Yoho National Park is a stunning national park in the Canadian Rockies, and although it is not visited as much as its neighbors Jasper and Banff, it does not lack beauty and things to do! The beautiful 507 square miles of the park have bright blue lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and mountains.

One of the best ways to experience Yoho National Park is by hiking! It was one of our favorite activities in the park, and the views did not disappoint. We hiked a few easy trails with stunning views and longer trails that took our breath away, with both the difficulty and views! Trust me, you will want to at least add one hike to your itinerary.

And the best part? Yoho National Park has trails for all levels! Whether you want an easy stroll to a waterfall or a strenuous hike to the top of a mountain, you can find the perfect trail in Yoho National Park.

I created this guide to have everything you need to know about the best hikes in Yoho National Park that need to be on your bucket list. Get your hiking boots and cameras ready!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Tips for Hiking in Yoho National Park

Buy a park pass in advance. I recommend buying a park pass ahead of time, so you can quickly go in and out of the park without waiting in line. If you want to visit Yoho National Park or the surrounding parks a couple of times a year, you can buy the Discovery Pass, too! Since we visited Yoho, Banff, and Jasper in one week, we bought our park pass ahead of time, so we could easily get into the parks each day without waiting in lines.

Be prepared with the appropriate layers and hiking gear. The weather in Yoho National Park is unpredictable, so I recommend packing layers just in case the weather changes. I include more information about what we packed below.
Be aware of bears. Yoho National Park has many grizzly bears, making it crucial to keep an eye out for them. I recommend packing bear spray, making noise when you hike, and hiking in groups. If you have questions or concerns, I recommend speaking with a local park ranger! Although we did not see any bears while hiking in Yoho National Park, we saw many of them while driving through the park.
Pack food and water. Yoho National Park does not have many food or accommodation options, so I recommend packing food for your trip before you enter the park. Our original plan when we visited was to grab dinner out, but when we were exploring Yoho National Park, we realized how few food options were nearby. We luckily had enough food to get us through our day of exploring and ended up getting dinner once we were near Banff.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

What to Pack for Hiking in Yoho National Park

Mountain weather is unpredictable and can change instantly. We had a day that started out warm and sunny and quickly turned into a cold and rainy day, so we were thankful we packed warm layers and a rain jacket!

This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:

Beautiful Hikes in Yoho National Park

Wapta Falls

Trail: Wapta Falls Trail

Length: 3 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Although Wapta Falls is not the tallest waterfall in the park, coming in at 59 feet tall and 330 feet wide, it will impress you with its power. In terms of water volume, it is the largest waterfall in Yoho National Park, which is pretty cool!

And the best part? An easy 3-mile roundtrip hike lets you get up close and personal with Wapta Falls. We loved this trail because it was a nice way to stretch our legs and enjoy beautiful views without a strenuous hike.

The first is an upper viewpoint where you can get close to the falls and feel the power. The second is a lower viewpoint where you can see how massive the falls are. I recommend going to both because they give you unique perspectives of the waterfall.

Takakkaw Falls

Trail: Takakkaw Falls Trail

Length: 0.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Takakkaw Falls is the second-tallest waterfall in Canada, coming in at over 1,200 feet tall. It was one of our favorite spots in the park, so I know you will love visiting it.

Although you can see the falls from the parking lot, I recommend hiking to its base. And the best part is that it only requires a short walk from the parking lot to get an up close and personal experience with the waterfall. The views of the surrounding mountains are also stunning!

We loved hiking to Takakkaw Falls because the hike was easy, and the up-close views of the waterfall were stunning! We also were one of only a handful of people there when we visited in the morning, so if you want to avoid crowds, I recommend visiting before noon!

Iceline Summit

Trail: Iceline Trail

Length: 9.3 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Iceline Summit is one of the best hikes in Yoho National Park near Takakkaw Falls, and it is one of my favorite hikes. It is a strenuous and long hike (9.3 miles roundtrip), but if you are up for a challenging hike, the views will not disappoint!

The trail steadily ascends through a forest to the ridgeline near Iceline Summit without many breaks. There are a few switchbacks to help with the elevation gain, but the trail is still steep and will make you work for the views.

Once you reach the ridgeline and see the breathtaking views, you realize your efforts have paid off. The trail and summit offer beautiful views of Takakkaw Falls, glaciers, and Yoho Valley.

Yoho Lake

Trail: Iceline Trail > Highline Trail

Length: 6.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

Another beautiful hike near Takakkaw Falls is Yoho Lake. You can add Yoho Lake to the Iceline Summit hike or hike it separately.

