Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada

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Road Trip Map Yoho National Park

How to Use the Road Trip Map

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Services along the route to, and within Yoho National Park

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Highlights in and around Yoho National Park

After your visit to Lake Louise, take Highway 1 West. 
You enter Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 10-15 minutes later.

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Continental Divide

When entering the park, you’re at the continental divide. Water floats east via the Bow River towards the Atlantic Ocean, and west via the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River into the Pacific Ocean.

A special viewpoint - the spiral tunnels – is an interesting stop located 18 km/11,2 mi. west of Lake Louise mall.

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Spiral Tunnels

What’s a spiral tunnel? A solution to decrease a train rail grade. 
By building a rail loop inside the mountain the original 4,5 % grade has been brought back to a gentler 2,25 %.  This way, trains can safely get over and down, ‘The Big Hill’.

Two layers of the same train
If lucky, you might see a long enough train going in and coming out of the lower tunnel at the same time (the upper tunnels is on the other side of the highway and out of your view). As many trains are over 1,000 metres/1,094 yards long and the lower tunnel is close to 900 metres/984 yards, there is a good chance to see two layers of the same train above each other. What a spectacular view!

Train schedule
Although I’ve never been able to get a hold of a train schedule, I was lucky quite a few times around 1 pm and 5.30 pm.
If travelling from Lake Louise to Yoho National Park and back again, you will pass the Spiral Tunnel lookout twice. Any moving train on the other side of the highway, either just went through the tunnel or still has to go by it.

Construction of the Spiral Tunnels
When visiting the viewpoint you’ll see a scale model and a couple of signs explaining the construction and history of the tunnels.  I find it very impressive.

• The construction of the tunnels took 2 years (1907-1909),
  
• about 1,000 men were laboured,
  
• 700,000 kg dynamite was used,
  
• the project took $ 1,500,000 to complete.
  
• In 1992, the tunnels were raised to allow double container transport.
  

Continue on Highway 1 West another 4 km/2,5 mi. and turn off at Yoho valley Road. 

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Yoho Valley Road and Takkakaw Falls

This 17 km/10,5 mi. narrow windy road leads to my favourite waterfall; Canada’s third highest Takkakaw Falls, meaning magnificent in Cree (native language). 

A steep switchback halfway up the road prevents tour buses and trailers travelling up.

The road is seasonally closed from early October until mid June.

Check Yoho Valley Road accessibility.

Takkakaw Falls

Takkakaw Falls is located at the end of Yoho Valley Road. 

From the car parking, follow the trail to the right. It's a 10 min stroll to the viewpoint. If you don't mind getting wet, continue another 10 minutes to the base of the fall. 

Not visible from the viewpoint is the upper part of Takkakaw Falls.  The total combined height of the falls are 373 m/1224 ft.

The falls are fed by the Waputik Icefield

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The Iceline Trail

The Iceline trail starts at the end of Yoho Valley Road.
This is a full day hike and one of my favourites.
It will take you about 7-8 hours to complete the 18-21 km loop.

Continue route
Back on Hwy 1 West, take the first turn to the right, leading to Emerald Lake.  After a few hundred metres you’ll see the ‘Natural Bridge’ viewpoint. 

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Emerald Lake

Park at the end of the 8 km/5 mi. road at Emerald Lake, and walk around this turquoise jewel. From the left lakeside you have a splendid view to Mount Burgess.

This popular lake is great for canoeing, hiking or sightseeing, including a picnic on the lake shore.

Emerald Lake Trail
•    The easy walk around the lake is 5 km/3,1 mi. in length.
•     It takes about 1.5-2 hrs to complete.
•    The left side of the lake is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

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Mount Burgess

In 1909 Charles Walcott discovered the ‘Burgess Shale’ fossils on this 2,599 metres/ 8,527 feet high mountain. It contained the fossilized remains of more than 120 marine animal species dating back 515 million years.
It turned out to be one of the most important fossil sites of the world, and is designated a World Heritage Site in 1984. For almost 20 years, this mountain decorated the $20 bills.

Continue route
From Emerald Lake Road, turn onto Hwy 1 West en follow 25 km/15,5 mi. to the west entrance of Yoho National Park (no left turn is allowed when travelling east to west on the highway).
Turn and come back for 3 km/1,9 mi., and turn right at the sign to Wapta Falls.
Follow the 2 km/1,2 mi. gravel road. Park here for a stroll to the falls.

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Day Itinerary Sample

Stick to the 'must sees' from 1st map layer.

Timing
9.00              am    Leave Lake Louise village (at the mall)
9.15  -  9.30   am    Viewpoint Spiral Tunnels
9.30  - 10.00  am    Drive Yoho Valley Road
10.00 - 10.45  am   Takkakaw Falls viewpoint
11.30 - 11.45  am   Natural Bridge
12.00                    Emerald Lake
12.15– 1.00    pm    Picnic along the lakeshore
1.00  – 3.00   pm    Walk around the lake or rent a canoe (call to reserve a canoe: 1-250-343-6000)
3.30  – 4.00   pm    Spiral Tunnels 2nd chance
4.15             pm     Return to Lake Louise

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Are you more into an adventure vacation in Canada?

Select the 'Get Adventurous' layer in the map.
Go hike in Yoho National Park or get your adrenaline shot by rafting the roaring Kicking Horse River.

Hikes

You can take a Geo-walk or a guided hike up to the Burgess Shale formation organized by
the GeoScience Foundation or by Parks Canada.

Day hike: The Iceline Trail

From the parking lot at Takkakaw Falls, walk to the Whiskey Jack hostel. From here the best hike ever starts; The Iceline Trail.

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Kicking Horse River

Real thrill seekers have to experience the wild roaring Kicking Horse River (movie offered by Tourism Golden) by raft or kayak.
Several outfitters organize half and full day, guided rafting trips.
Only experienced kayakers should play with the class 2, 3, and 4 rapids.

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Multiple days in and around Yoho National Park

If you have plenty of time to play with, make sure to visit Lake O’Hara, a true gem of the park.

Select 'multiple days' in the 3rd map layer.

Lake O’Hara

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How to Use the Road Trip Map

Use the map within this website or access each map in a separate full screen window (recommended).
For the latter, click on the 'view larger map' icon in the upper right corner. 

1. The first layer covers the must-sees in the region.
   
2. The second points out the best activities when you’re more up to an adventure vacation in Canada.
   
3. The third layer is for you who like to stay a couple of days off the beaten track in the backcountry.

Check or uncheck the box of each layer to hide or show the specific highlights that fit your style.

Icons
The icons in the map tell you the type of sight or activity– viewpoint (full or half circle)/ hike (hiking icon)/ mountain (mountain icon)/ rafting (water icon) or other (standard icon).

Zoom   
Zoom in to enlarge a region. The zoom in/out icon is located in the left bottom.

Hold and drag
Hold and drag to move around on the map.

Sight info
Click on a specific sight to read a description of it.

Directions
Find directions from any location to a specific site, by clicking the arrow at the description box.

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