How to Visit Lake O’Hara: Everything You Need to Know About Hiking and Camping (2024)

Lake O’Hara is a stunning place in British Columbia, Canada, and is nicknamed a “Hiker’s Paradise” because really, the only thing to do while visiting Lake O’Hara is hiking! This is for good reason though, because there are SO MANY beautiful hikes here.

I have visited Lake O’Hara twice in the past, and plan to visit even more in the future! My first visit to Lake O’hara was in July, and my second time exploring Lake O’Hara was in September. Both times were so beautiful – it is one of my favourite places in the Canadian Rockies!

In this article, I will share everything you need to know about visiting, hiking, and camping at Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada!

Lake O’Hara at a Glance and Where is it?

Lake O’Hara is a hiking and camping area in Yoho National Park, in British Columbia, Canada. It is only accessible by bus or walking in (public vehicles and bikes are not allowed on the road to Lake O’Hara). There are quite a few hiking trails at Lake O’Hara, as well as a campground and a luxury lodge.

The Lake O’Hara Parking Lot (where you park before the road closes) is around a 15 minute drive from Lake Louise, Alberta and around 13 minutes from Field, BC.

What is the Best Time to Visit Lake O’Hara?

Lake O’Hara hiking trails typically open mid-June until early October. This year, the shuttle bus is running June 21st – October 6, 2023.

For warm weather and limited snow, I would recommend visiting in July and August!

For beautiful fall colours, mid-September – October is your best bet!

How Long to Spend at Lake O’Hara

If you are really interested in hiking, I would recommend spending as much time as you can at Lake O’Hara! Campers are allowed to reserve up to 3 nights at the campground. However, due to its popularity, it can be very hard to score even 1 night here.

If you can only spend 1 day at Lake O’Hara, it will be incredible. But of course, the more the merrier!

How do I Get to Lake O’Hara?

There are two ways to get to Lake O’Hara, both options start at the Lake O’Hara parking lot: take the bus or walk 11km in and out. The road is not open to public vehicles or bikes, so you cannot drive or bike in.

1. Lake O’Hara Bus Reservations

There is a bus service that transports visitors from the Lake O’Hara parking lot to the main area where all of the hiking trails begin. A spot on the bus is included in a campground reservation (more on camping further down). The rest of the spots on the bus can be reserved on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

Camping reservations open on January 25th, 2024 at 8am.

If you just wanted to visit Lake O’Hara on a daytrip, you can try to get a spot on the shuttle bus into Lake O’Hara! To score a spot on the bus, you can put your name in the lottery draw between March 11th, 2024 and March 31st 2024. They will then randomly draw winners for spots on the day shuttle. The shuttle bus runs from June 21 to October 6, 2024.

In the past, visitors could also try to wait standby at the bus, to see if there happens to be any empty spaces on the bus. If you were lucky and there was a spot available, you could pay $10 in cash for a ride in (this doesn’t guarantee a ride out). I’m not sure if they will be accepting standby visitors for the 2024 season.

If you were waiting standby and there was no space, you could choose not to go, or you could choose to hike in. If you waited standby to get into Lake O’Hara, you would also have to wait standby for the shuttle out (and be prepared to hike out).

Cost for the bus:

To ride the shuttle for a day trip to Lake O’Hara, it costs $24/person (roundtrip) and an $11.50 booking fee. The lottery to try to score a spot on the day shuttle is open between March 11th and 31st, 2024.

If you are able to book a campsite (reservations open January 25th at 8am), the cost of the bus is included in your camping reservation, and your spot on the bus is guaranteed.

Bus Schedule

The bus runs at specific times each day. You’ll be booked for a specific time so make sure not to miss your reservation (arrive at least 30 minutes early).

Bus Times in for campers: 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 5:30 PM (reservations required)

When making your camping reservation online, you’ll be able to choose morning bus or afternoon bus. Make sure to check your backcountry permit with the confirmation of your bus time in.

