Yoho National Park
After our smokey arrival in Golden, we crossed our fingers the next days when we drove up the Kicking Horse Pass to climb to Yoho National Park. Up high there was still some slight foggy mist in the sky but not enough to hide the magnificent mountains to us. Phewww.
We also gazed in amazement to the huge infrastructure works going on in the renewal and doubling of the pass which closes the TransCanada highway many nights, of which I follow the progress also on FB.
We only planned to visit Yoho National Park and not go into Banff National Park or Jasper, although this park is relatively small compared to its more famous neighbours. We drove immediately to the almost furthest parking lot before we'd cross the provincial / park border and stopped at the Spiral Tunnels.
Spiral Tunnels
Just like previous visits, we were totally lucky to find a train passing through the tunnels and in the right directions so we could first admire it in the lower spiral tunnels and later in the upper spiral tunnels. We explained the children the history of the Canadian railroads, that are at the base of forming a country and forming the national parks, the steep grades through the Rockies that caused so many accidents and how spiral tunnels in the rocks made the railroad longer but less steep and hence safer.
Then we observed with many other tourists the enormous long train which passed at our feet, went in the tunnel visible at a distance and at the same time came out of the tunnel higher up a bit further. You can spot the same train at 3 spots which is sort of mind boggling.
Takkakaw Falls & Yoho valley
The main reason we'd only explore Yoho National Park today is that we had the Yoho valley on our must-visit list. This valley only opens up from mid-June to mid-October and it was the first time in 25 years that we visited Canada in summer again. So finally we could go admire Canada's highest falls again, and we had the time to do some more exploring of the valley behind.
We took the hair pin road up just before the big crowds arrived as we took some of the last parking spots. After a short hike we could enjoy the very cold mist of the big falls, that were much bigger than 25 years ago in September. They must be so impressive to see in the Spring when the melting water of the above ice fields increases the fall to a massive water dump. Unfortunately, we could not spot the Daly Glaciar on top that feeds the Takkakaw Falls, something I've been able to do in the past. I fear his size has been reduced too much in the mean time :(.
We walked to some intermediate falls just before the more difficult hike in the direction of the Yoho Glacier would start.
Unfortunately, Emerald Lake also has its fame and all parking spots a few kms from the parking were already taken. It took us a while of circling to secure a spot at quite of bit of walking along the access road to be able to visit. But it's worth it.
We took the full hike around the lake...something most tourists are not up to and therefore we could avoid the tourists just stumbling around at the entrance point of the lake near the tourist shop and the hotel. The views on the opposite side where the creek from Emerald Glacier meanders down the valley into the lake is great. We noticed that here is a connecting pass to hike from Emerald Lake across a pass towards the Takkakaw Falls. Sounds like something for a bucket list one day.
(you can compare with the 2019 version, as well as the Emerald Lake pictures etc...)
Comments
Had je niet gezegd dat jullie op een minder "scenic" parking zaten te eten, ik had het nooit gemerkt. Was daar ook de moeite waard :-)
Die eerste twee foto's van de bergen vind ik erg mooi.
En die waterval, indrukwekkend. Wij waren gisteren bij de watervallen van Coo, pfff, al een heel stuk minder indrukwekkend. Je kan daar dus nergens bij om ze deftig te fotograferen. Beetje frustrerend.
Yoho is minder bekend, maar voor Emerald Lake hebben we dus 2 km langs de weg gestapt want dichter parkeren lukte niet. Maar ja, al die toeristen staan dan op de eerste aanlegsteiger foto's te nemen, maar als je wandeling van 5-8km start, ben je wel al snel alleen. Vele vele luie toeristen dus. Instagramfoto toeristen. Ik vrees wel dat Yoho binnen enkele jaren ook niet meer zo spontaan te bezoeken zal zijn. In elk geval is vroeg zijn de boodschap. Of in de winter gaan, maar Yoho valley is dan niet open dus.
die minder scenic parking: dat is echt de parking van de tourist info langs de highway. Je ziet dat vijvertje, met de weg erachter. Het zit gesqueezed tussen highway (met vijvertje), de rivier en de spoorweg. Daarachter ligt dan het dorpje. Maar zoals je zei: we zaten daar prima met alle voorzieningen die we nodig hadden. 'k heb de parking vol geparkeerde auto's wel niet getrokken en gepost natuurlijk, enkel ons zicht op de rivier en de bergen. De bergen zijn alom rondom jou, dus je kan in feite nergens "fout" zitten.
ha, ze zouden in Coo ook red chairs moeten zetten op een goeie viewpoint eh. Dat is dus in elk nationaal park in Canada: op de beste landmarks staan die rode stoelen. Het is een soort spelletje om op zoek te gaan naar de rode stoelen. Ik zag onlangs een vacature voor Red Chair coordinator bij Parks Canada. Ha, zalig!
(ook omdat ik geen doekje meehad om mijn lens te drogen, dat is mijn eigen schuld, maar dan nog, dan moet je ook aanschuiven tussen de mensen die daar persé selfies willen maken).
Hehe.