Yoho National Park is the Canadian Rockies’ best kept secret, and we say that as people who have driven through it multiple times before we finally slowed down enough to really explore it. Located on the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia, sharing borders with Banff National Park to the east and Kootenay to the south, Yoho covers almost 319,000 acres of mountains, waterfalls, turquoise lakes, and ancient fossil beds. Its name says it all — Yoho is a Cree expression of awe, and that is exactly what you feel every time you round a corner here. Yoho is generally much less crowded than the popular spots in Banff while offering equally stunning scenery, which in the Canadian Rockies is saying something. The Trans-Canada Highway runs right through the heart of the park, making it an effortless stop between Lake Louise and Golden — but don’t make the mistake of just passing through. Below are the Takakkaw Falls and the bridge leading to the falls. A short hike, but we well worth it.
The highlights are extraordinary. Takakkaw Falls, the second-tallest waterfall in Canada at 373 meters, is a must-see — an easy 1.4 km hike from the parking lot brings you to the base where you can feel the mist and hear the thunderous roar, and it is especially impressive in late spring when snowmelt is at its peak. Emerald Lake lives up to its name completely — accidentally discovered by a mountain guide who stumbled upon it chasing escaped horses, it is just as beautiful as the much more famous Lake Louise but gets far fewer visitors, making it one of those rare places where you can actually breathe. The Emerald Lake Loop is a gentle 5.1 km walk around the lake with incredible mountain views, and canoe rentals are available right on the water. The Natural Bridge is another quick stop worth making — the Kicking Horse River has carved a natural rock arch that you can walk right up to, just minutes from Emerald Lake.
Here is Emerald Lake:
After the falls and the lake, we saw the natural bridge. And it did not disappoint.
