Lake O'Hara Hiking - ALPINE HOLIDAYS
Lake O'Hara Hiking - ALPINE HOLIDAYS
Lake O'Hara Hiking - ALPINE HOLIDAYS
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Lake O'Hara Hiking - ALPINE HOLIDAYS
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JyotiOfTampa
Tampa, FL127 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
June 30th, 2013:
It was an early morning for us at the Bulging Elk Lodge in Field, Canada. We had to pack our bags and check out to be on time for the first bus to Lake O’Hara. It was still dark in the basement, especially because of a short but intense thunderstorm which resulted in a power outage around the entire area last night and that was still continuing in the morning. We did not plan for this and it was an added inconvenience. We were not able to pack any breakfast for our next trip to Lake O’Hara and could not charge cameras and camcorder and were not sure of any possibilities of charging our devices in the Lake O’Hara region since we were about to spend the night in wilderness.
Well in advance we booked Elizabeth Parker Hut following the lottery system. More detail can be found at http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/ep.html
Lake O'Hara is a lake at an elevation of 2,115 m in the alpine area of Yoho National Park, in the province of British Columbia. Regular tourists are not allowed to take their vehicles. There is designated parking lot by the side of Trans-Canada Highway, 12km west of Lake Louise and 13km east of Field where cars have to be parked and everyone has to take a ride in a school bus or they can also hike [11km] to the lake. It’s a long way, takes about 20 mins one way by bus. We reached at the parking lot at around 7:40AM. Already few tourists were waiting for the bus. Recognizing the fragility of Lake O'Hara's alpine environment number of visitors is restricted per day in an endeavor to keep the environment pristine. That is why the only way to get to Lake O’Hara is by transportation provided by the park authorities. Some tourists return the same day, some camp out at designated camp sites to enjoy longer stay near the lake. Based on the season it is recommended to reserve for the bus ride beforehand. Though I found few tourists were waiting at the parking lot without any reservation; they were lucky to get the bus ride as there were few empty spots that day.
Our bus started at 8:30 AM (it was school bus, so our first school bus ride in this country); it was almost full! Ride was bumpy at times as it was not a paved road. On the way, our driver explained the rules and regulations of the park and the bus timings. Finally, we reached at the Day Shelter stop which is famous for it’s delicious carrot cake. We took a quick peek at the lake….it is very conveniently located just off the bus stop and no hiking is needed to enjoy the beauty of this magnificent lake. From the day shelter we hiked to Elizabeth Parker Hut with our heavy bags and even heavier backpacks which were stuffed with all kinds of warm gear in anticipation of cold weather. It wasn’t a pleasant experience hauling the bags to our cabin especially with empty stomach. But the picturesque surrounding made us forget everything and we finally arrived at our dream-come-true vacation spot.
Elizabeth Parker Hut is a small log cabin nestled in the meadow by the side of a narrow creek, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. What a sight! It looked like a picture perfect movie spot. I wanted to stand still (for a change), bask in the morning sun, smell the wild flowers and enjoy the surrounding…..but my empty stomach was making more noise than the birds in the tree. Decided to go inside the cabin and check it out. This hut offers two rooms to accommodate around 24 guests. The main cabin is spacious with a well–equipped kitchen and has a propane system which supplies gas for cooking and lighting. There is no private room here; you will have to share the wilderness as well as the shelter with other tourists. While Madhumita, my wife, went to prepare breakfast, Nimisha, our lovely excited daughter, accompanied her. I started unpacking and socializing with other visitors at the cabin. A big group was about to leave sharing their experiences, they also shared their salt and some leftover boiled eggs. In no time Madhumita prepared egg sandwich and tea for breakfast and wrapped up to-go sandwiches for lunch. There are no fancy restaurants inside the park, just one inside Lake O’Hara lodge which is ridiculously expensive. While eating breakfast we saw people are getting ready for day hike, some were packing their bag to leave and some are getting water from the nearby creek for day usage as there was no tap water. Such a homely feeling all around, people are ready to do some extra work just to enjoy this well preserved natural beauty. There’s no electricity and no modern bathrooms, two under-covered stinky big holes to exhaust the human waste ;-)
We bought an area map [this same map is available on web, you can save few CAD by printing the map prior to your visit] from Day Shelter. There were several hiking poles kept for tourists outside of the Day Shelter, I was very happy to pick one of them. After finishing our breakfast we headed towards Schaffer Lake. Weather was gorgeous. We hiked for 30mins to reach the lake. It was pretty moderate hike with some elevation. We found patches of snow while hiking. Schaffer Lake is a peaceful small lake with the mountains reflecting on it’s cold calm water. Obviously we took lots of pictures. From Lake Schaffer we could have continued towards Lake McArthur but decided to hike around Lake O’Hara first – wiser decision to enjoy the prime spot before getting exhausted exploring other parts of the area.
