Lake O'Hara Hike, Yoho NP

On this day I hiked into Lake O'Hara via the Cattaract Brook trail - 14km in for 3:30 hours.
I hiked out ont he road and it was much faster - 11km out 5 km/h.

On this day (August 1st) I had my hopes up. The sky was clearing at the Kicking Horse campground so I quickly drove to lake Louise at 6:30am to see what conditions were like there. Unfortunately it was overcast with very low clouds and you could not see the end of the lake. I stayed for almost an hour before giving up.


8:20am - The Cattaract Brook trail, to Lake O'Hara, is not maintained!
8:47am - The Trail is a bit confusing, now I am crossing river and heading the right way.
9:15am - Finally, out of the forest with some views - then back into forest.
10:49am - I'm crossing Linda Lake trail, lake pictures Morning Glory lakes 1940m elevation
It is really confusing - I figured it was a walk down valley to lake -> NOT
11:45am - at Cabins
12:05pm - Finally - lake O'Hara, lunch break
12:20pm - walk along lake, 2034m elevation
12:40pm - heading back
3pm - at car,

Notes

  1. The Cattaract Brook trail is not maintained. There is some deadfall (August 2002) and the bridges should last a few more years - but some of the logs in marshy sections are breaking although the bridges were all firm.
  2. Buy the offical trail maps for this. The Mountain Parks flier map is incorrect at best and misleading as can be. According to the map you'd think that if you just hiked down the valley you would find Lake O'Hara. In reality once you hit the first small lakes - you still have an hour to go!
  3. Bus rides in must be book - a long time in advance. But the hike in is not band and you'd still be able to do a lot of hiking.
  4. Apparently you can take the bus out for free - just drop by the info center.
  5. My guess is that the best views of Lake O'Hara and the valley are from higher up - on a trail going to one of the other lakes.

(c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel

Morning Glory lakes


(c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel

Ahh - my first signs that I may actually be getting to Lake O'Hara. Until this point I had seen not another hiker, nor any signs of hikers, cabins, road or anything!
(c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel

Lake O'Hara

Finally - my first view of Lake O'Hara. The many yellow parked buses mar the view though.
(c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel

Did I mention that the hike out along the road is boring as can be! Obsecured in the distance is Paget Peak; a scramble I did the day before.
(c)2002 Eric Praetzel (c)2002 Eric Praetzel

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