful evening: we set up the tent! The night is expected to be chilly, but after a week of sleeping in the car, it feels great to be back in our palace!
Tomorrow? We’re heading back to Banff National Park for a few more days! What do you mean, again?
Friday, June 24
After two eventful days and a chilling encounter with a grizzly in Banff National Park, we return one last time to Yoho National Park before leaving the region for good. We’ve just learned that the road to Takakkaw Falls is finally reopening, after several days of clearing following an avalanche. At last!
The Yoho Valley Road, which leads to the falls, is just the kind of road we love: full of twists and turns, with a few tight switchbacks winding through an incredible landscape. A real treat! We’re loving it, and so is Jeepy!
Takakkaw Falls, which means “it’s wonderful” in Cree, is one of the highest waterfalls in North America. Standing at 384 meters (1250 ft.) tall, it offers a stunning spectacle, which can be admired just a short walk from the road.
🥾 Laughing Falls Trail – 7.8 km (4.3 miles)
We set off on foot into the Yoho Valley, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places we’ve seen in Western Canada so far. The nature here is breathtaking. Between the forest of towering fir trees, stunning rivers and streams winding through the trees, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful waterfalls, we are in awe. It’s one of the most typical landscapes of the Rockies, according to how we imagine it.
We pass by a confluence point where the turquoise blue river flowing directly from Yoho Glacier meets the valley river. The contrast of colors is striking. Only one word comes to mind: “Takakkaw!”
We loved Yoho National Park, especially the beautiful Yoho Valley! In our opinion, it’s a park not to be missed, just a few kilometers away from the iconic Banff National Park… where we return once again, because how can you get tired of it? So, back to Banff for hikes at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, where we’ll have a terrifying face-to-face encounter with a grizzly on a hiking trail!
