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LAKE O'HARA - YOHO N.P. Lake O'Hara is one of the most beautiful areas in the Canadian Rockies. In order to protect the environment from crowds of tourists and throngs of hikers, access is restricted. Cars are not allowed on the 7 mile dirt road to Lake O'Hara. To get a ride down the road, you need to reserve a seat on a bus up to months in advance. The hassle of reservations and public transportation is worth it though...the hiking is magical. EMERALD LAKE The day after visiting Lake O'Hara, we took a trip to Emerald Lake, which is also a beautiful area. However, after being spoiled at Lake O'Hara, Emerald Lake was a little disappointing...tour bus after tour bus dumping out people detracted from the allure. |
THE HIKE THE hike at Lake O'hara is the Alpine Circuit. It is an eight mile loop that clings to the ledges circling the lake. As the guide book puts it, it's an "acrophobe's nightmare". We had been looking forward for months to hiking the loop. However, due to the late snow melt the route was still under high avalanche hazard. So, instead, we hiked the Lake Oesa Trail. It proved to be an incredible hike by itself, with Lake Oesa still being frozen solid in July.
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