Hiking in Yoho National Park: President Range Trails
Hiking in Yoho National Park and looking for mountain splendour? You’ll find it all through the park but if you’re looking for something unique check out the President Range hiking trails starting from either the far end of the Iceline Trail or Stanley Mitchell Hut.
Our plan one summer weekend went like this. Go hiking in Yoho National Park, starting at the trailhead by Takakkaw Falls. Follow the Yoho Valley Trail to Stanley Mitchell Hut and spend two nights. On the second day – after a long leisurely breakfast – hike to Kiwetinok Lake, four kilometres away. Finish up the three day trip by backpacking out on the magnificent Iceline Trail.
The weekend mostly went according to plan. I say mostly because on the Friday night a huge thunderstorm swept through the area and dumped between two and three inches of rain.
That was enough to swell the creeks and increase the possibility of major soakers on any attempted crossing. And it was enough to deter us from hiking to Kiwetinok Lake.
Read: 12 Safety Trips for Crossing Rivers & Streams
The President Range of hiking trails
Instead we opted to explore the trails leading to the waterfalls and glaciers of the President Range. There are no marked trails. You explore as you see fit. Take a few hours or take a whole day.
The splendour of the range was everywhere – bold coloured rocks, blue glacial ice, infinity pools, and truly outstanding vistas.
Here are the highlights of our day spent hiking in Yoho National Park on the President Range trails.
Visit the Yoho National Park website for more information.
Further reading on hikes in Yoho National Park
- Hiking the Yoho Valley Trail to the Stanley Mitchell Hut
- The Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit, Yoho National Park
- A Great Hike to Abbott Pass Hut on the BC-AB Border
- The Beautiful Family-Friendly Emerald Lake Hike
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.
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Gosh, Leigh, this is stunning! The rich color, the striations just blew me away. I shared your post with my step-mom, who’s from Winnipeg and we had a long discussion about the beauty of Western Canada. I’ll be watching to see your post on the Kiwetinok Lake hike.
It was a pretty amazing hike and I couldn’t get over the fact that everywhere you looked the scenery was magnificent. Thanks for sharing it too.
Love all the colorful, rugged rock formations. Nice to capture the essence of the hike with your family in some of the photos!
WOW! That looks like an impressive trek. Great pics that convey it all.
@Michael Impressive scenery only an hour from the hut – and pretty close to getting an easy rating.
Wow, what a great detour! Those colored rocks and glaciers are pretty spectacular. I haven’t hiked a glacier but this looks awesome.
@Mary I’ve hiked a few glaciers including Mt. Rainier with its’ yawning crevasses. I have great respect for them yet I’m in awe of their beauty and power.
This looks amazing! I’m kicking myself for only having done the Iceline Trail in Yoho.
@Laurel You’ll just have to go back one day. It won’t be a hardship to hike the Iceline again.
I agree, this is a stunning hike! I can’t get over those folded rocks. Very impressive and good style points on the rock skipping 🙂
@Debbie I can’t take any credit for the rock skipping style. That’s a 16 year old who has such great style.
@Christy Grand country Christy!
Looks like a geologist’s wet dream. Amazing photos.
@Ted Well my husband is a geologist so I’ll ask him if that’s true. I think he was pretty impressed with the folding of the rocks.
Wonderful time there, I suppose…
Fantastic time there!
These photos are awesome! I’ll definitely have to remember this hike as I think I might have to do it sometime. Thanks for sharing.
Such a stunning area! Definitely a place on my list to return to and hike!
@Adina This is a superb hike – best done over a few days if at all possible.
[…] hiking you’re after I highly recommend the full day hike on the fabulous Iceline Trail. The President Range hiking trails are superb too – but you’d need an extra long stay or an overnight. If you can possibly […]