This five and a half mile hike skirts the banks of Emerald Lake before ascending into the valley where the water flows from the melting snowfields above.

Emerald Lake is a popular destination in Yoho National Park. It’s a classically beautiful glacial lake surrounded by towering peaks, with many trails branching out from its shoreline. One of the more difficult but most rewarding hikes is the “Emerald Triangle” loop, which climbs all the way from the lake to alpine slopes, granting unobstructed views to glaciated peaks. It connects Yoho Pass and Burgess Pass, with the Wapta Traverse in between.

The hike begins from the parking area and viewpoint for Takakkaw Falls. A separate trail leads closer to this mighty waterfall, but for Laughing Falls and Twin Falls, go northward instead, toward the campground and along the Little Yoho River. The trail is mostly in the forest, but intermittent clearings reveal the icy blue river and snow-capped peaks above the gorge, as well as some bonus waterfalls in the distance.

Walk along small glaciers and alpine lakes on the banks of the President Range before descending into Yoho Valley.

Widely regarded as one of the best day hikes in the region, this challenging circuit is loaded with scenery every step of the way. With glacial lakes tucked in secluded valleys, commanding views from elevated ledges, and sky-high peaks all around, the experience is truly worth the work.

This is one of the best trails in Yoho for reaching a mountain vista with a relatively quick hike. It does not go all the way to the top of Paget Peak, but to the site of a historic fire lookout on the side of the mountain. From there, you’ll see Wapta Lake and Sherbrooke Lake below, plus broader views into both the Bow and Kicking Horse river valleys, with mountains and glaciers bounding every horizon.