After reaching Lake O’Hara we took the clock-wise route along the shoreline to begin our hike to Lake Oesa. After some time the trail leaves the shore and sharply enters into the mountainside and steadily gains elevation as it crosses several boulder fields. This is one of the most popular and spectacular hikes in this area because of the beauty and grandness it offers. The hike was moderately strenuous for occasional hikers like us. My 7 year old daughter was taking frequent breaks which also helped us to catch our breath at times. With a backpack, camcorder, cameras and tripod overall hiking was indeed strenuous. On the way we passed Lake Yukness, Lake Victoria and Lake Lefroy and Lake Victoria’s outlet stream. We even refilled our water bottles with the pristine cold water from the stream. On the way we were entertained by a marmot. This little squirrel-like creature was playing around the rocky pathway. Portion of the path was scattered with boulders for easy hiking – but definitely walking over the boulders was strenuous and requires extra caution.
After 3 hours of walking with intermittent stop covering more than 2miles of trail and 787 feet elevation gain from Lake O’Hara shoreline, we finally reached our destination – Lake Oesa. Turquoise colored lake (“Oesa” means “icy” in Stoney Indian language) is getting constant water supply from the glaciers. On the way to Lake Oesa, my thirsty and exhausted daughter frequently asked “why we are hiking, daddy?”, “Why the lake has to be on the top of the mountain?” – I was carrying a can of coke in my backpack which I used as a carrot for her and said we will have lunch with coke when we reach to Lake Oesa. Snow patches on the trail also excited her at times. We carried kitchen gloves for her to play with the snow. She was very happy to make multiple snowmen on the way and write her name with a stick on the snow patches in an effort to “mark” the trail in case we cannot find our way back. After reaching the end of the trail we were kind of lost for a moment as we did not see Lake Oesa around anywhere. Finally realized we have to climb over a stiff rock to a valley to view Lake Oesa. When we reached there, it was all worth it. Half of the lake was still frozen and we were the only visitors enjoying the beauty!!! We ate lunch enjoying the splendor around, and yes, my daughter got her share of coke. She made a midsize snow man making the empty coke can as the hat for the snowman (she carried the empty coke can back with her, didn’t want to litter, leaving behind the snowman as her memento).
We relaxed there for some time and took stunning pictures trying to capture the vastness and serenity as much as possible. Hiking down to Lake O’Hara was quicker. Nimisha was very tired and exhausted – she woke up early and was walking with us for more than eight hours – so we went back to our cabin and started preparing dinner. Madhumita made noodles with egg and broccoli. We took the upper bunk and made our bed there. Fortunately the cabin was not crowded, two other families made bed on the lower bunk. Though there was no electricity we didn’t feel we were missing anything. Sun sets after 10:30 PM and there was ample light around, so overall we managed well without electricity.
My initial plan was to carry my hiking backpack, but with my Nikon D800 camera and couple of heavy weight lenses it was as heavy as a rock and I am not a Sherpa! So I had no choice but to leave my bag back in the cabin and carry my daughter’s “Hello Kitty” backpack instead. It was really odd and others did notice a guy hiking with a pink hello kitty bag even from a distance. In the evening I met another tourist who joked “so you are that guy with pink backpack”? Lesson learnt – always carry a decent small-size backpack.
After dinner I rushed to Lake Louise to enjoy the sunset. There were a few campers around, but most of the visitors had returned after their day hike and others were relaxing and enjoying the vacation their own way. It was a picture perfect sunset with bright golden mountain peaks reflecting on the serene lake underneath. I was the only one returning to the cabin after sunset and had to admit I was a bit scared as the area is frequented by bear. Made as much noise possible with the hiking pole as if it it will drive away the bear, silly me…..
Night was chilly in the hut but we survived with few extra clothes.
