Yoho Valley

Yoho Valley Trail

This was a bit of a fly by the seat of our pants kind of day. Dad was going off to hike a trail we had already been on earlier in the trip with his hiking club and so my brothers and I had the day to do our own thing.

I had been lucky enough to visit Lake O'Hara the year before and really wanted my brothers to experience area so we decided to try our luck and see if we could nab a last minute spot on the Parks Canada bus. We had our fingers crossed that some people with reservations would not show up.

Our step-mother drove us to the spot where we could wait for the bus and she waited around to see if we got a spot. Unfortunately, there were a few other last minute people like us who had got there earlier and they snagged the empty spots on the bus.

With the Lake O'Hara plans out the window we had to find something else to do that day. I suggested that we go to Takkakaw Falls and Emerald Lake as they were both nearby and my brothers had never been.

It was still absurdly early in the morning so we were the first people to show up at the falls.It was rather cold, especially with the mist from the falls so we did not linger for too long.

After visiting Tak Falls my brother suggested that we explore the Yoho Valley Trail as there were more waterfalls to see along it. The guide book "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies" said the trail was a waste of time essentially but we decided to do it anyways. We were pleased with the trail, it is certainly  nothing exciting or challenging but we got to see some pretty mountain scenery. It is a very manageable trail for pretty much any fitness level as it is essentially flat.

You start by walking through an open rocky area and then you enter the forest.

The trail splits and you can go in two different directions. One direction takes you by the river.

The other direction takes you to the Laughing Falls campground and this pretty waterfall.

Point Lace Falls

My brother and I decided to scramble up the hill alongside the falls. He made it all the way to the top, I chickened out about halfway up.

The dogs were very concerned over our little adventure. The step-mother and my other brother didn't seem to care too much though...

As I said, we found the trail to be pleasant enough. If you only have a day or two in the area then there are certainly far better trails with more spectacular scenery. However, if you don't feel you have the stamina or fitness level for a more challenging trail this is certainly a pleasant option, especially if you are already visiting Takkakaw Falls which is certainly with a visit in and of itself.