Lake O'Hara: without a bus seat, only on foot
Parks Canada limits access. That protects the lake and makes planning the main task.
Lake O'Hara lies in a high valley of Yoho National Park in British Columbia, surrounded by hanging valleys and alpine lakes. To protect this sensitive area, Parks Canada manages access through reserved seats on its own bus: it runs from the Lake O’Hara parking lot on the Trans-Canada Highway 11 km (6.8 mi) up to the lake, in 2026 from 19 June to 4 October.
Day-use seats are allocated by random draw. For 2026, applications ran from 2 to 23 March; anything left over or cancelled afterwards can be booked as a standard reservation until 15:30 the day before.
If you do not get a seat, you may walk the 11 km (6.8 mi) access road: 22 km (13.7 mi) return, with food, water and bear spray. Cycling is not allowed on the road.
In numbers
- Bus, return
- 25.50 CAD per person
- Reservation
- 3.50 CAD online, 5.50 CAD by phone
- Lottery application
- 10 CAD, 2–23 March 2026
- Bus route
- 11 km (6.8 mi)
- Return on foot
- 22 km (13.7 mi)
- Parking lot from Lake Louise
- 12 km (7.5 mi) west
- Parking lot from Field
- 13 km (8.1 mi) east
- People per reservation
- maximum 6
- Campground
- 30 sites, maximum 3 nights
- Lake Oesa
- 3.2 km (2 mi), +240 m
