Yoho National Park - Canada
I have to admit, before visiting the Jasper National Park I wasn’t even aware that apart from the Banff National Park there are more National Parks in the Canadian Rockies and was surprised when I saw the sign of the Yoho National Park. Actually, there is another one, the Kootenay National Park north from Jasper, which I didn’t visit. I had already planned driving through the Yoho National Park and wanted to visit some sites in it without knowing that they’re not part of the Jasper or Banff National Parks. It seems to be a smaller area than these two, but can absolutely offer a lot as well and lies in between these two well-known national parks heading west from there and is already part of British Columbia. This also means, that I finally reached the western most province in Canada and my road trip was almost over. But not yet, so have a look yourself at this beautiful nature sites, so here you go.
Same as with the Jasper and Banff National Park visits, I visited the Yoho National Park again on a second road trip. I therefore wove some of the new pictures from summer a year later into this blog.
Emerald Lake
Especially the emerald lake convinced me with its beauty. I decided to take a walk around the lake or as they say here hike. I have to admit, to me, before going to Canada, I considered hiking only when I went up or down mountains while a walk would be going through nature or also cities without big level changes. Here they seem to call everything nature related hiking... Short after starting and jumping up and down the roots on the way, trying not to dip to deep into the mud, I met two American women. We started talking and did the whole way together what took us around two hours and was really nice. I always enjoy meeting new people and a common passion for nature and hiking is already a good start to get along 😊 I’m actually still in contact with them through social media. I do value the possibility to stay connected so easily. 18 years ago, when we left Lanzarote, Spain my sister and I where sending letters to the friends we left behind, but most of the contacts got lost. Nowadays this is so much easier. On each journey I take I meet a few people and sometimes it is just a loose contact and other times very good friendships evolve and we even visit each other every now and then. But enough off topic talking, here you have the emerald lake and the name speaks for itself.
Same spot above and below. Above you see the autumn view and below summer view a year after. They both were stunning to me.
At this spot we actually witnessed an engagement ❤
Below some more pictures from the second visit in summer.
Imagine staying here at the Emerald Lake Lodge. It was way out of our budget, but maybe one day we indulge it for one or two nights in the future. Wen we got to the lake the second time it was purring rain but shortly after, as you can see on the pictures, it was beautiful again!
Natural Bridge
On the way to the emerald lake in the same street I stopped on this natural bridge out of rock formations. It’s beautiful, but it was full of people blocking the way. Still liked the look of it 😊
This is the bridge of course with a stupid photographer on it who obviously wasn’t capable of reading the signs not to cross this point and nor seeing the fence… People started shouting at him to get off of it and out of the way but he couldn’t care less and took his time for diverse long exposure photos in the way of everyone else. Not respecting neither all the other tourists nor the preservation of this natural spot…
The second time there was even a couple in their wedding dresses. I’m sure the pictures were stunning, still, I would never do such myself…
Got one shot without anyone one it but shortly after another guy followed the bad example of the one before and went on it again...
The second time I also found the timing for a shot without supid people on the natural bridge and this time even with some sun.
Takakkaw Falls
Have I mentioned that I love driving, especially in the mountains on curvy roads? The street that leads you here is a good one but at one point you go up the mountain in a very curvy road. I had so much fun! Sadly on the way back I had a slow and insecure driver in front of me, but maybe it was better that he kept me that slow 😉 The waterfall itself is really high but thin and around it was already surrounded by ice.
Zoom in to the ice and the tiny littler rainbow 😊
Hoodoo Creek
The second time we also did a hike up the Hoodoo Creek and to be honest, my fear of hights got me again. The two pictures blow were shot by my boyfriend, as I din’t manage to get up there and only saw those weird rocks from below.
Wapta Falls
But not all roads are as good as the one mentioned above, getting to the wapta falls takes you over a bumpy gravel road and since it had rained and snowed before it was muddy and I had some parts where I slided slightly without wanting to. Some holes on the road where that deep and with the mud I couldn’t see how deep exactly that I was afraid to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a rental car not made for these streets. Luckily, I made it and got this nice view. Sadly, it was short before sunset to I lacked the time to hike to the waterfalls and could only see them from far.
Zoom in!
Met two brothers traveling with a cute dog who just set up their campfire and chose this spot for a sleep over in their van. I was a little bit jealous of them, because I still had some hours to drive to get to Kelowna. I somehow underestimated the time all the stops on the way would take and drove the last hours in pitch black not being able to see all the beautiful scenery.
The second time I found the right entrance to the parking lot and with only a small level hike I got directly to the base of the waterfall as you see below.
Pit stop for a hot tea at Tim Horton (love the apple cinnammon fog at night or the Londong Fog from breakfast to afternoon) on the way.