July 1st, 2013:
What a lovely place to wake up - started another gorgeous day - somehow managed morning activity in a primitive hole which reminded me of my uncle’s place back home many years back when there was no modern toilets available in the suburbs. Treaded the Morning Glory trail for a while but did not go far because it was too empty and I was not carrying bear spray either. Instead; I decided to take Lake Mary trail. After the hike up to Lake Oesa and witnessing the pristine beauty of many other lakes the previous day, Lake Mary didn’t look too impressive. Passing Lake Mary I took the West Opabin Trail which was strenuous in certain areas. I hiked for 45 mins and ran out of breath and decided to go back. But later realized if I had continued walking little more I could have reached another lake at the end of the trail. I was not carrying the area map with me. Came back to hut after around 2hrs of morning hike. By that time both my wife and daughter were awake, took my daughter to nearby creek for brushing her teeth. This was her first time experience of refreshing herself using cold water from creek. Finished breakfast and packed the bags - by that time next group of tourists started showing up at the cabin. We kept our luggage in the cabin and started hiking towards Lake McArthur. This trail was relatively easy compared to Lake Oesa but not as dramatic as the earlier one. After hiking for 2 hours, passing Lake Schaffer we reached Lake McArthur. We were astonished by the beauty of this lake which was 3/4th filled with floating snow, in fact we heard rumbling noise of an avalanche while walking thru that trail, but not lucky enough to witness that. We liked this stunningly colored lake more than Lake Oesa. I am thankful to the Indian guy staying in Elizabeth Parker hut with us who informed me about this lake. It was definitely a good decision to hike up to this lake. We felt more secluded and peaceful at Lake McArthur. This lake was named after James McArthur who did most of the topographic mapping of this area during late 1880’s.
While coming back to our cabin, I could not resist my temptation to go inside crystal clear Schaffer Lake, but within few seconds realized my mistake and jumped out of the cold freezing water.
Our adventure trip to lake O’Hara was almost coming to an end and we suddenly felt sad and remorse leaving behind the cabin and the beauty around. Took our bags and came back to the Day Shelter bus stop with a heavy heart and a promise that we will be back again in the future. While waiting for the bus we enjoyed the superb carrot cake, it’s the most delicious carrot cake we had – could not resist myself for a second one. This place only accepts Canadian dollar so if you want to enjoy the much talked about cake of the town; make sure you carry Canadian dollars with you. While waiting for the bus we charged our phones and cameras at the Day Shelter. Boarded 4.30 PM bus to come back to the parking lot and was delighted to spot our car intact. I was little skeptical after reading few blogs on car wreck and vandalism around the area.
In this one and half day stay we did not see any wild life other than a marmot. But the combination of jaw dropping mountain skylines, pristine lakes, stunning view points, majestic meadows and at times snow-filled well preserved wilderness with wild flowers all around made this place the most memorable spot of our entire trip. Each trail has its own characteristics and challenges. Definitely one day is not enough to properly explore the region’s offering and the vastness surrounding the landscapes. Before leaving my dream spot I took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air and delighted my eyes with the beauty of majestic Lake O’Hara one last time. So long Lake O’Hara….until next time I will re-live your splendor and tranquility in my dreams and through my pictures.
My pictures are well preserved at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15613254@N05/sets/72157635417814042/
It was an early morning for us at the Bulging Elk Lodge in Field, Canada. We had to pack our bags and check out to be on time for the first bus to Lake O’Hara. It was still dark in the basement, especially because of a short but intense thunderstorm which resulted in a power outage around the entire area last night and that was still continuing in the morning. We did not plan for this and it was an added inconvenience. We were not able to pack any breakfast for our next trip to Lake O’Hara and could not charge cameras and camcorder and were not sure of any possibilities of charging our devices in the Lake O’Hara region since we were about to spend the night in wilderness.
Well in advance we booked Elizabeth Parker Hut following the lottery system. More detail can be found at http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/ep.html
Lake O'Hara is a lake at an elevation of 2,115 m in the alpine area of Yoho National Park, in the province of British Columbia. Regular tourists are not allowed to take their vehicles. There is designated parking lot by the side of Trans-Canada Highway, 12km west of Lake Louise and 13km east of Field where cars have to be parked and everyone has to take a ride in a school bus or they can also hike [11km] to the lake. It’s a long way, takes about 20 mins one way by bus. We reached at the parking lot at around 7:40AM. Already few tourists were waiting for the bus. Recognizing the fragility of Lake O'Hara's alpine environment number of visitors is restricted per day in an endeavor to keep the environment pristine. That is why the only way to get to Lake O’Hara is by transportation provided by the park authorities. Some tourists return the same day, some camp out at designated camp sites to enjoy longer stay near the lake. Based on the season it is recommended to reserve for the bus ride beforehand. Though I found few tourists were waiting at the parking lot without any reservation; they were lucky to get the bus ride as there were few empty spots that day.
