The Burgess Shale hike in Yoho National Park has been on my radar for years. Most of the appeal - before I actually did it, was the fact that the Walcott Quarry where the Burgess Shale fossils are located, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and I love checking out UNESCO sites. However, despite the fact that I have a degree in geology, I confess that I am not overly interested in fossils, mildly interested…
The Paget Lookout - Paget Peak hike in British Columbia's Yoho National Park was not our first choice on a summer weekend. But our plans to hike to the summit of Mt. Saint Piran were thwarted when we arrived at Lake Louise - the starting point, to find the parking lot full. In these COVID times it's always a good idea to have a Plan B as many trails and parking lots have been unbelievably…
One of the premiere hut-to-hut ski trips in North America is the Wapta Traverse. It rivals the classics - like the Haute Route that you'll find in the Alps. And it's very accessible. Over the 45 kilometre length of the Wapta Traverse you are treated to big in your face mountain and glacier vistas and incredible morning and evening light shows. To top it all off you get epic, spine-tingling descents along with some incredible…
Are you looking for a getaway in the Canadian Rockies - whether it be in Alberta or British Columbia? The Canadian Rockies obviously offer outstanding mountain scenery but also a lot of fun, outdoorsy things to do. They 're also the perfect place to enjoy a few days of R&R. Most of the hotels and lodges described below are open on a year-round basis. If you want to save money, visit in November and April,…
All you need is half a day to do the Lake McArthur hike, one of the true gems in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park. The lake itself isn't that big - just 1.5 kilometres long but the sapphire blue colour will mesmerize you as will the setting. The lake is 85 metres deep and is responsible for the intense blue colour. The Lake McArthur hike begins on the north side of the…
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…
The Lake O'Hara alpine circuit in Yoho National Park should be on every hiker's bucket list. You'll be rewarded with sublime scenery from start to finish, turquoise coloured lakes and lichen covered rocks twisted into impossible shapes as well as challenging trails. The route was designed by Lawrence Grassi - a man who wore many hats including that of park warden at Lake O'Hara, stonemason, miner and the person whom the Grassi Lakes above Canmore…
If you're a log cabin fan then chances are you'll love the well-appointed Cathedral Mountain Lodge in British Columbia's Yoho National Park. The lodge is close to both Lake Louise in Banff National Park and the picturesque town of Field, BC. Cathedral Mountain Lodge sits next to the glacier fed Kicking Horse River on a side road that takes you up to splendid Takakkaw Falls and one of the most scenic hikes in the Rockies - The Iceline…
The Emerald Lake hike, one of the exceptionally beautiful ones in Yoho National Park is the perfect outing for a young family or - as in my case, for my visiting mother-in-law who turned 80 just days before we visited. The Emerald Lake hike is also the base for a number of longer, harder hikes including the Emerald Basin Trail, the Yoho Pass Trail, the Hamilton Lake Trail and the famous Burgess Shale hike. The…
The hike to Lake Oesa from Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park is short, easy and family-friendly. It rewards with incredible mountain scenery and a turquoise-coloured lake in a spectacular mountain setting. It's a straight forward 6.6 kilometre (4.1 mile) round trip hike to Lake Oesa with only 240 metres of elevation gain - providing of course you start at Lake O'Hara and you haven't had to walk in from the parking lot. But that's…