For years I sped through Yoho National Park on Highway 1, in a hurry to get to Banff. From the road, the mountains were pretty but they didn’t entice me to stop. Oh how wrong I was! Once I finally got off the highway and saw all the things to do in Yoho National Park, I was hooked.
On my first trip to Yoho, we drove up the narrow and winding Yoho Valley Road into the mountains. I was shocked when Takakkaw Falls came into sight – I couldn’t believe how tall it was. On later trips, I discovered more waterfalls, incredible blue glacial lakes, towering peaks, clean campgrounds, and well-signed hiking trails.
I keep coming back to Yoho over and over because it has so much to offer. I think I’ve been to Yoho four times in the past five years. Yes, it’s an easy pit stop on the drive to Banff. But I think Yoho really deserves more of your time.
I’ve put together a complete guide to things to do in Yoho National Park. It includes:
Where to stay in Yoho from basic campsites to luxury hotels and everything in between.
Yoho National Park Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Plus Parks Pass info, cell service, and more.
Map of Yoho National Park that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
Best things to do in Yoho: Waterfalls, glacier lakes, viewpoints, hiking trails, fossils, history, and more.
Yoho National Park Basics
Location
Yoho National Park is located in the Canadian Rockies. The park is about 1 hour west of the town of Banff, Alberta and 45 minutes east of the town of Golden, BC. The small town of Field is located inside the park. The park borders Banff National Park to the north and east and Kootenay National Park to the south.
How to Get to Yoho National Park
The closest airport to Yoho National Park is Calgary International Airport, which is a 2.5-hour drive away. It is possible to take a shuttle bus to the nearby town of Banff, about 1 hour away. However, there is no public transportation to the park – you will need to drive yourself or book a tour.
Getting Around in Yoho National Park
Unlike nearby Banff National Park, there is no public transportation in Yoho. The park is spread out along 60 kilometres of Highway 1 and several side roads. You will need to have your own car or join a tour group.
It’s easy to join a day tour leaving from Banff that hits Yoho’s highlights. This top-rated 8-hour tour visits Emerald Lake and Natural Bridge in Yoho along with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff. If you want to focus on Yoho, this popular Yoho National Park tour visits Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint.
The easiest place to rent a car is in Calgary, but you can also rent a car in Banff. I use DiscoverCars to book rental cars since it lets you compare prices across rental companies.
Keep in mind that Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls (the most popular parts of the park) will be very busy in July and August. It can be impossible to find parking if you arrive in the middle of the day. Plan to arrive in the morning or early evening.