Our bus started at 8:30 AM (it was school bus, so our first school bus ride in this country); it was almost full! Ride was bumpy at times as it was not a paved road. On the way, our driver explained the rules and regulations of the park and the bus timings. Finally, we reached at the Day Shelter stop which is famous for it’s delicious carrot cake. We took a quick peek at the lake….it is very conveniently located just off the bus stop and no hiking is needed to enjoy the beauty of this magnificent lake. From the day shelter we hiked to Elizabeth Parker Hut with our heavy bags and even heavier backpacks which were stuffed with all kinds of warm gear in anticipation of cold weather. It wasn’t a pleasant experience hauling the bags to our cabin especially with empty stomach. But the picturesque surrounding made us forget everything and we finally arrived at our dream-come-true vacation spot.
Elizabeth Parker Hut is a small log cabin nestled in the meadow by the side of a narrow creek, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. What a sight! It looked like a picture perfect movie spot. I wanted to stand still (for a change), bask in the morning sun, smell the wild flowers and enjoy the surrounding…..but my empty stomach was making more noise than the birds in the tree. Decided to go inside the cabin and check it out. This hut offers two rooms to accommodate around 24 guests. The main cabin is spacious with a well–equipped kitchen and has a propane system which supplies gas for cooking and lighting. There is no private room here; you will have to share the wilderness as well as the shelter with other tourists. While Madhumita, my wife, went to prepare breakfast, Nimisha, our lovely excited daughter, accompanied her. I started unpacking and socializing with other visitors at the cabin. A big group was about to leave sharing their experiences, they also shared their salt and some leftover boiled eggs. In no time Madhumita prepared egg sandwich and tea for breakfast and wrapped up to-go sandwiches for lunch. There are no fancy restaurants inside the park, just one inside Lake O’Hara lodge which is ridiculously expensive. While eating breakfast we saw people are getting ready for day hike, some were packing their bag to leave and some are getting water from the nearby creek for day usage as there was no tap water. Such a homely feeling all around, people are ready to do some extra work just to enjoy this well preserved natural beauty. There’s no electricity and no modern bathrooms, two under-covered stinky big holes to exhaust the human waste ;-)
We bought an area map [this same map is available on web, you can save few CAD by printing the map prior to your visit] from Day Shelter. There were several hiking poles kept for tourists outside of the Day Shelter, I was very happy to pick one of them. After finishing our breakfast we headed towards Schaffer Lake. Weather was gorgeous. We hiked for 30mins to reach the lake. It was pretty moderate hike with some elevation. We found patches of snow while hiking. Schaffer Lake is a peaceful small lake with the mountains reflecting on it’s cold calm water. Obviously we took lots of pictures. From Lake Schaffer we could have continued towards Lake McArthur but decided to hike around Lake O’Hara first – wiser decision to enjoy the prime spot before getting exhausted exploring other parts of the area.
After reaching Lake O’Hara we took the clock-wise route along the shoreline to begin our hike to Lake Oesa. After some time the trail leaves the shore and sharply enters into the mountainside and steadily gains elevation as it crosses several boulder fields. This is one of the most popular and spectacular hikes in this area because of the beauty and grandness it offers. The hike was moderately strenuous for occasional hikers like us. My 7 year old daughter was taking frequent breaks which also helped us to catch our breath at times. With a backpack, camcorder, cameras and tripod overall hiking was indeed strenuous. On the way we passed Lake Yukness, Lake Victoria and Lake Lefroy and Lake Victoria’s outlet stream. We even refilled our water bottles with the pristine cold water from the stream. On the way we were entertained by a marmot. This little squirrel-like creature was playing around the rocky pathway. Portion of the path was scattered with boulders for easy hiking – but definitely walking over the boulders was strenuous and requires extra caution.
