Yoho National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in British Columbia. The park is nestled among mountains and idyllic lakes surrounding the Yoho and Kicking Horse rivers. Buy a supply of groceries in the nearby town of Fields and drive back a little to the sign for Emerald Lake. After entering the forest at the "natural bridge" - a massive stone slab in which the fast-moving Kicking Horse River has cut its way - there is a pleasant place for a picnic. Moose often come to the salt lick stone behind the bridge.
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| Yoho National Park |
General Information
Follow the road to Emerald Lake; magical calm reigns here, mountains are spectacularly reflected in the green surface of the water. The only secluded house on the shore does not violate the atmosphere of serenity. The scenic trail invites you to a two-hour walk through the forest, where you will see a variety of waterfowl, including ducks and loons, as well as small mammals.
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| Yoho National Park |
Return to the Trans-Canada Highway and you will see the Park Information Center at the Field City Turnoff. After another 6 km through the pine forest in the Yoho Valley, you will reach the Kicking Horse Campground. 13 km after entering the valley on the right side there is a sign for a short path to the foot of the Takakkaw Falls. The word "takakkau" in the Cree language means "magnificent" - the exact definition of the water cascade flowing from under the Daly Glacier. Unlike many other waterfalls, this one looks best during the hot summer months, during the intense melting of the glacier. For panoramic views, take the kilometer-long Icelain Trail, which starts just south of the falls, from the Whiskey Jack Hostel.
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| Yoho National Park |
On your way back, stop at the confluence of the Yoho and Kicking Horse Rivers to see the figure-eight tunnels in the mountain. The lower spiral is clearly visible from the Trans-Canada Highway. The construction of these unique tunnels was necessary in order to overcome the steep drop in elevation on the approach to the Kicking Horse Pass. At the east exit of the park, you will see the place where the pack horse kicked from geologist James Hector, a member of the expedition of 1858, from which the pass got its name.