Yoho National Park Area

We found some more iconic Canadian Red Chairs for our rest day ! I had promised John a rest between the 11 mile Plain of Six Glacier, and the upcoming Lake Agnes Tealess House hike.  After an extra leisurely 2 pm start, we headed to Yoho National Park which was supposed to have the best hike to Lake O’Hara, but I had missed the March 23, magic date, and there were no bus tickets available.   We had heard that Yoho is less traveled and really beautiful.   I believe there were no reservable campsites in Yoho, and the two roads into the park are only about 10 miles long, so I didn’t look into camping there in the original spreadsheet creation.  

Takkakaw Falls, Yoho NP was the destination. It was Saturday, so the place was bustling, but when we arrived around 3pm parking spots cleared out.  You can really get up close to these falls although since it was to be a “rest day” we decided not to take the path up and just enjoy them from afar while we had a nice leisurely walk probably under 1 mile.  

The road up was very windy and there was a hairpin turn with which Vinny had no problem, but on-going traffic had to take turns maneuvering and if you were a bit longer than 22ft you may even need to back up to make the turn.  Coming down we were mesmerized by the towering mountains on all sides.

This road follows the Yoho River which as we descended had once upon a time carved a deep canyon that I could not find a suitable path to even look down, but you could hear and see tiny glimpses of the rock walls through the bushes.  The Yoho River then meets with Kicking Horse River, at least that’s what the signage said at the Lookout.   Unfortunately, we couldn’t see it, but the rushing water seemed far below as the cliffs, mountains and glaciers towered above; maybe Parks Canada needs to work on its Look Out Viewpoints is what it seemed.  Yoho National Park seems to have many longer trails for the more agile crowd, although we could have leisurely walked 4 km to Laughing Falls, but it was to be a “Rest Day” so we declined and just to Takkakwa Falls. 

Emerald Lake in Yoho was the next stop. 

There appears to be only two roads going into Yoho and in terms of most National Parks, they are short (10 miles maybe), so may as well investigate on our leisure day drive.

And emerald the Lake was!  A bustling parking area, and there was even an Emerald Lake Lodge, small cabin units around the lake, and a restaurant, Cilantro Café.  John was sad because it was closed for a private wedding on the deck and we couldn’t have a bite to eat.  There were no signs like the Fairmont where it said for “Lodge Guests Only” so we partially walked around the lake on the lodge compound.  Again, the beautiful mountains towering over the emerald were enchanting.  It was so very peaceful, so perfect or SUP and we started to contemplate whether Vinny could store another paddle board so we could paddle together in these beautiful waters.   

On the way home, we turned off at the infamous  Lake O’Hara exit which was basically a parking lot off the highway.  I had hoped since it was about 7pm that maybe the road up would be open to the public like Lake Louise had been after hours.  We found out that the only way up is to hike the 10km up, up, up before you even get to the hike. Lake O’Hara will be a stop next time with the bus ride up.

Paddling was the main agenda item for the day, and back to Emerald Lake we drove.  No cilantro in the hot chocolate John got from the Cilantro Café, as we decided to walk the lakeshore path a bit.  The red canoe rentals were out in force during this mid afternoon and the lake was perfect for paddling.  Paddle Boy had Jojo pumped up lickety split and I was out in the sea of emeralds under the towering Canadian Rockies and some people even paddle with their 3 chihuahuas.

John took a spin around the lake too and now he is hooked on the tranquility of paddling, and we are planning on getting a second SUP for him.  But they don’t have a Big 5 in Banff like they had when I got Jojo on the whim in Washington State last summer. 

Heading out of Yoho, we stopped at the scenic overlook called Natural Bridge, 

where the Kicking Horse River kicks some large crevices into the rocks and starts the water a-swirling violently.  

The force of these rivers in nature, quite a sight to behold just like a kicking horse. Not that I’ve ever seen one.

The rain is coming, hopefully to put out all those wildfires and we will do laundry, find John a SUP and drink beer.