Yoho National Park in British Columbia is often a side trip from nearby Banff National Park, at least it was for me. After my visit there, I know that the next time I visit the Canadian Rockies, Yoho will more than just a side trip. The main attraction in the park is Emerald Lake which is the largest of the 61 lakes that are contained within it's borders. The lake is surrounded by the mountains of the President Range, as well as Mount Burgess and Wapta Mountain. The lake derives it's name from the color of the water which is most vivid in the summer. Due to its high altitude, the lake is frozen from November until June.
Emerald Tranquility
Many people travel to the Canadian Rockies in western Alberta to experience the wonderful national parks, namely Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Traveling north on the Icefields Parkway (which connects the two national parks), there is a fabulous side trip (or even overnight stay) that many do not know about or visit, namely Yoho National Park in British Columbia. To reach Yoho, take Route 1 west just north of Lake Louise from Alberta into British Columbia. Not knowing what to expect, we came upon Emerald Lake and were blown away by Yoho’s largest lake. We spent the afternoon there having lunch and strolling around the lake. As you can see, the beautiful emerald water is to die for. Definitely a place to spend more time on on our next visit.