Experience the majesty of 2 great Canadian Waterfalls: Takakkaw Falls and Twin Falls (and many more) along the Yoho Valley Trail in Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Welcome to an extraordinary adventure that will take you through the rugged landscapes of Yoho National Park. In this 2 day journey, we will explore towering waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain vistas.
Our 2-day itinerary will guide you to the awe-inspiring Takakkaw Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, and the mesmerizing Twin Falls hike, a treasure trove of cascading waterfalls and natural beauty along the Yoho Valley Trail.
Yoho National Park is situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, straddling the border of two western provinces, Alberta and British Columbia.
It forms a part of the larger network of protected areas known as the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which also includes renowned parks like Banff and Jasper.
Yoho National Park is on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, Blackfoot, and Cree First Nations. The word Yoho comes from the Cree expression for “awe and wonder”, and this stunning park sure does live up to its name.
The park itself is a vast playground for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. With an abundance of beauty and activities to offer, you could easily spend more time exploring its wonders than you initially planned.
The park entrance is just outside of the tiny community of Fields, BC, along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Field is a quaint, unincorporated village with a population of approximately 169 people.
There is a wonderful visitors center here and a beautiful pond to swim in with picnic tables, playground, bathrooms and water stations, and a small museum and gift shop.
You can also purchase your Parks Canada Discovery Pass here, which you need to access all National Parks.
The park’s strategic location near the Alberta/BC border makes it accessible from both provinces, offering a gateway to the stunning landscapes and natural wonders that characterize the region. Yoho’s proximity to other famous national parks makes it an excellent addition to any Rockies road trip itinerary.
If you’re starting your journey from Alberta, you can access Yoho National Park via the scenic Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). This iconic highway is a route that connects major cities like Calgary and Edmonton to the Rockies. As you venture westward, you’ll pass through Banff National Park before reaching Yoho’s eastern entrance.
The park is only a 2 hr and 30 minute drive from Calgary, so it’s perfect for a weekend adventure, or even a day trip!
Travelers coming from British Columbia can access Yoho National Park by heading east on the Trans-Canada Highway. The town of Golden, British Columbia, serves as a convenient entry point to Yoho from this side.
To access Takakkaw Falls and Twin Falls, you’ll need to travel down the Yoho Valley Road, which connects via the Trans Canada.
Once on Yoho Valley Road, you pass Monarch Campground, Kicking Horse Campground, and then Meeting of the Waters – merging Yoho River and Kicking Horse River. The milky colored water is from The Yoho River, and the turquoise water is from Kicking Horse River. As they meet, they create a new color and big rapids, which is stunning to watch.
Yoho Valley Road is a beautiful scenic drive with glacier and mountain views. It’s also narrow and steep, with two sharp switchbacks.
Therefore large RVs are not permitted on Yoho Valley Road. If you have an RV or a big trailer, park it by the Monarch Campground at the beginning of Yoho Valley Road.
The parking lot for Takakkaw Falls is at the end of the Yoho Valley Road.
There is a parking lot specifally for visitors of Takakkaw Falls, and if you’ll be camping overnight at either Takakkaw Falls Campground or any of the overnight backcountry sites, there is another parking lot farther along for overnight parking.
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times. 
There are pit toilets/out houses available at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot.
There are plenty of picnic tables with views of Takakkaw Falls to relax and enjoy lunch.
Parks Canada has placed over 200 red Adirondack chairs in peaceful and scenic locations throughout many of the country’s most unique and treasured places, including the 2 sets found here at Yoho National Park.
Before crossing the bridge to the falls, follow the trail a little further and you will see the famous red chairs where you can sit and enjoy Takakkaw Falls a bit longer.
The Yoho Valley Road, the only access to Takakkaw Falls, is open from Mid-June to Mid-October. The exact date changes slightly each year based on the snowfall.
Takakkaw Falls are fed by the meltwater of the Daly Glacier. The best time to visit Takakkaw Falls is in June, when the glacial melt is roaring from the warmer weather. This is the case for most of the waterfalls in the Rockies.
