316-316 Travel Guide

A notable peak in Yoho National Park rising about 2,599 metres, visible from the shores of Emerald Lake and the village of Field. Mount Burgess appeared on the Canadian ten-dollar bill from 1954 to 1971. The nearby Burgess Shale fossil beds are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The widest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park. A forested 2.2 km trail (about 1.5 hours round trip) leads from the parking area to the viewpoint, and the route is popular for snowshoeing in winter. Wapta Falls is one of the more accessible big waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies.

Takakkaw Falls, the second highest waterfall in Canada, is in Yoho National Park with a drop of about 384 metres (some sources say 373 metres), plunging from a hanging valley carved by glaciers. The name comes from the Cree word for wonderful/sublime. A flat, paved 0.9 km trail (about 30 minutes) leads to the base, where spray often produces rainbows on sunny afternoons.

Lake O'Hara is a subalpine lake in Yoho National Park, famed for its crystal-clear water, towering peaks and world-class hiking trails, and is a classic destination for mountain lovers. To protect the fragile alpine environment, access by shuttle bus requires reservation, and spots are allocated through a random draw. Besides lakeside paths, there are classic high-altitude hikes such as the Alpine Meadow trail.

Yoho National Park is an underrated gem in the Canadian Rockies. "Yoho" means "awe" in Cree. In British Columbia, it features Emerald Lake, spectacular Takakkaw Falls (one of the Rockies' tallest) and the Burgess Shale Cambrian fossil site (UNESCO). Emerald Lake's emerald-green water surrounded by snowy peaks and coniferous forests has a 5.2 km trail. Takakkaw Falls drops about 384 m — one of the Rockies' tallest. Burgess Shale is one of the world's most important Cambrian fossil sites (~515 million years old). Smaller and quieter than Banff. Visiting for Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls is a serene Canadian Rockies experience.

The Spiral Tunnels are a railway engineering wonder built by the Canadian Pacific Railway to conquer the steep grade of the Kicking Horse River valley. Two tunnels spiral inside the mountain in a figure-eight, letting trains climb or descend in a corkscrew to cross the rugged canyon safely. From the dedicated viewpoint you can see a single train appear at two different heights at once — a must-see for Rockies railway enthusiasts.