Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park is like the hidden gem of the Canadian Rockies. To get to this area there is an 11km paved road. Once you go down that road is the park. The main loop to these viewpoints is the Lake Ohara Alpine Circuit which is about 11km with a 900m elevation gain. There is a shuttle to take you down the paved road, but it books out day 1 in February and it is a lottery. The campsites also are permitted and book out very quickly! We did not get permits so we walked the paved road and then did the circuit.

We got lucky because on the way back there was room in the shuttle. You have to wait at the shuttle pick up and hope there is a spot. It is first come first serve and people with permits get first dibs. We got the shuttle but several people had to walk back so it is a gamble. If you can I would highly recommend getting a camp site here as the area is stunning. We have a whole write up on how to do this hike in our travel tips section!

Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit, Alberta, Canada - 304 Reviews, Map | AllTrails