As we journeyed along the Yoho Valley Road, the breathtaking sight of Takakkaw Falls gradually came into view. Even the view from the parking lot is quite spectacular.
We parked our vehicle, and walked a short and easy paved path right up to Takakkaw Falls. The path was well-maintained and suitable for visitors of all ages, including children, pets, and those with strollers or wheelchairs.
The trail to Takakkaw Falls starts on a paved wide path. You pass outhouses in the beginning, a big sign informing you of all the hikes in the area, and several picnic tables with a view of Takakkaw Falls.
You’ll cross a short bridge over the Yoho River, and you then you can walk right up to the falls!
At a breathtaking height of 1,224 feet, Takakkaw Falls stands as a testament to the sheer power and beauty of nature. The tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies and the second-tallest in Canada.
The word “Takakkaw” translates to “wonderful” in the Cree language, and there is good reason for that! This natural wonder has not only captivated the hearts of modern-day travelers but has also played a significant role in the lives of First Nations people for thousands of years, serving as a place of significance and reverence.
The falls owe their existence to the Daly Glacier, which is part of the expansive 15-square-mile Waputik Icefield. As the glacier melts, it feeds the roaring waters of Takakkaw Falls, creating a symphony of sound and sight that is simply unforgettable.
The water coming from the waterfalls is very cold and amazingly refreshing if you get up close.
While Takakkaw Falls offers a refreshing spray, we should note that there’s no swimming area accessible at this waterfall.
Tents Only: Takakkaw Falls Campground is a walk-in campground only.
Parking is about 500 meters from the campground, and there are trolleys available to carry your gear to and from the campsite.
Bear Bins are available to store your food and toiletries at night.
Outhouses/pit toilets are available, as well as a washing station. (Water is not suitable for drinking.)
Firewood is included for a fee. Not all of the campsites have a fire pit though so pay attention when choosing a site.
We moved our vehicle to the designated parking lot, on the far end of the Takakkaw day use parking lot, and found the wheelie bins provided by the park.
Takakkaw Falls Walk-In Campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. While it can get quite busy during peak summer months and on weekends, we were fortunate to visit mid-week.
We picked site #23, nestled at the back of the campground. From there, we had an absolutely breathtaking view of the falls.
However, for those seeking the absolute best views of the falls, sites 1 to 9 at the ‘front’ of the campground offer a direct, unobstructed view that’s nothing short of spectacular. These sites were all taken and are the most popular and difficult spots to get.
The Yoho Valley trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Canadian Rockies for good reason. The multitude of spectacular waterfalls seen along its length are among the best in the region.
After a hearty breakfast, we packed our daypacks, laced up our hiking boots, and set off on our hike to Twin Falls.
In terms of difficulty, I’d rate this hike as intermediate. The effort you invest is handsomely rewarded with every step, making the journey worth every drop of sweat.
This hike is easily doable in a day, but also offers the option of backcountry camping at two points along the way, Laughing Falls campground and Twin Falls Campground.
The backcountry camping permits book up quickly, so you need to grab them early when they go on sale for the season.
We weren’t able to get permits, but found doing this hike in a day was perfect, and we really enjoyed our campsite with a view of Takakkaw Falls!
I loved this trail because not only is there a great waterfall at the end, there are many along the way as well! The hike is scenic the whole way, with plenty of spots to stop and enjoy (and take a snack break!)
Angels Staircase Falls is the first waterfall encountered along the Yoho Valley trail. A short spur off the Yoho Valley Trail leads to a viewpoint of the falls.
Angel’s Staircase Falls drops approximately 1000 feet down to its confluence with the river. The view is distant, and the entire falls can not be seen because of the twisting nature of the falls themselves.
The stream is fed by lingering snow patches, expect it to run dry by the end of August, if not sooner. While impressive in height, it’s distant view and lack of water flowing makes this one of the less impressive falls along the trail, though still beautiful in it’s own right!
Right after Angel’s Staircase Falls, you’ll find Point Lace Falls.
