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Trail Tips: Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park, BC: Shuttle, Lodging & Permits

Updated: Oct 8, 2024

Possibly one of the most difficult parks in Canada to get permits for, Yoho National Park is home to Instagram-famous Lake O'Hara. Find out how I managed to snag permits and spend 5 days/4 nights with 13 of my closest friends.

Trish, Kayla and Stevie overlooking Lake O'Hara


The Canadian Rockies are truly something else, and if you haven't experienced them first-hand, you're missing out! One particular spot overlooking Lake O'Hara has become Instagram famous, and for good reason. Perhaps my favourite part of this place is the fact that you're surrounded by 11,000+ foot peaks towering above, providing endless opportunity for beautiful hikes and mountaineering objectives. Whether you have just a day or a whole week, you will be able to pack every minute with adventure. If you're able to I highly recommend staying for a few days. There's a few options for lodging, and they're not easy to get, so let's get into it.


Getting there: Shuttle

Located between Golden and Banff is the Lake O'Hara parking lot and fire road. It's worth noting that while this park is in BC, it is in the Mountain time zone, so if you're travelling to the park that day you may need to account for a time change.


Located between Golden and Banff, just off the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 1), there is an 11km access road. But! You can't drive it, and you can't bike it. Your only options are to take the shuttle bus, or hike it. It's a pretty easy-going hike but it will take you about 3 hours in the summer, longer in the winter. Parking your vehicle in the parking lot requires a valid National Park Entry Pass to be displayed in your vehicle, no exceptions. You can purchase your pass at the visitor/info center on the way in, or in advance here.


Note: it is possible the visitor/info center may be closed, so purchasing in advance is recommended.


If you've booked lodging at Lake O'Hara then you'll be guaranteed a spot on the shuttle, but if you're just going in for a day then you're going to need to participate in a lottery draw. This means you need to purchase a ticket, and hope your name gets picked. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you may be able to show up and get a seat. This is unlikely during high season, but when we were there at the end of September it wasn't uncommon for there to be mostly-empty shuttles running.


Keep in mind that if you miss the last shuttle out of the park at 6:30pm MT, you will be required to walk the 11km out.


We found it difficult to find exact details on what baggage you can bring on the shuttle, so here's a simple breakdown for you:

  • One large bag/backpack/duffel and a soft-sided cooler

  • Or two small bags/backpacks and a soft-sided cooler

  • The maximum size of duffel bags is 39", but you're really pushing it. Try to keep it to less than 30".

  • NO hard-sided coolers

  • Bear spray must be packed INSIDE your bag - it can NOT be strapped to the outside or in an outside pocket


Note: pets are prohibited on the shuttle and in the campground, but are permitted on the access road when leashed.


Shuttle times

In-going: 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm

Out-going: 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:30am, 4:30am, 6:30pm


Note: day-use riders may only go INTO the park using the 8:30am or 10:30am shuttles. The afternoon shuttles are reserved for people with reservations in the lodge, campground or hut.


Lodging & Permits

There are 4 different types of lodging available:

  1. Campground

  2. Lake O'Hara Lodge

  3. Cabins

  4. Elizabeth Parker Hut


Note that the cabins are operated by Lake O'Hara Lodge


Campground

Open: late June to early October, yearly

  • This year it was open June 21 - October 5, 2024

Sites: 30

Minimum stay: 1 night

Maximum stay: 3 nights

Reservations open: late January

  • This year they opened January 25, 2024

Maximum 4 people per tent pad

Maximum 2 reservations per transaction

Maximum 1 small 4-person tent per site

Permits/reservations are made:


Like all BC parks, camping spots sell out immediately after they open. To get a spot you have to be diligent and quick, and if you don't get one then monitor the site for cancellations.


Facilities:

  • Two cooking shelters

  • One fire pit

  • Food and garbage storage (bear lockers)

  • Outhouses

  • Firewood

  • Splitting maul (axe)

  • Treated well water

  • Grey water disposal


Note: Parks Canada is aware of people making camping reservations to get on the shuttle and just doing day trips. If you have a camping reservation and show up without camping gear such as a tent, you will be turned away.