After 3 hours of walking with intermittent stop covering more than 2miles of trail and 787 feet elevation gain from Lake O’Hara shoreline, we finally reached our destination – Lake Oesa. Turquoise colored lake (“Oesa” means “icy” in Stoney Indian language) is getting constant water supply from the glaciers. On the way to Lake Oesa, my thirsty and exhausted daughter frequently asked “why we are hiking, daddy?”, “Why the lake has to be on the top of the mountain?” – I was carrying a can of coke in my backpack which I used as a carrot for her and said we will have lunch with coke when we reach to Lake Oesa. Snow patches on the trail also excited her at times. We carried kitchen gloves for her to play with the snow. She was very happy to make multiple snowmen on the way and write her name with a stick on the snow patches in an effort to “mark” the trail in case we cannot find our way back. After reaching the end of the trail we were kind of lost for a moment as we did not see Lake Oesa around anywhere. Finally realized we have to climb over a stiff rock to a valley to view Lake Oesa. When we reached there, it was all worth it. Half of the lake was still frozen and we were the only visitors enjoying the beauty!!! We ate lunch enjoying the splendor around, and yes, my daughter got her share of coke. She made a midsize snow man making the empty coke can as the hat for the snowman (she carried the empty coke can back with her, didn’t want to litter, leaving behind the snowman as her memento).
We relaxed there for some time and took stunning pictures trying to capture the vastness and serenity as much as possible. Hiking down to Lake O’Hara was quicker. Nimisha was very tired and exhausted – she woke up early and was walking with us for more than eight hours – so we went back to our cabin and started preparing dinner. Madhumita made noodles with egg and broccoli. We took the upper bunk and made our bed there. Fortunately the cabin was not crowded, two other families made bed on the lower bunk. Though there was no electricity we didn’t feel we were missing anything. Sun sets after 10:30 PM and there was ample light around, so overall we managed well without electricity.
My initial plan was to carry my hiking backpack, but with my Nikon D800 camera and couple of heavy weight lenses it was as heavy as a rock and I am not a Sherpa! So I had no choice but to leave my bag back in the cabin and carry my daughter’s “Hello Kitty” backpack instead. It was really odd and others did notice a guy hiking with a pink hello kitty bag even from a distance. In the evening I met another tourist who joked “so you are that guy with pink backpack”? Lesson learnt – always carry a decent small-size backpack.
After dinner I rushed to Lake Louise to enjoy the sunset. There were a few campers around, but most of the visitors had returned after their day hike and others were relaxing and enjoying the vacation their own way. It was a picture perfect sunset with bright golden mountain peaks reflecting on the serene lake underneath. I was the only one returning to the cabin after sunset and had to admit I was a bit scared as the area is frequented by bear. Made as much noise possible with the hiking pole as if it it will drive away the bear, silly me…..
Night was chilly in the hut but we survived with few extra clothes.
July 1st, 2013:
What a lovely place to wake up - started another gorgeous day - somehow managed morning activity in a primitive hole which reminded me of my uncle’s place back home many years back when there was no modern toilets available in the suburbs. Treaded the Morning Glory trail for a while but did not go far because it was too empty and I was not carrying bear spray either. Instead; I decided to take Lake Mary trail. After the hike up to Lake Oesa and witnessing the pristine beauty of many other lakes the previous day, Lake Mary didn’t look too impressive. Passing Lake Mary I took the West Opabin Trail which was strenuous in certain areas. I hiked for 45 mins and ran out of breath and decided to go back. But later realized if I had continued walking little more I could have reached another lake at the end of the trail. I was not carrying the area map with me. Came back to hut after around 2hrs of morning hike. By that time both my wife and daughter were awake, took my daughter to nearby creek for brushing her teeth. This was her first time experience of refreshing herself using cold water from creek. Finished breakfast and packed the bags - by that time next group of tourists started showing up at the cabin. We kept our luggage in the cabin and started hiking towards Lake McArthur. This trail was relatively easy compared to Lake Oesa but not as dramatic as the earlier one. After hiking for 2 hours, passing Lake Schaffer we reached Lake McArthur. We were astonished by the beauty of this lake which was 3/4th filled with floating snow, in fact we heard rumbling noise of an avalanche while walking thru that trail, but not lucky enough to witness that. We liked this stunningly colored lake more than Lake Oesa. I am thankful to the Indian guy staying in Elizabeth Parker hut with us who informed me about this lake. It was definitely a good decision to hike up to this lake. We felt more secluded and peaceful at Lake McArthur. This lake was named after James McArthur who did most of the topographic mapping of this area during late 1880’s.
While coming back to our cabin, I could not resist my temptation to go inside crystal clear Schaffer Lake, but within few seconds realized my mistake and jumped out of the cold freezing water.
