Ultimate Guide to Visiting Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park (Fire Road Walk, Hiking, and Camping)
One of the most beautiful areas in the Canadian Rockies is also one of the most difficult to reach. To visit and hike around Lake O’Hara, you either have to be extremely lucky, be willing to hike a 20-mile day, or have serious cash to stay at the lodge.
However you reach Lake O’Hara, you will be amazed at how beautiful the area is and understand why the Canadian National Park Service has protected it so well. The colorful lakes, gorgeous glaciers, jagged peaks, and the ability to immerse yourself in nature make this one of the top spots to see in North America.
Exploring this area has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally checked it off in September 2024. Inside is everything I can offer about visiting, and I hope it inspires you to visit in the future!
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What to know about Hiking, Camping, and Exploring at Epic Lake O’Hara
Quick Trip Details for Lake O’Hara
- Hiking Options from Easy to Hard, once at the lake
- Walking the fire road is ~6.5 miles each way + whatever hike you do (ours was a 22-mile day)
- Elevation gain: 3,500 feet
- Location: Yoho National Park
- Bus Reservations need to be done months in advance
- Estimated Hiking time with no bus is 7-14 hours, depending on what you do. Mine was 10.5 moving hours
My Trip Report Hiking the Fire Road to Lake O’Hara
I’ve wanted to explore Lake O’Hara for years since the famous photo of the lakes and mountains made its first rounds on social media more than five years ago. I hadn’t really thought much about going because we didn’t have bus permits for this trip, and the weather was all over the place.
But when a good weather window opened up, some friends agreed to join me on my quest to hike 20+ miles to and around Lake O’Hara. It was go-time!
We got a later start than we wanted, starting the hike around 10:30 a.m. But we made quick time on the 6.5-mile road portion, getting to the lake in around 2.25 hours. Once we arrived, we ate lunch, plotted our route, and poked around at the lodge and lake.
By mid-afternoon, we were heading clockwise around Lake O’Hara on our way to Lake Oesa and the Alpine Circuit. It was gorgeous!
The first lake was the bluest lake I’d ever seen. And then the next one. And then the next one. It was mind-blowing!
When our foursome reached the second small lake, we were amongst the larches and the blue/yellow combination was striking. Considering three of the four of us were photographers, we spent far longer on this trail than most people would. But that’s okay. We were having a blast!
By the time we reached Lake Oesa, it was in a shadow, making it far less picturesque than the others. We quickly moved on and headed for the ledges that rise hundreds of feet above Lake O’Hara.
Here, we roller-coastered across it, making our way down to Opabin Plateau which was full of glowing yellow larches and calm, reflective lakes. But as the sun was fading, we quickly hiked through this area, reaching the overlook with the well-known view of Lake O’Hara and Mary Lake below.
For the next hour, we enjoyed the view, watched the sunset, and shot far more photos than any human should.
As the sky darkened, we began heading down, donning headlights once we hit the forested section. Sadly, once we “finished” the hike, we still had another 6.5 miles down the road. 80% of the way down was fine, but over the last mile, everything began to hurt.
By the time we reached the car, we had walked 22 miles in 10.5 hours (not counting lunch) and had gained 3,500 feet in total.
My Favorite Parts of Hiking Around Lake O’Hara
- The second and third lakes below Lake Oesa absolutely floored me. Thanks to glacial silt, they were the most incredible blue, and I think they aren’t always like that.
- Opabin Plateau’s larches were amazing, and the area was totally ours when we hiked through it.
- Getting to the cliffs with the expansive view above the lake for the classic view was a bucket list moment.
How to Get to Lake O’Hara
Lake O’Hara is located in Yoho National Park, just to the west of Lake Louise. If you look on a map, as the crow flies, it neighbors Lake Louise with a massive mountain in the middle. Type in “Lake O’Hara Parking” into Google Maps, and you’ll get to it with no problem (unless a train is passing by, then you’ll be delayed as we were).
The parking lot is not small, but it’s also incredibly popular. When we arrived at 10:30 a.m., we had to park on the side of the road outside of the parking lot, as it was full.
Because no personal vehicles are allowed to Lake O’Hara, you either have to walk the fire road or take a bus.
Easy Way In:
The easy way to get to Lake O’Hara is by bus.
For those not staying overnight, you have to win a random lottery drawing for a bus. This requires a bit of luck to snag a highly coveted spot.
Another way to get to the lake is to have a campground permit or to stay at the lodge. If you camp, you take the Parks Canada bus. If you stay at the lodge, they have a private shuttle that will take you up.
Hard Way In:
The hard way to the lake is to walk the Lake O’Hara fire road for approximately 6.5 miles or 10 kilometers. It has about 1,500 feet of gain with some ups and downs. The biggest incline is at the end, between 8-10km. My group was moving quickly both ways, and we made it up in about 2.5 hours and down in two.
It’s paved, and while cars aren’t allowed, you do need to get out of the way for the occasional bus or Parks Canada truck.
And unfortunately, no bikes are allowed.
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Hiking into Larch Valley
Deciding on a Hike at Lake O’Hara
This is a hiker’s dream location. While there are numerous trails all over the valley, one main one stands out.
One thing to note is that if you go up into the Opabin Plateau, the trails zig-zag all over the place. It’s wise to have a map on you just to keep track of how you want to make your way through it.
Most Popular: Lake O’Hara and Lake Oesa via Alpine Loop Trail – 5.6 miles, 1,500 feet of gain
I touched on it above, but this is an AWESOME route and will show off the entirety of this gorgeous area. The small ponds/lakes below Lake Oesa are some of the bluest lakes I’ve ever seen and with larches around it, it was pretty surreal.