Lake O'Hara Lodge & Cabins

Open:

  • Summer: Mid June through early October

  • Winter: Late January through early April

Rooms: 8

Maximum occupancy: 2

Minimum stay: 3 nights


Inclusions:

  • Meals throughout your stay

  • High tea

  • Accommodation and shuttle bus for 2

  • Shared washrooms



Elizabeth Parker Hut

Operated by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC)

Open: Year-round

Capacity:

  • Summer: 24

  • Winter: 20

Permits/how to book:

Cost:

  • ACC member rates:

    • Standard: $50

    • Peak season (June 15-Oct 13): $60

  • Non-member rates:

    • Standard: $60

    • Peak season: $70

  • Check-in: 3pm

  • Check-out: 11am


The EP hut is actually two huts. The main hut contains a kitchen, two tables with benches, and a sleeping area which consists of two large bunks that span the width of the hut. This main hut can sleep 16 people in the summer. The secondary hut is just a sleeping hut with the same two-bunk set-up but can only sleep 8 comfortably in the summer. In the winter, to accommodate gear, the maximum capacity is reduced by two.


The kitchen is well stocked with pots, pans, cutlery, mugs, plates, bowls, kettles, water buckets etc. There is a single oven with 4 burners, as well as two 2-burner stoves, for a total of 8 burners. Food it to be stored in the cupboards, which close firmly enough to keep out rodents (we saw no signs of mice or other rodents/wildlife in the hut while we were there).


There are two outhouses available only to hut users. As this is a user-maintained backcountry hut, users of the huts are required to keep the hut clean as well as the outhouses. This includes changing the outhouse barrels when they are full. Yes, it's gross. No, you're not exempt.


Note: the shuttle does not run in the winter. You will need to hike/snowshoe up the 11km access road to get to the hut.


Lottery info from the ACC:

Price:

  • ACC Membership is not required to enter the lottery but will be required when making a lottery booking.

  • Lottery entries are $15.50 + GST for each lottery entry. People can purchase multiple lottery entries.

  • An additional lottery booking fee of $13.50 will be applied at the time of lottery booking. This fee covers the booking cost for 8 guests. Bookings for groups larger than 8 will be subject to an additional booking fee.

  • Please note there is an additional fee for guests taking the Lake O’Hara shuttle bus.


Lottery Process:

  • Lottery entries will be issued a ticket number once the purchase period has ended. All tickets will be drawn against one another. Winners will then be contacted and given the opportunity to choose their overnights (up to 5 nights maximum, 1 booking per person, for the duration of the lottery season) along with their intended capacity. There is no weight placed on when you enter the lottery, provided you enter within the lottery entry period.

  • As reservations are made, additional lottery winners will be drawn until all summer dates are filled.

  • Once a reservation is confirmed, all standard cancellation and payment policies apply.


Waitlist

  • Once all lottery dates are reserved, any lottery entrant who did not receive a reservation will be placed on a waitlist. In the event of a cancellation, waitlisted individuals will receive the first opportunity to make a reservation.



Other Information

The last facility in the park is Le Relais. This is a day use shelter operated by the Lake O'Hara Trails Club which is kind of like a visitor information center, but you can also buy snacks and drinks (hello, hot coffee & tea). Cash only. There's a covered outdoor area with a picnic table and a small indoor space where you can warm up.


While meals and high tea are included for users of the lodge and cabins, others may partake in lunch and/or high tea if they sign up for them day-of at 10:30am. Lunch costs $35 and high tea costs $20. The lunch menu is posted in the morning, and high tea is served buffet-style with tea, coffee, pastries and fruit.


Upcoming blog posts will have trail reports and stats, but for now, the most popular hike is the Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit.


If you've been to Lake O'Hara, leave a comment sharing your experience and any other helpful information! If you haven't been and have further questions, leave your question in a comment!


Keep exploring, Wild Woman.




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