Emerald Lake and Yoho National Park

Emerald Lake is the best short day trip from Lake Louise into neighbouring Yoho National Park in British Columbia, and it is one of the few famous Rockies lakes you can reach easily all year. The drive crosses the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, passes the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint and the little railway town of Field, then turns up a side road past the Natural Bridge, where the Kicking Horse River has carved through solid rock, to the lake itself. Emerald Lake is smaller and more enclosed than Lake Louise, surrounded by the President Range and Mount Burgess, with a lodge and a small cluster of buildings at one end, and in summer the water lives up to its name. The flat lakeshore loop takes about an hour or two and is one of the most rewarding easy walks in the Rockies; canoes can be rented in summer. In winter, the lake freezes and Parks Canada sets out recommended trails right from the Emerald Lake parking lot: short snowshoe routes to Hamilton Falls and Peaceful Pond, an Emerald Lakeshore loop of just over five kilometres, cross-country ski loops, and a crossing of the frozen lake itself. Parks Canada warns that a large avalanche path comes down on the left side of the lake, so in early season use only the designated trail and look for warning signs, and once the lake is frozen the route moves onto the ice to avoid the slide path. Yoho requires a Parks Canada pass, which the Discovery Pass covers along with Banff. British Columbia highway rules also require winter tires on most mountain routes through the winter.

Why go. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake take most of the attention, but Emerald Lake has a calmer, more intimate atmosphere and much easier access, especially now that Moraine Lake Road is closed for winter. The stops on the way are worthwhile too. The Spiral Tunnels viewpoint explains how the Canadian Pacific Railway solved the steep grade of the Big Hill by looping tracks through the mountains, and if you are lucky you can watch a long freight train emerge from one tunnel above the portal it just entered. The Natural Bridge is a short stop beside the road.

Winter trails. The Hamilton Falls and Peaceful Pond snowshoe trails are each under a kilometre from the parking lot and are easy for families. The Emerald Lakeshore loop links shoreline sections with a crossing of the lake once it is solidly frozen, and the alluvial fan behind the lake has groomed ski loops. Avalanche terrain lies above parts of the area; do not head toward Emerald Basin or onto the connector trails without avalanche training and equipment. Check Parks Canada trail reports and DriveBC before you set out.

Practical details. Emerald Lake is about forty minutes from Lake Louise and roughly an hour and a quarter from Banff. Field has limited services in winter, so bring what you need. Takakkaw Falls, the other big Yoho highlight, is reached by a seasonal road that is closed in winter, so save it for a summer trip. Dress warmly and bring traction devices for icy paths near the lodge and parking area.