Some of the finest hiking trails anywhere in North American can be found at Lake O”Hara in Yoho National Park.    The trail system sits high in the mountains on the BC side of the Great Divide, on the other side of Mt. Victoria which looms over Lake Louise.

Access to the area is limited by the National Parks system to protect the fragile alpine environment.   Over the years, we have skied in, backpacked in over 3 passes, taken the bus up the road, and we have hiked in.    For most of the year, hikers book seats on a bus which travels the 11km road four times a day.   The bus books up for months in advance, but a few seats are left on a first-come, first serve service at the parking lot.

The trailhead/road is found by taking the turn just past Wapta Lake, just inside the BC border.    It is possible to hike up the road, but it makes a long day.    Booking the bus is worthwhile, but do so early.

In winter, it is possible to snowshoe or ski up the road and book into the ACC Elizabeth Parker hut in the meadows.    On one very cold winter night, we skied up to the hut, arriving to a cold, dark cabin not long before midnight.    Once inside, we warmed up and used the hut as base camp for exploration.

The bus drops off hikers near the campsite, just north of Lake O’Hara.    There are primitive campsites at the lake and there is an upscale lodge further along the lake.    The lakes are really alpine tarns, but all of them sit in bowls under towering rocky mountain peaks.

The trail network was started over 100 years ago, developed by Swiss Guides.   Many of the rock steps are still used.   The trails wind along rocky corridors then onto alpine meadows past plateau lakes.   There are magical trails in every direction.   This area has about 3-4 days of hiking to see all the best trails.

If you have just one day, take the Wiwaxy Gap trail and then down to Lake Oesa.   Trverse the Yukness Ledge to the Opabin Lakes Valley.   Loop up through the Opabin Valley to the upper lake and then back to Lake O’Hara.    If you have a second day, visit Lake McArthur  and the Odaray Highline.   For a more remote hike, try the plateau lakes area up to Duchesnay Pass and the Catherdral Platform Prospect.   There are many options, but this hiking area belongs on everyone’s bucket list.   (More posts on these hiking routes are planned).

(JEH McDonald print)