Point Lace Falls is fed by snowfields and the seasonal waters of Lake Duchesnay. The falls spray about 45 feet over the valley wall.
Slightly further along the trail you will start to hear the Yoho river crashing through a gorge as the rapids attempt to squeeze through the narrow rock faces. This culminates in another small (but very energetic) waterfall, Yoho Gorge Falls.
The next mini bonus walk will lead you to the pretty sub-alpine Duchesnay Lake.
We stopped here on the way back down from Twin Falls and had a swim in the lake! It was refreshing after a big day of hiking and the cold water felt great on my sore muscles!
Laughing Falls is worth the hike itself, and is gorgeous! We took an extra long snack break here, enjoying the view.
The trail is relatively flat and easy up until here, and many people will do this waterfall as a day hike.
Once you cross the bridge over the Yoho River, you’ll see and hear Laughing Falls on your left, and to your right is a small trail leading to Laughing Falls Campground. You need a permit to overnight camp here.
Beyond Laughing Falls, the trail is a little narrower but it’s still easy to follow. You walk between Twin Falls creek on one side and the Yoho river on the other side.
It’s only a couple of kilometers between Laughing Falls and the Twin Falls Campground. The camp site has small, secluded spots for each tent as well as a communal area where you can cook and eat and bear poles.
You need a permit to overnight camp here.
The uppermost part of the falls can be seen below the bridge across Twin Falls Creek near the Twin Falls Chalet about 8.5km from the trailhead.
The stream then twists around the corner and out of sight from above. Those hiking to Twin Falls along the valley trail will pass the base of the falls where the creek thunders out of the mouth of the narrowest part of the gorge.
The Twin Falls Chalet was operated as a backcountry lodge and teahouse for 57 years, until 2019 when Parks Canada locked the doors to the lodge.
There has been ongoing construction at the lodge since then, along with news that the Alpine Club of Canada has been awarded a license and plans to reopen the teahouse for meals and overnight accommodation in the future.
The star of the hike, Twin Falls! Found where Twin Falls Creek hurtles 400 feet over a lofty limestone cliff in side-by-side plunges before crashing an additional 200 feet over a series of steps and smaller falls within a narrow crevice.
The tea house was not open on our visit, but there were a few benches placed with views of the falls where we took a nice long lunch break and explored all around the falls.
They were incredible up close and worth every effort to get there!
Now, you can either head back down the same trail you came on, or you can take the Marpole Connector trail.
The Marpole Connector adds an extra 2.6 km to the hike but is a nice walk along Marpole Lake and then over a massive rockslide, making for lots of high-stepping, up and down on boulders.
The Marpole Connector will take you a different route down, eventually connecting make onto the Yoho Valley Trail.
Head down and cross the red bridge to join the Marpole Connector Trail.
It’s less than 1km before you pass Marpole Lake, and then onto the rocky area.
This section was a bit more difficult, navigating the rock field that has developed below the Whaleback as rocks have tumbled down off the high cliffs.
You can see a view of Marpole Lake at the back.
This rocky section lasts for about 1.5km.
This trail will bring you back to Laughing Falls and back onto the Yoho Valley Trail.
On our way back down, we stopped at Duchesnay Lake for a refreshing swim.
As the evening descended upon us, we were treated to a beautiful sunset, painting the sky with pink.
Our campsite offered the perfect view of Takakkaw Falls being illuminated by the setting sun.
The next morning, we got up early, made coffee, and walked back over to Takakkaw Falls to enjoy the falls without the crowds.
There was no one else around, so we enjoyed the spray of the mist all to ourselves.
Then we headed back to camp to pack up and head out.
If you’re tent camping, the campground at Takakkaw Falls is the best option! You’ll have to make a short walk into the campsite, but they have carts that can carry your camp gear.
The Kicking Horse Campground is the nicest campground with facilities that include hot showers, flush toilets, fire pits, and a sanitation dump.
Reservations are required for the Kicking Horse Campground from June 18 to September 18.
However, there is not much privacy at the campsite so it’s best for RVs and Campervans.
