Hiking Lake O’Hara (Yoho National Park, Canada)

(Last Updated On: February 23, 2023)

The Canadian Rockies are among the most breathtakingly beautiful place I’ve seen. And, while the parks that make up the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage site have more than enough spectacular scenery to go around, the area around Lake O’Hara in Canada’s Yoho National Park is particularly gorgeous. (Post updated summer 2022.)

aqua lake from above with pines and snow capped mountains

A hike along Lake O’Hara

Our hike along Lake O’Hara begins with an early morning ride on an orange school bus.

It’s a short ride. However, the narrow road through the forest ends a stunningly beautiful lake shore far away from almost everyone else visiting the Rockies this summer.

It’s only a few steps from the bus to the trail that circles Lake O’Hara. Not sure which direction we should go, we follow the majority of other hikers toward the west end of the lake.

Soon they have dispersed, hurrying off on whatever trail they have planned for the day.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

The Lake O’Hara trail

We are almost alone on a bright, sunny morning in one of the most beautiful places I can imagine. (Although we are on the wrong end of the lake for morning photography, as the sun rises on the opposite end of the lake!)

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Despite being in the wrong spot for photography, it’s unbelievably beautiful!

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

The first part of our hike is an easy amble along the lake shore on the Lake O’Hara Trail. The scenery around the lake is stunning, but the boulders and plants along the lake’s edge have their own beauty.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

On the Lake Oesa Trail

About halfway around the lake, we leave the shoreline to take the Lake Oesa Trail.

A trail that starts to climb almost immediately!

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Although a little steep, it’s still an easy trail. It’s a well-worn, shady path that winds up through the trees crowding the cliffs above the lake.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Eventually we climb above the tree line.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

The boulder field isn’t as intimidating as it looks at first glance. The trail is relatively easy to follow and doesn’t require a lot of boulder-hopping or other fancy footwork.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

And the view is stunning!

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

We take a lunch break in a bit of shade amid the boulders.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

After lunch we continue on, passing another small lake along the way.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

However, just past the lake, the boulders become a broad slope of scree. We are probably still well-over a mile from Lake Osea, with no idea of what the rest of the trail is like.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

We’ve crossed some small patches like this already. However, this seemingly endless field of it is pretty intimidating.

The sun is high and hot. However, clouds are building in the west. A sign perhaps, of the afternoon rains promised in the morning weather forecast?

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

We ponder a bit, consult our (not very detailed) trail map, and step tentatively out onto the scree.

It doesn’t take long to decide that crossing it in dry weather is bad enough – there is no way we want to come back across in the rain.

We turn around and head back down the mountain to continue along Lake O’Hara via the shore trail.

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Along the way we get to enjoy all the scenery we saw going up from the other direction!

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Back on the Lake O’Hara trail

Once we get back to the shore, the rest of the trail turns out to be a relaxing jaunt. The scenery is nice (if not as spectacular as it is above the lake) and there are lots of plants, mosses, cool rocks, and waterfalls to enjoy along the way.

waterfall Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

waterfall Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

wildflowers Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

Lake O'Hara Yoho National Park British Columbia Canada - www.ExplorationVacation.net

As we walk, the sky fills with unhappy grey clouds, but there is no rain.

Maybe we should have tackled that scree . . .

Plan your visit to Lake O’Hara

Lake O’Hara is located in Canada’s Yoho National Park on the border of Banff National Park. Both parks are part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage site.

Yoho National Park is located within the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc First Nations.

A Canadian National Park Pass is required to visit the Rocky Mountain national parks. That includes hiking Lake O’Hara.

The Lake O’Hara area has special restrictions, including daily quotas for visitors using the only transport into the area. This helps protect the park’s fragile alpine areas and provides visitors with more of a wilderness experience. However, it also requires significant advance planning and quite a bit of luck.

Lodging away from the lake

If you can’t stay right along the lake, there is lodging near Field, British Columbia, or Lake Louise, Alberta. There aren’t a lot of options, but there are options. Book as far in advance as possible to have the widest range of choices and prices.

We stayed at the Great Divide Lodge in Field. It’s a really good choice for the price and the location is very convenient. There’s nothing fancy about it, but it covers all the basics in a great location.

Check TripAdvisor to find the best deal, compare prices, read what other travelers have to say, and make a reservation. Rakutan members get additional savings when booking through TripAdvisor, Agoda, or Priceline. (Affiliate links)

Resources

Parks Canada’s Lake O’Hara page has links to most of the info you need to plan a visit.

Parkways of the Canadian Rockies (affiliate link) is a great guide to Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho. First written by Brian Patton in 1975, it hasn’t been updated and republished since 2008. But I’d still recommend it. Just maybe not as your only guide to this area.

Canadian writer and outdoorswoman extraordinaire Leigh McAdam’s website Hike Bike Travel has a number of posts on Lake O’Hara, including one on the trail to Lake Oesa. For those who prefer paper or who want more options across Canada, her book Discover Canada: 100 Inspiring Outdoor Adventures includes a couple of hikes in the Lake O’Hara area. (It’s also available as a ridiculously cheap e-book.)

The Bear Foot Theory blog has a detailed post on camping at Lake O’Hara that seems to be updated regularly.

Darwin Wiggett and Samantha Chrysanthou used to have an excellent Guide to Yoho National Park e-book. It was part of their (no longer available) How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies e-book series. These were amazing guidebooks that were both beautiful and extremely useful. (I used the Icefields Parkway book while I was traveling, and it had everything I needed to find good locations at the right time of day. It also included tips on lenses and techniques to use.) Unfortunately, they seem to no longer be available. If you find one somewhere at anything resembling a reasonable price, grab it.

See more photos of Lake O’Hara on CindyCarlsson.com

Exploring the Canadian Rockies

view looking down the mountainside at a hiking trail far below with text "Lake O'Hara Canada"Photo of a creek with rapids and text “Beauty Creek Jasper National Park Canada” Text "Canada" with a photo of mountains, lake, and boats

 

10 thoughts on “Hiking Lake O’Hara (Yoho National Park, Canada)”

  1. This is indeed a beautiful part of the world. I haven’t been to Lake O’Hara specifically, but I’ve been awestruck any time I’ve been I’ve been in this area. Your photos are beautiful. And all the information you provide about visiting is fantastic.

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