Yoho National Park and Surrounds

Rain, rain, rain!

In the clouds all day

2 solid days... so we offered the kids a choice between one of our 'planned experiences' or a few nights in a motel and they chose to camp it out in the tent trailer and make the best of it - they're getting the hang of prioritizing and making tough decisions.

We used the forced downtime as an opportunity to keep up with school work.  The older kids have been brushing up on 2D Cartesian coordinate systems, PEDMAS and SOH CAH TOA as well as cranking out adjectives and adverbs through fun games that Cheryl dreams up.

In between thunder storms, we've checked out the Field visitors center (and poached some device-recharging) and hit many of the Yoho small hikes/walks.  We also scored dinner out in Field as a treat for the kids (and us too - it's freaking cold!).

Overall, we LOVE Yoho National Park with its stunning views and exhilarating hikes (and drives!).

Kicking Horse Campground 

We stayed at the Kicking Horse campground in Yoho.  It's the site of the first camp built by CP rail during the construction of the kicking horse pass train route.  Today, this means you hear trains running all night long as they pass through the spiral tunnels in the mountains that literally tower over the campground from 2 sides.

On the downside, it's loud and takes some getting used to.  On the upside, you're sleeping beside glaciers in plain sight - very cool (pun intended  - dad joke!).

CAUTION AMAZING GLACIERS OVERHEAD!

This campground (and all of Yoho and its surrounds) are bear country, so you have to camp lean and clean.  There was a black bear within the campground boundary during our entire stay - he was, apparently, into berries,  not campsites  - we never saw him.

Yoho Visitors Center

The visitors center is an activity hub - Parks Canada clerks proffer advice on everything from the most suitable hikes (Yoho is hiking Mecca) to camping safety and even good eats.

Parker especially enjoyed their Dinosaur bone interactive display where he unearthed, re-covered and then unearthed again bones from under piles of sand.

The onsite shop is pricey but cute for souvenirs  - no real supplies.  The center is a great way to burn some time on cold, rainy days ;)

Takakkaw Falls

Off Yoho valley road, you'll find a ~10km drive into Takakkaw falls.  Are they 'worth it' - hell yes!

Takakkaw falls

The trailhead feeds several hikes - the most visited of which is the short, paved path to Takakkaw falls.  You first cross a footbridge.. the kids made Cairns and skipped rocks on the silty grey river...

Footbridge

Kids down by the glacial river

The falls themselves are 254m tall - truly huge - way taller than Niagara.  The river is 100% glacial runoff and so the water is fresh and clean.

The walk in is easy and pretty so it can get pretty crowded... we'd definitely recommend arriving before or after the crowds - early morning is probably best.

Flora

Misty-windswept pines

The falls produce a beautiful, refreshing mist as they cascade down the rock face.

Misty bliss

You can scamper right up to the base of the falls - at your own risk.

The scamper

Natural Bridge

Near Field there is a quick-stop lookout onto a naturally-formed stone bridge over the rushing Kicking Horse river.  It's definitely worth a stop.

The Natural Bridge

Crazy turbulent flow!

Moraine Lake

This is one of Canada's most photographed vistas - previously fearured on our $10 bill!

A rainy day can't dull this beauty

Views are offered just a few steps from the parking lot... but the best ones are found atop a boulder pile near the parking lot too.  Parks Canada has made this much more accessible since our last visit - there's now a nice path, with formed stairs, that leads to a handful of terrific lookouts.

The boulder path

My babes!

Mostly what you do at Moraine Lake is stand in awe - we definitely recommend this stop on any Western Canada tour.

 Lake Louise

So... the thing about Lake Louise is the sheer volume of tourists that visit it every day.  We've been twice in the summer and once in the winter... people love it - it too is very photogenic.

One can't help but feel the experience of it is at least a little contrived. We went nonetheless, on a rainy day, and it was still packed with tourists, by our standards. 

The boardwalk around the lake is oriented in such a way as to allow for unfettered pictures of the lake and its glacier despite the hoards.  We did what everyone else does - we posed, snapped and ran away.

Tourism +++ at Lake Louise

As you can see  the water is a pretty shade of turquoise - nothing to shake a stick at... just way too busy... and you can get similar views at other, less overrun lakes nearby.

Emerald Lake

This is another pretty turquoise lake... also overrun with tourists (like us).  The lakeside souvenir shop is nifty and expensive... the onsite restaurant (Cilantro on the lake) is upscale but serves tasty eats (at least it did when we were last there).

Emerald lake

The Town of Field

To be specific - there are precisely 2 restaurants!

 

Cute railway village - 200 people - now mostly Inns

Field remains a railway town.  CP still operates a sizeable railway yard in Field.  We like the Siding Cafe - great tree-hugger eats at reasonable prices (for this remote area)... from Buddha bowls to lattes - tasty!