Yoho National Park is British Columbia's sister to Alberta's Banff National Park, a world heritage site, and located on the western side of the continental divide that separates the two provinces. It is about 2½ hour's drive west of Calgary, Alberta. Yoho is Canada's second protected area.
Yoho National Park is in the Canadian Rocky Mountains along the western slope of the Continental Divide of the Americas in southeastern British Columbia. Yoho NP is bordered by Kootenay National Park on the southern side and Banff National Park on the eastern side in Alberta. The name Yoho comes from the Cree word for "awe and wonder"".
Yoho covers 1,313 km² (507 sq mi) and it is the smallest of the four contiguous national parks. Yoho, together with Jasper, Kootenay and Banff National Parks, along with three British Columbia provincial parks—Hamber Provincial Park, Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, and Mount Robson Provincial Park—form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.
The park's administrative and visitor centre are in the town of Field, British Columbia, beside the Trans-Canada Highway. Contact the park office year-round +1 250-343-6783 or email yoho.info@pc.gc.ca
The park was created following a trip by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his wife Agnes through the Rockies on the newly completed Transcontinental Railway. Inspired on his return to Ottawa, Yoho National Park was created on October 10, 1886. Glacier National Park was created on the same day, becoming the second and third national parks in the country, after Banff.
The park is on the western side of the continental divide and offers a number of geological sites of interest. Within the park is Burgess Shale Formation contains the fossilized remains of many marine animal species.
Common species of animals that roam in this park are the wolf packs, badger, moose, elk, mountain goat, golden-mantled ground squirrel, rufous hummingbird, hoary marmot, wolverine, cougar, pika, lynx, grizzly bear, and American black bear.
The weather in the park is localized and changeable. Being on the western side of the continental divide, it receives more precipitation than areas east of the divide. Precipitation in the park increases with elevation.
In winter, average temperatures are between 5 to −15 °C (41.0 to 5.0 °F) from the months November to April although temperatures can range between 10 to −35 °C (50.0 to −31.0 °F). The coldest weather usually occurs in the months December to February.
In summer, mean temperatures average 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) with an average high of 20 °C (68.0 °F) and an average low of 5 °C (41.0 °F). Snowfall and freezing temperatures can occur during the summertime at altitudes above 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
All passes and permits can be purchased at the Parks Office when entering the park. Anyone stopping in the park will require a parks pass. Daily fees (2018):
- Adult $9.80
- Senior $8.30
- Children and youth under 18 free
- Family/group $19.60
Fishing permit valid in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho parks (2018):
- Daily $9.80
- Annual $34.30
All passes can be purchased at the visitor centers at Field (May to September only) and year round at Banff and Lake Louise or at the tourism website. The Parks Canada website only allows purchase of the Annual Discovery Pass. Visitors staying in for at least 7 days are better off purchasing the annual Discovery Park pass.
- Spiral Tunnels Viewpoints. Closed Oct-Apr. From here you can see the trains exit and enter the spiral tunnels simultaneously
- Takakkaw Falls. Open late June - October. At 384 m (1260 ft) this is the second highest known waterfall in Canada. Many hiking trails begin from the base.
- Wapta Falls. 30 metres high and 150 metres wide waterfall on the Kicking Horse River
- Emerald Lake. A beautiful glacier fed lake.
- Natural Bridge. A water-carved bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River.
- Kicking Horse Pass. National Historic Site of Canada. Narrow pass with an interesting rail history.
- Lake O’Hara.
- Burgess Shale Fossil Beds.
Spiral Tunnels Viewpoints. Closed Oct-Apr. From here you can see the trains exit and enter the spiral tunnels simultaneously
Takakkaw Falls. Open late June - October. At 384 m (1260 ft) this is the second highest known waterfall in Canada. Many hiking trails begin from the base.
Wapta Falls. 30 metres high and 150 metres wide waterfall on the Kicking Horse River
Emerald Lake. A beautiful glacier fed lake.
Natural Bridge. A water-carved bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River.
Kicking Horse Pass. National Historic Site of Canada. Narrow pass with an interesting rail history.
Lake O’Hara.
Burgess Shale Fossil Beds.
Hiking and sightseeing are the reasons for coming to Yoho.
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Yoho National Park is a hotbed for ice climbing, with visitors coming from around the world to climb ice in the Canadian Rockies. The town of Field is tucked between the Lake Louise ski hill and the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to the west in Golden.
Yoho Park is also popular amongst cross country enthusiasts due to the many kilometres of groomed trails and fantastic opportunities for backcountry ski touring.
Summer activities include camping, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking, train and wildlife watching, rock climbing and bouldering, and mountain climbing and scrambling. Also popular is the Burgess Shale Fossil Beds, a UNESCO world heritage site, where impressively preserved ancient undersea creatures give hints about the nature of life. The Shale is very well-protected, and if you want to see it, you have to be at the Fields visitor centre by 7:30AM; it's a 7-hour guided hike and $55.
Not a shopping destination, but there are a few souvenir shops in Field.
Majority of food outlets in the part are in Field, to the east just outside the park boundary Lake Louise also has a number of options.
- Mount Burgess Dining Room, Emerald Lake Lodge, +1 250-343-6321.
- Riverside Dining Room, Cathedral Mountain Lodge.
Mount Burgess Dining Room, Emerald Lake Lodge, +1 250-343-6321.
Riverside Dining Room, Cathedral Mountain Lodge.
Drinking water is available at the campsites. See eat above for beverages.
Mobile phone connection available around the settlement of Field but nowhere else in the park.
You can and most likely will encounter all manner of wildlife, from bears to elk to mountain goats. Take the usual precautions you would while travelling in a wilderness area, and give any animals you encounter a wide berth. Travel in groups if at all possible, make lots of noise, etc. Most dangerous animals such as bears will avoid you if they hear or smell you coming.