Lake O’Hara is a truly magical place hidden one valley over from Lake Louise in Yoho National Park. This hiker’s paradise has a network of interconnected trails to sparkling lakes, alpine meadows, larch forests, hanging valleys, and high alpine routes with sweeping vistas of the mountain landscape.
Carefully plan your trip as you can’t drive to the lake and shuttle reservations fill up quickly.
When? Higher elevation trails are snowbound until the end of June and traverse avalanche terrain. The best is July through September. In late July to early August are wildflowers and golden larches in late September.
Get there. 11-km dirt road with a shuttle bus that must be booked for 8:30 and 10:30 ahead of time. No vehicles or bikes are allowed on the road, so if you can’t book a bus ticket, your only option is to walk up the 11-km dirt road, which takes 3 to 4 hours one way and is mostly in the trees. Return at 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:30 pm
Sleep. I highly recommend staying at Lake O’Hara for several days to explore the trails. There are three accommodation options 1. The Lake O’Hara Lodge and Lakeshore Cabins cost from $945 to $1335 per night for two people (2024 prices). The Elizabeth Parker Hut
Operated by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) is booked via a lottery system in the summer. The Lake O’Hara Campground – 30-sites, has two kitchen shelters
Parks Canada maintains a network of world-class hiking trails around Lake O’Hara with clear signage and regular upkeep. I recommend picking up a trail map from the Le Relais day shelter.
The Lake O’Hara Lakeshore Trail
A flat 1 to 1.5 hours for the complete lakeshore loop.
Opabin Plateau 
The view of Mary Lake from the West Opabin Trail.
This hike leads to a high-hanging valley nestled between Yukness Mountain and Mount Schӓffer. The plateau has several crisscrossing trails through larch forests and several picturesque small lakes. The trail ends at Opabin Lake. Loop back down to Lake O’Hara via either the East or West Opabin trail. A short detour to Opabin Prospect affords epic views of Mary Lake and Lake O’Hara below. 4 hours round trip.
Lake Oesa
2-3 hours roundtrip and passes waterfalls and small lakes before ending at the serene Lake Oesa. Extend this hike either by looping around the Lake O’Hara lakeshore trail on the way down, or by combining Lake Oesa with Opabin Plateau via the Yukness Ledges Alpine Route.
Lake McArthur via Schӓffer Lake
Head southwest from the Le Relais day shelter through alpine meadows to McArthur Pass. Lake McArthur is the largest lake in the region with deep blue waters colored by glacial sediment. After you pass Schӓffer Lake, two different routes to Lake McArthur allow you to hike a small circuit to and from the lakeshore. Allow 3-4 hours round trip to visit Lake McArthur.
Odaray Highline
This trail splits off from the Schӓffer Lake trail just past the bridge by the lakeshore. The Odaray Highline trail takes you high above the trees to Odaray Grandview Prospect where you can catch an amazing bird’s eye view of the entire valley. 1.5 to 2 hours round-trip from the kiosk at McArthur Pass. Odaray and Lake McArthur can be combined to make a larger day trip.
The Big Larches Trail
The Schӓffer Lake Trail (left) and Big Larches Trail (right) in late September.
When visiting Schӓffer Lake, Lake McArthur, or Odaray, it’s worth taking the slightly longer scenic route back to O’Hara via the Big Larches Trail. This route is particularly magical in late September when the needles on the giant trees turn golden, The loop to Schӓffer Lake and McArthur Pass via the Alpine Meadow and Big Larches Trail is arguably one of the best golden larch hikes in the entire Canadian Rockies.
The Alpine Circuit
If you only have one day to visit Lake O’Hara and you’re a strong hiker, the Alpine Circuit is one of the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies. The route loops around Lake O’Hara high on the mountain slopes.
The entire route includes the Wiwaxy Gap and Huber Ledges, Lake Oesa, the Yukness Ledges, Opabin Plateau, the All Soul’s Alpine Route, and the Odaray Grandview Prospect. The full circuit takes at least 6 hours, but you can also pick and choose your adventure by hiking sections of the trail at a time.
Starting at Le Relais, cross the outlet bridge over Lake O’Hara and follow the lakeshore trail until the turnoff to the Wiwaxy Gap Alpine Route, the hardest section of the hike. At the windy Wiwaxy Gap you can take a break while overlooking the adjacent valley. From here the trail makes its way along the Huber Ledges to Lake Oesa.
The mostly flat Yukness Ledges then connect you to Opabin Plateau and afford more incredible views down onto Lake O’Hara along the way.
Follow the trail along the west side of Opabin Plateau to locate the amazing All Soul’s Alpine Route, where you’ll gain yet more elevation and look down on Lake O’Hara from the opposite side of the Valley. The Alpine Route then descends to Schӓffer Lake, where you can choose to return to Lake O’Hara or add on the Odaray Highline.
Looking back on Opabin Plateau from All Soul’s Prospect
Sleeping Poet’s Pool hidden high among the Yukness Ledges.
Yukness Mountain
Yukness Mountain is an exciting route for experienced scramblers. This is an unofficial trail and requires some route finding (look for the cairns). The trail begins by ascending the scree slope near Opabin Lake. Turn around or continue to either the north or south (true) summit.
The western view from Yukness Mountain
Hikers at the col of Yukness Mountain
Left: the view of Lake Oesa from the col. Right: The view of Mount Biddle from Yukness Mountain.
If you only have one day to visit, to the Alpine circuit, either from Oesa to Opabin, or on a day with good weather and trail conditions add on the Huber Ledges and All Soul’s Route. On day two, visit Lake McArthur and Odaray. If you have a third day, head North to Linda Lakes and Cathedral Prospect or scramble up Yukness Mountain if you have the gear and experience.