Our adventure trip to lake O’Hara was almost coming to an end and we suddenly felt sad and remorse leaving behind the cabin and the beauty around. Took our bags and came back to the Day Shelter bus stop with a heavy heart and a promise that we will be back again in the future. While waiting for the bus we enjoyed the superb carrot cake, it’s the most delicious carrot cake we had – could not resist myself for a second one. This place only accepts Canadian dollar so if you want to enjoy the much talked about cake of the town; make sure you carry Canadian dollars with you. While waiting for the bus we charged our phones and cameras at the Day Shelter. Boarded 4.30 PM bus to come back to the parking lot and was delighted to spot our car intact. I was little skeptical after reading few blogs on car wreck and vandalism around the area.
In this one and half day stay we did not see any wild life other than a marmot. But the combination of jaw dropping mountain skylines, pristine lakes, stunning view points, majestic meadows and at times snow-filled well preserved wilderness with wild flowers all around made this place the most memorable spot of our entire trip. Each trail has its own characteristics and challenges. Definitely one day is not enough to properly explore the region’s offering and the vastness surrounding the landscapes. Before leaving my dream spot I took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air and delighted my eyes with the beauty of majestic Lake O’Hara one last time. So long Lake O’Hara….until next time I will re-live your splendor and tranquility in my dreams and through my pictures.
My pictures are well preserved at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15613254@N05/sets/72157635417814042/
Written June 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Radium Hot Springs, Canada11 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
On August 12, 2012, Margaret and I travelled the bus into Lake O'Hara, just a few minutes drive west of Lake Louise on Highway #1 and within British Columbia.
The reservation system that Parks Canada utilises is absolutely brutal in it's inefficiencies and time wasting systems ( 2 people, redialling for over an hour and a half each, to secure bus and camping spots for the group ) (( horrible system )) but we persevered and were successful in catching a ride and camping spots for our re-wedding party of the following day.
Once settled in the campground, which is an absolutely well planned and executed location, we had three days of blue sky, hikes with friends from Ontario and Vancouver Island and our home area of Radium Hot Springs.
Our renewal vows were on the shores of Lake O'Hara, on an out jutting rock at lake level. The cathedral of the peaks in the area is spectacular in the extreme and in each picture perfect snap shot.
I have hiked in BC and other countries for over 50 years and have yet to experience such a beautiful area. Meadows, hiking trails all over the place to accommodate both experienced and novice hikers alike. Short hikes at the lower levels, long hikes up to the peaks and Wiwaxi Saddle , are just some of the hikes with views for ever in most directions.
The High Traverse of the Ledges is an absolutely brilliant route especially if you can combine it with a return hike up to Wiwaxi Saddle along those ledges and then the descent back to Lake O'Hara. A better route for the knees is to start at the lake, up trail to Wiwaxi, then over the high ledges traverse and back to Lake O'Hara. ( Clock wise, not counter clock wise ). Any direction is wonderful, especially when hiking with your friends and your re wife.
This is an absolutely stunning adventure for the second time around.
But a suggestion to Parks Canada? Change your reservation system closer to the 21st century. It is horrible.
Everyone knows you don't want visitors in great numbers into the area through your stated restriction on numbers into the area, but your reservation system is absolutly wicked in it's inefficiencies and difficulty for catching a bus ride, let alone a camping spot in the area.
Other than Parks Canada's reservation system, a wonderful trip and great staff on the ground.
The reservation system that Parks Canada utilises is absolutely brutal in it's inefficiencies and time wasting systems ( 2 people, redialling for over an hour and a half each, to secure bus and camping spots for the group ) (( horrible system )) but we persevered and were successful in catching a ride and camping spots for our re-wedding party of the following day.
Once settled in the campground, which is an absolutely well planned and executed location, we had three days of blue sky, hikes with friends from Ontario and Vancouver Island and our home area of Radium Hot Springs.
Our renewal vows were on the shores of Lake O'Hara, on an out jutting rock at lake level. The cathedral of the peaks in the area is spectacular in the extreme and in each picture perfect snap shot.
I have hiked in BC and other countries for over 50 years and have yet to experience such a beautiful area. Meadows, hiking trails all over the place to accommodate both experienced and novice hikers alike. Short hikes at the lower levels, long hikes up to the peaks and Wiwaxi Saddle , are just some of the hikes with views for ever in most directions.