I loved every second of it, and it wasn’t too challenging.
We did it clockwise. I think I liked the route, as it put us at the classic spot for sunset. But if you’re a photographer, it probably doesn’t matter.
You’ll start hiking around the lake and then do a couple of switchbacks to gain elevation. After that, there is a moderate elevation gain as meander past lakes and onto the ledges above. Then, you drop down into the Opabin Platea with stunning lakes, the “classic” photo spot, before heading down to the lodge.
(Hardest) Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit (Loop) – 7 miles, 2,900 feet of gain
This is partly same route as above, except, you traverse higher up the mountain alongside the lake and then meet up near Lake Oesa. Then, instead of coming down West Opabin Trail, you’ll pass through All Souls Prospect, passing Elizabeth Parker Hut on the way down. If you want a harder hike with grander views, this is for you.
I’m not sure which way you want to go, as both ways have a steep incline and decline.
(Easiest) Lake O’Hara Shoreline Trail (Loop) – 2 miles, 200 feet of gain
Want to take it easy? You can walk around the lake. On the far side of the lake is a lovely cascading waterfall. This won’t get you any larch views or views down on the lake, but for those who don’t want to push themselves, it’ll be perfect.
Opabin Plateau – 3.5 miles, 1,100 feet of gain
This is the trail if you’re just looking to get above the lake and grab the famous show of Lake O’Hara and the two smaller lakes below. You’ll want to take the West Trail up and head to the ledge on your left. It also allows you to adventure into the Opabin Plateau, which holds epic larch groves and other stunning lakes.
Please do not just go to the “classic spot.” Venture further in and see other sights.
Best Time to Visit
There are only two seasons that are good for hiking at Lake O’Hara.
Long Summer Days
Days start around 5am and stretch past 10pm in the Canadian Rockies during the summer, giving you ample opportunity to explore not just this area, but places throughout Yoho, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Kananaskis Country.
If you plan to hike the fire road, you’ll have ample time to get up, see the sights, and come back – without having to hike in the dark if you don’t want to.
A Fall Larch March
The Lake O’Hara basin is a goldmine for larches as they turn yellow. We had gorgeous views of the yellow trees as we hiked along the Alpine Circuit. While this is a very popular place, we saw less than 25 people throughout the hike on a weekday and had much of the trail to ourselves.
Fall colors change every year, generally in the second half of September. In 2024, it came the last week of the month, which is a bit later than usual. If you plan your trip starting around September 22, you should have a good shot at seeing them if you are here for five-plus days.
Overnight Options at Lake O’Hara
Camping
Camping is available throughout the summer and fall months. It opens on June 21 and closes on October 5. Reservations are open in late January, though check the specific date as it changes each year.
Lake O’Hara Lodge
The lodge at the lake is a gem, but it’s also for a very selective group of people. Rates for this place are NOT CHEAP, but you get exclusive access to the lake.
- Lodge Rooms: $945 CA/night for two
- Lake Shore Cabins: $1335 CA/night for two
- Cedar Cabins: $1335 CA/night for two, maximum occupancy of four
These rates include meals for the duration of the stay, afternoon tea, and the bus fare.
Alpine Huts
There are hikes to alpine huts that start from this area and traverse miles and miles into the backcountry. I can’t speak to any knowledge of this, but if you’re looking for a unique way to explore without sleeping in a tent outside, this is it!
If you’re interested in this, check out the Abbott Hut for more information. (This trail goes past Lake Oesa and is a 6-mile round trip hike with 3,000 feet of gain.)
Staying in Lake Louise or Banff
If you’re like most people, you’re probably staying outside of Lake O’Hara. If so, you can use these links to find spots in the area!
Solo/Younger Travelers: HI Lake Louise Hostel—I’ve stayed here twice, and it’s been awesome. It’s one of the best-located hostels, and for the price point, it’s super affordable!
HI Lake Louise Hostel – HI Banff Hostel
Mid-Range Options: Mountaineer Lodge – Deer Lodge – Lake Louise Inn
Luxury Options: Emerald Lake Lodge – Chateau Lake Louise – Baker Creek by Basecamp
More Tidbits about the adventure:
Stay Safe Adventuring in Bear Country
As you explore around the Canadian Rockies, you are in bear country, along with plenty of other wildlife. Make sure you hike with bear spray and, if possible, other people. As you walk, make noise regularly – either just talking or singing.
You want bears to know you’re in the area, decreasing the chance that you surprise them.
Is Lake O’Hara worth it?
After waiting so long, I can wholeheartedly say it is worth it. Yes, my legs are incredibly sore writing this a day later, but it was an amazing time. It’s surely beautiful in the summer, but visiting in the fall with the larches was the icing on the cake.
However you can get up here, do it. You’ll be so happy you did!
Can I take a shuttle down if I walked up?
We learned that you can take the Lake O’Hara shuttle from the lake back to the parking lot if there is room. You do have to pay for the shuttle, and I’m not sure if it’s cash only or not. The shuttle leaves at 2:30, 4:30 (two buses), and 6:30. If you don’t make the last one, you have to walk.
Any cell service here?
There is no cell service at Lake O’Hara or throughout the hike. I think I tried it once, just to see. Put your phone into airplane mode and enjoy the views while being disconnected from society.
Final thoughts on hiking around Lake O’Hara
While it was a heckuva long day, and my feet, knees, and hips hurt afterward, it was an amazing experience getting to see Lake O’Hara. It’s truly one of North America’s gems, and doing it entirely on your feet is a unique and rewarding experience.
Obviously, it’s less tiresome to take the bus, and I would have done it in a heartbeat. But however you can get up here, do it. It’s so worth it, and you and your friends will have a phenomenal time!
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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