Conni – 07-25-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB roundtrip to Yoho National Park, B.C.
Today we ventured back past Lake Louise to go into Yoho National Park in southeastern British Columbia. This park is also in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is along the western slope of the Continental Divide. Yoho is named for the Cree word for awe and wonder. Appropriately named, I’d say.



Map showing Yoho National Park just across the border from
Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Our first side-trip took us to the convergence of the Kicking Horse River and the Yoho River.

Up the same road is Takakkaw Falls, which plunges 1246 ft., with 833 ft. free- fall. It is the second highest waterfall in Canada. I took about a 20 minute hike to get closer to the falls. After taking my pictures and then a short drive to the dead-end of the road, I discovered I could have walked from there in about 5 minutes and had the same pictures. Go figure, eh? (Where did she pick up that 'eh' business? mes)

Takakkaw Falls

Takakkaw Falls

The view across the road from where the pictures of the falls were taken. Looking at the road below,
you can see the jeep where Mary and Sadie are waiting.

Flowers along the road, in the valleys and alpine meadows were beautiful. Even though it is August, it looks like spring in the mountains.

We stopped for lunch in the small town of Field, B.C., right beside the Kicking Horse River. The people in the small café were extra friendly and most came out to say “hi” to Sadie.

Field, BC

Look closely at the tower and you'll see the holes
made by the pileated woodpeckers.

Little restaurant in Field, BC

Sadie on her bed under the table

Conni and Sadie

Next we went to Emerald Lake. We’ve been there several times in the past and it was always a vivid emerald color. Today was not, for some reason?

Canoes on Emerald Lake



The little red dots in the foreground are people

Emerald Lake

Our last stop in the park was at Natural Bridge. This is so beautiful and hard to capture in single pictures. It is an impressive natural rock formation that spans the Kicking Horse River. A powerful reminder how much influence water has in shaping the landscape.

Mary taking a picture with Sadie in her belly pack