The High Traverse of the Ledges is an absolutely brilliant route especially if you can combine it with a return hike up to Wiwaxi Saddle along those ledges and then the descent back to Lake O'Hara. A better route for the knees is to start at the lake, up trail to Wiwaxi, then over the high ledges traverse and back to Lake O'Hara. ( Clock wise, not counter clock wise ). Any direction is wonderful, especially when hiking with your friends and your re wife.
This is an absolutely stunning adventure for the second time around.
But a suggestion to Parks Canada? Change your reservation system closer to the 21st century. It is horrible.
Everyone knows you don't want visitors in great numbers into the area through your stated restriction on numbers into the area, but your reservation system is absolutly wicked in it's inefficiencies and difficulty for catching a bus ride, let alone a camping spot in the area.
Other than Parks Canada's reservation system, a wonderful trip and great staff on the ground.
Written September 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
prac1
West Palm Beach, FL847 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
I am so glad we were lucky enough to get a reservation to visit Lake O'Hara. It is truly the most beautiful lake I have ever seen! Jaw dropping gorgeous. It was a beautiful sunny day and the lake was aquamarine. We are not big hikers and just hiked around the lake and another short hike. The lake hike was enough to make the trip worthwhile. I am glad they only let a few people in because it keeps the place pristine. It was the prettiest place we saw on our two week trip.
Written September 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimMc49
Clinton, MS11 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
This was the hike we were looking forward to the most. We were the first to make reservations for the bus on the morning they opened up reservations.
Within 30-45 minutes the whole summer was booked. I have attached some photos
Within 30-45 minutes the whole summer was booked. I have attached some photos
Written August 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne R
Maplewood, MN435 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
Even with lousy weather this was a gorgeous hike around the lake. Plan ahead because its booked heavily. We booked our own bus ride and loved the lake.
Written August 2, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eghi
8 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
book when tickets come out first and do get a day trip pack a lunch and come prepared there is a back route for opabin prospect uses it it has better views and more moderate hiking
Written July 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie F
Edmonton, Canada14 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
We have been numerous times in the winter and it truly is my own personal Narnia....Believe me it is not an easy hike in but worth the pain. We have snowshoed and cross country skied both doable. Coming out we actually walked and attached the shoes to our packs one time. The service is over the top and rivals the top hotels for food and hospitality. You must try the Pisco Sour and the appies make a hard day of outdoor adventure melt into the distant past. Your are served meals fit for royalty and there is a very rounded local wine list. Bruce has great music and the lodge is from a movie. The rooms are single beds but cozy except one has the magic ticket queen. For a back country lodge the shower/baths are great. They supply sunscreen and some basics which is nice. Apart from the lodge the guides are incredible taking you to breathtaking vistas that make you feel a sense of euphoria....
Written October 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
snapngo
Glenelg, MD606 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
This was our second trip to Lake O'Hara and it was just as beautiful as the first. We hiked the Opabin Lake trail both times. Gorgeous mountain views! On our first trip we saw marmots tussling with each other - really funny. The trail can be quite steep in places so it's not just a Sunday stroll, but it's worth the effort. You'll need to get reservations on the Parks Canada site and a Parks Canada Pass for your car. Yes, it's hard to get through to the reservation line, but keep trying. We made our reservations three months in advance. The bus drops you off at a small store where you can buy drinks, ice cream and sandwiches. That's where it will pick you up in the afternoon. Believe me - you'll want to take the bus up!
Written August 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary M
West Milford, New Jersey, United States172 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
My sister & brother-in-law called for days and days getting a busy signal but finally my sister got lucky and was able to book a spot for four on the coveted shuttle to Lake O'Hara. It proved to be well worth it. The lake itself is breathtaking and although we were unable to finish the Alpine Circuit due to snow blocking our way, we were able to do the hardest part (the steep uphill climb) and enjoy the view from high up. The shuttle booking allowed the place to be uncrowded and serene as there were only a few people doing the same hike as us. When we finished our hike we had hot chocolate at the camp store and then took a stroll along the lake and enjoyed the waterfall there. Lake O'Hara is definitely a piece of paradise.
Written July 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Should I try and book two days in the Lake O'Hara area or will one day be enough? I'll be there in July, and I'm trying to decide what to do when reservations open up next month.
Written March 12, 2016
Good question! When do reservations open up and do you still have to call Parks Canada to arrange bus rides?
Written March 14, 2016
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