This is sort of an overflow campground next to Kicking Horse that does not require reservations, but it is limited on facilities and right next to the highway.
I wouldn’t recommend either campground for tents unless you’re in a pinch. The campsite itself has an overflow parking lot if you can’t find a place to camp for the night.
The only lodging available inside Yoho National Park is Cathedral Mountain Lodge, which offers 31 spectacular luxury log cabins.
This luxury hotel is made up of small wooden cabins on an island in beautiful Emerald Lake. Although it isn’t cheap, its rooms are amazing, with wood-burning fireplaces next to the beds and balconies overlooking Emerald Lake.
Canadian Rockies Inn is a good alternative for a place to sleep in Yoho. This is a more modern and simple accommodation located in the center of Field, It has Wi-Fi, TV, a living room, fireplace, and kitchen. Please note that kids are not allowed, so if you are traveling as a family, you will have to find another place to stay in Yoho.
Fossil Beds Guesthouse is also very well located, in the center of Field. It is the best option if you’re looking for cheap accommodation in Yoho or you’re traveling as a family, as this guesthouse has 2 bedrooms and a capacity of up to 5 people. It has a fully-equipped kitchen, a wood-burning fireplace, Wi-Fi connection, a living room with a sofa, and incredible views of the mountains.
Yoho Chalets is a somewhat more secluded accommodation option. This accommodation in Yoho is located at the exit of the park towards the town of Golden. It has several spacious chalets that have fully-equipped kitchens, fireplaces, and bonfire areas. They also lend out bicycles for free. Although it’s cheap accommodation in Yoho, it has everything you need to enjoy this unique place, so I think it’s a good option for a place to stay in Yoho.
Golden is the first large town located at the west exit of Yoho National Park.
If you’re looking for cheaper accommodation in Yoho, this is your best option, although you should bear in mind that it is a 45 minute drive between Golden and Yoho National Park.
Banff is another option for accommodation, and is approximately a 1 hour drive from Yoho National Park.
Takakkaw Falls is located within the Rocky Mountains, which formed 80 million to 55 million years ago as plates slid under the North American plate, forming large peaks and valleys. The falls are the result of meltwater from the Daly Glacier, part of the 15-square-mile Waputik Icefield. The area was likely first inhabited at the end of the last ice age, and the Falls were named and used by the First Nations people for thousands of years.
Various expeditions traveled to the area, but no one knows for sure when Takakkaw Falls was discovered by Europeans. The Kicking Horse River got its name in 1858 when James Hector was kicked in the chest by a runaway horse and was nearly buried alive before his group realized he was merely knocked out. Nearby Emerald Lake was named in 1882 by Tom Wilson, who came upon it by accident after his horses escaped. It is likely that Europeans began frequenting the area at that point.
The park was established in October 1886 by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald as he traveled west on the newly completed railway. The railway itself was a success for the Prime Minister, as it had helped solidify Confederation.
It was only the second national park to be declared in the country, following Banff, and was named at the same time as Glacier National Park. It was originally named Mount Stephen Reserve but was renamed to Yoho in 1901.
The park, along with Banff, Jasper, and Kootenay, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984.
David Attenborough has said, “no one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced” and I couldn’t agree more. While there’s no doubt that social media, specifically Instagram, has led to certain outdoor spots being negatively impacted (overcrowded, vandalized, trashed, etc.), I choose to believe that social media, and the internet in general, can be a place where education and environmentalism can thrive. Online resources that include more information than just a geotag, like this blog post, allow for the outdoors to become more accessible, inclusive, and diverse. When people are immersed in the outdoors, they are more likely to become advocates for it—and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
When visiting these spots, following the Leave No Trace Principles are crucial to minimizing impacts when recreating outside. The principles are seven things that will help preserve the environment for generations to come. For example, it’s incredibly important to pack out what you pack in. This means taking all your garbage with you—including natural things like banana peels or apple cores. Even though they may decompose, it takes a long time (especially in colder temperatures) and it attracts animals. Check out the Leave No Trace Principles below:
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