While most visitors to the Canadian Rockies flock to Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, you may want to include Yoho National Park in your itinerary. Situated on the border of British Columbia and Alberta, it is home to stunning lakes, roaring rivers, cascading waterfalls and, most importantly, the Burgess Shale Fossils that date back more than 500 million years. It is no surprise that Yoho National Park, which contains the world’s most significant fossil site, boasts exceptional natural beauty, and is home to diverse flora and fauna, has contributed to the Canadian Rocky Mountains being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read on to know about the things to do in Yoho National Park.
Driving to Canadian Rockies
After breakfast at our downtown hotel in Calgary, we check out and get into a rented car. After almost two years, we will be holidaying as a family, and the excitement is palpable. (There is a separate blog on Calgary which you can read here.) My son and Rafiq have planned the itinerary, and with GPS to guide us, we set out on our road trip. No sooner than we leave Calgary, we get our first glimpse of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Blue skies, picture-perfect vistas, and the mountain landscape leave us speechless. It reminds us of our trip to Ladakh in the Himalayas in India. The journey is as exciting, if not more, than the destination!
Change in Itinerary
The weather in the Canadian Rocky Mountains changes every few hours. Our earlier plan was to explore Banff, starting with the Gondola Ride. However, because the weather forecast is rainy and cloudy, we decided to postpone our Gondola Ride until the day after. Instead, we chose to explore Yoho National Park, which is located even further away from Alberta, on the border of British Columbia. Driving while it rains and exploring when the skies clear up makes sense. But en route to Yoho National Park, we decided to briefly stop at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which we have heard so much about.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
This iconic hotel is a symbol of luxury and opulence. The Canadian Pacific Railway built this hotel in the style of a Chateau in 1886. In 1988, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. We wander through the resort and are awestruck by the interiors. We order coffee and snacks at one of the cafes and click pictures.
Fairmont Hotel Springs Banff
Fairmont Hotel Springs Lobby
Heritage Hall and Rundall Bar at Fairmont Hotel
Mt. Stephen’s Hall at Fairmont Hotel Springs @ Shameera and Aafiya Somani
View Point en route to Yoho National Park
One of the highlights of driving on the Trans-Canadian Highway is the numerous viewpoints where you can stop and admire the stunning natural scenery. We stop at a viewpoint and are mesmerized by the blue-green waters of the river, the pine trees, and the mist-covered mountains.
History of Yoho National Park
We continue to drive on the Trans-Canadian Highway to the town of Field, located in the center of Yoho National Park. In the 1800s, the province of British Columbia agreed to be part of Canada on the condition that a railway line be constructed to connect British Columbia to the rest of Canada. The town of Field became the settlement for the Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers. Later, hotels like Mount Stephen House were constructed at Field to attract tourists, and by 1886, the St Stephen Reserve was established. In 1901, the reserve was enlarged and renamed Yoho National Park.
Field Village at Yoho National Park and a Freight Train
Yoho Visitor Centre
We park at the Yoho Visitor Centre on the banks of Kicking Horse River. (More on the name later). We can see a bridge across the river with Mount Stephen in the background.
The Yoho Pond, close to the visitor centre, stole my heart. The reflection of the mountain landscape with pine trees in the pond waters was simply unbelievable. Picnic tables are nearby, allowing you to grab a bite while taking in the pristine landscape.
Kick Horse Pass Story
The Yoho Visitor Centre has several exhibits, shops and restrooms. A model of the Kick Horse Pass National Historic Site grabs our attention. The mountain pass was designated in 1971 as a National Historic Site of Canada because ‘the Canadian Pacific Railway adopted it as their route through the Rockies.’ Now comes the time to narrate why the pass is so-called. Dr. James Hector was the first European to explore and map the pass back in 1857-60 as a part of the Palliser expedition. His packhorse kicked him, and he lay unconscious for a while. This incident prompted him to call the pass and river Kicking Horse.
Kicking Horse Pass Exhibit and Inside Yoho Visitor Centre
Burgess Shale Fossils
My attention is next drawn to the specimens of the Burgess Shale Fossils that are more than 500 million years old. They are older than dinosaurs and provide glimpses of early life and evolution. Charles Walcott discovered the Burgess Shale fossils in 1909 while trekking the Burgess Pass Trail. What is unique about the fossils is the well-preserved soft tissues and organs. Their discovery was a key reason for UNESCO recognizing the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks as a World Heritage Site. There are guided tours that take you to see these fossils. The Walcott Quarry guided hike is 11 hours long, while the Mount Stephen hike is 7.5 hours long. While I had the will to do the hikes, a lack of time, combined with my advancing age and declining fitness levels, left me with no choice but to be content with seeing the specimens at the Visitor Centre.