The 6.6-mile roundtrip trail brings you to Takakkaw Falls before ascending to the beautiful Yoho Lake. The trail travels along the Iceline Summit Trail before looping along the Highline Trail, bringing you to hidden alpine lakes and Yoho Lake.

Once you are above the tree line, the views along the trail are stunning of lakes, glaciers, Takakkaw Falls, and the surrounding mountains!

Sherbrooke Lake

Trail: Sherbrooke Lake Trail

Length: 3.7 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Sherbrooke Lake is one of the most underrated lakes in Yoho National Park, in my opinion. The lake is a beautiful turquoise color surrounded by stunning mountains!

The 3.7-mile roundtrip hike to Sherbrooke Lake begins at the Wapta Lake Picnic Area and ascends gradually to the bright-colored lake. Once at the lake, the views of Mount Ogden are stunning!

You can either stop when you arrive at the lake or follow the trail to the other end of the lake. If you have time, I recommend hiking to the other end of the lake to get a different perspective!

Paget Peak

Trail: Paget North Ridge Route

Length: 5.9 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Paget Peak is a beautiful 8,300-foot mountain in the Canadian Rockies and requires a 5.9-mile roundtrip strenuous hike that will make you work for the views, but I promise it is worth it!

The trail has an overlook about halfway with a beautiful view of Paget Peak. Once at Paget Peak, you have stunning views of Sherbrooke Lake, Mount Ogden, and the surrounding mountains.

The views are breathtaking and will quickly become some of your favorites!

Emerald Lake

Trail: Emerald Lake Trail

Length: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Emerald Lake is an iconic blue-green lake and the largest lake in Yoho National Park. It is one of the most visited areas in the park because of its stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

You can either take in the views along the shores near the parking lot or enjoy a 3.2-mile loop around Emerald Lake. I recommend hiking the trail because it is a great way to see wildlife, and you will also see Burgess Shale. The Burgess Shale is one of the only locations in the world with both fossilized soft tissues and hard body parts. It is pretty cool!

If you are up for a sunrise adventure, I recommend visiting Emerald Lake early in the morning. The lake is much quieter in the morning, and the golden light on the lake and mountains is stunning!

Lake O’Hara Shoreline

Trail: Lake O’Hara Shoreline Trail

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Note: You have to make a reservation to visit Lake O’Hara, so make sure to do that ahead of time! The more in advance you can book your bus spot, the better. You can book up to three months in advance, and tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale for the season.

Lake O’Hara is the hidden gem of Yoho National Park. It is the most breathtaking area in the park, with beautiful lakes surrounded by mountains.

If you are among the lucky ones to get tickets, there are many trails to enjoy. The easiest hike is a 1.8-mile roundtrip trail that loops around Lake O’Hara while providing stunning views of the area. You will quickly fall in love with Lake O’Hara and realize why it has some of the best hikes in Yoho National Park!

Lake Oesa

Trail: Lake Oesa Trail

Length: 3.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Note: You have to make a reservation to visit the Lake O’Hara area, so make sure to do that ahead of time! The more in advance you can book your bus spot, the better. You can book up to three months in advance, and tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale for the season.

If you are looking for a slightly more strenuous hike near Lake O’Hara, the Lake Oesa Trail is perfect for you!

The 3.6-mile roundtrip hike travels along the northern shores of Lake O’Hara before ascending to Lake Oesa. There are a few steep sections along the trail, but I promise it’s worth it to experience Lake Osea.

Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit

Trail: Multiple trails

Length: 6.9 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Note: You have to make a reservation to visit the Lake O’Hara area, so make sure to do that ahead of time! The more in advance you can book your bus spot, the better. You can book up to three months in advance, and tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale for the season.

Are you looking for an epic day hike near Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park? The Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is one of the most beautiful hikes in Yoho National Park and worth every amount of effort for the views.

The 6.9-mile loop travels to Lake O’Hara, Wixey Gap, Lake Oesa, and along a beautiful ridgeline while providing breathtaking views of Lefroy Lake, Victoria Lake, Glacier Peak, Ringrose Peak, Yukness Mountain, and Mount Biddle.

If you are lucky enough to visit Lake O’Hara and want to hike one of the best trails, this is it. The Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is one of the best ways to experience everything this beautiful area has to offer.

When you visit Yoho National Park, I recommend adding at least a few of these beautiful hikes to your itinerary! I created this guide to help you find the best hikes in Yoho National Park with breathtaking views.