Fossils at Yoho Visitor Centre @Shameera Somani
The guide at the visitor centre shares a copy of the Yoho National Park visitor guide and marks the places we may want to explore. We thank her and return to the car, ready to explore Yoho National Park.
Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a striking rock formation in the shape of a bridge across the Kicking Horse River. The force of the river water has caused erosion and weathering of the rocks, creating a bridge on the river. A pre-wedding shoot is in progress, with the couple dressed in bridal finery posing at various spots near the natural bridge. We click some pics, head back to our car, and drive to Emerald Lake.
Emerald Lake
While Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff witness scores of tourists, Emerald Lake, although less visited, is impressive. The lake gets its name because it is emerald green in colour. Why is Emerald Lake green? The mountains surrounding the lake are made of limestone or calcium carbonate, which has dissolved in water and settled to the bottom of the lake over time. Consequently, the lake bed has ‘marl’ or clay rich in calcium carbonate. Sunlight reflecting off the ‘marl’ on the lake bed creates the green colour.
The Emerald Lake, nestled among the President Mountain Range and covered with pine trees, is a sight to behold. Adding magic to this canvas are the red canoes and the blue sky above. I am immediately reminded of our vacation in Kashmir, India, and the Lonar Lake, formed by a meteorite impact in the state of Maharashtra, India. These beautiful creations of nature are like priceless jewels, and it becomes imperative that we humans protect and safeguard them for future generations.
There are several trails, like Emerald Lake Loop, around the lake or another that takes you to Hamilton Falls and several others. Depending on your taste, fitness level and time at hand, they are worth exploring. We click pictures, say goodbye to Emerald Lake, and head to our car for the next spot.
Meeting of the Waters
The confluence of Yoho River and Kicking Horse River is another spot you may want to stop at. We could see two distinct colours of the river waters-Yoho River’s milky waters and the crystal-clear waters of Kicking Horse River.
Takakkaw Water Falls
Yoho National Park is alsohome to several waterfalls. We head to Takakkaw Waterfalls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls at 373 metres. “Takakkaw” means “magnificent” in the Cree language. My husband and son decide to trek to the waterfalls while my daughter and I admire them from afar. The sunlight falls on the water droplets, creating a magnificent rainbow.
Takakkaw Water Falls @Rafiq Somani
Others Spots at Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park has several other highlights that you may want to explore. Other spots include Wapta Falls, Lake O’Hara, and Faeder Lake, among others.
The Spiral Tunnels on Kicking Horse Pass are where you can see trains passing through tunnels. We stop briefly and can see the tunnel carved into the mountain, but there’s no luck with a train passing by.
View Point of Lake Vermillion
As we drive back from Yoho National Park, we pause briefly at a viewpoint where we can see the stunning Lake Vermillion with Mount Rundle.
It has been almost nine hours since we left Calgary, and we call it a day. We check into our hotel in Canmore and retire for the day. The next day, we will be exploring Banff. (There is a separate travelogue on Banff, which you can read here.)
Final Word on Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park has lived up to its name, ‘Yoho’, which, in the Cree language, means ‘awe and wonder.’ Yoho’s pristine waterbodies, including lakes, waterfalls, and ponds, as well as the rock formations and dramatic landscapes carved by nature, have left us mesmerized and amazed. You see specimens of fossils that are more than 500 million years old, older than the dinosaurs. Where do you get that? Yoho, we can’t have enough. We want you more and more.
GETTING THERE
Nearest Airport to Yoho National Park:
Calgary Airport is the nearest airport, offering connectivity to major cities in Canada, the US, and other international destinations. From here, you can drive down to Yoho National Park. Distances: Calgary- Yoho National Park: 191 km, 2 hours. Banff- Yoho National Park: 66km, 45 mins
Where to Stay in Yoho National Park:
You can do a net search for hotels depending on your budget and comfort. Getting accommodation in Banff can be a challenge during peak visitor season. We stayed at a property in Canmore, overlooking the Three Sisters mountains, which is a 10-minute drive from Banff.
Yoho National Park Travel Tip:
Please purchase the Park Passes online in advance, as it will save you considerable time. The same park pass is valid across Banff and Yoho National Parks. Please wear comfortable shoes as there will be considerable walking. You must pre-book certain treks, such as those to the Burgess Shale Fossils and Lake O’Hara. Please carry a raincoat and dress in layers as the weather changes every couple of hours. Be flexible and prepared to adjust the itinerary according to changing weather conditions. Canoeing on Emerald Lake is cheaper than on Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.