Bus Times in for day-trip: 8;30AM | 10:30AM (reservations required)

Bus Times Out: 9:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 4:30 PM | 6:30 PM

Other Things to Know About the Lake O’Hara Bus

• You don’t need to book a bus out if you are camping, you will get a token on the way in as your “return ticket”.
• Only pack what you can carry – there are guidelines and you can only bring 1 large bag or 2 small bags, per person when camping. (I brought 1 big hiking backpack and my tent).
• Be early, because if you miss the bus, you don’t get a new spot!

2. Hiking into Lake O’Hara

If you can’t score a spot on the bus, your only other option is to walk the 11km fire road in. It can be done, as I met a couple of hikers who had done it on the days I was visiting. The general consensus was it took 2.5-3 hours to hike the road one way. Because the road is a fire road, the entire view is just trees, so it’s not scenic, but it’ll get you to the trailhead for incredible hikes!

Tip: If you hike in, you can try to wait standby to see if there is any space for you on the bus out. Make sure to have cash though (as they only accept cash), and double check the cost of the bus before leaving to make sure you have enough. You can do this through the Parks Canada website, or by calling Parks Canada.

Where to Stay at Lake O’Hara?

Most visitors to Lake O’Hara try to stay overnight in order to hike as much as possible. If you are hoping to stay at Lake O’Hara, there are three options: 

1 . Lake O’Hara Lodge

The Lake O’Hara Lodge is stunning. There are beautiful small lodges right on the water’s edge of Lake O’Hara for incredible views everywhere you look. The Lodge also offers cabins that are nestled into the forest near the Lake for a little more privacy and a more “wild” feeling. Staying here can get a little pricey though, but I can see why because it is amazing. 

2. The Elizabeth Parker Hut

The Elizabeth Parker Hut is a hut run by the Alpine Club of Canada and can be extremely hard to get. Booking the hut operates off of a lottery system. Meaning you have to win a lottery draw in order to stay here. I met a hiker while I was visiting Lake O’Hara and he told me had finally won a spot at the lodge after trying for 6 years – so if your name gets picked then consider yourself incredibly lucky!

3. Lake O’Hara Campground

There is a campground at Lake O’Hara and this is the BEST way to visit the area. Camping overnight will allow you to spend so much more time hiking and absorbing the beauty this place has to offer, and give you the time to rest afterwards as well.

The Lake O’Hara Campground is open June 21st – October 5th in 2024.

Camping at Lake O’Hara has been one of my favourite things to do in the Canadian Rockies. It is truly a hiker’s paradise and is one of the most stunning places I’ve been lucky enough to explore.

Lake O’Hara Campground Facilities

The campground has everything you need for a great stay! There are about 30 camping sites at Lake O’Hara campground.

The tent sites are nice and spread out and quite big. You are only allowed one tent per site, and you are not allowed hammocks or chairs, so don’t try to squish those into your bags. 

There are pit toilets (that are the nicest pit toilets I’ve used), and two communal sinks outside the washroom. At these sinks, you can wash your hands, brush your teeth, use them for cooking. The water is potable so you can fill your water here as well. 

Each site gets a bear locker to store their food & any smelly products in (toothpaste, sunscreen…). 

There is a bear-proof shelter where you can store any extra bags as well. It is essentially a building for bag storage that is never locked, so use your discretion (we just stored our half empty bags in there so they didn’t take up space in the tent.

There are quite a few picnic tables as well and there is one large communal fire pit, firewood, and axes provided. 

There are two cooking shelters at the Lake O’Hara campground.

Although not at the campground, there is a shelter that is about a 10 minute walk from the campground, and is closer to the actual lake, called Le Relais. Here, you can purchase snacks, their famous carrot cake, drinks, and souvenirs. They only take cash so make sure to bring cash with you! 

How to Book the Lake O’Hara Campground

The Lake O’Hara Campground Reservations open online through the Parks Canada Website, usually in late January for the upcoming summer.

In 2024, Lake O’Hara Campground Reservations open on January 25th at 8am.

There are about 30 sites in the campground, and it can be very tough to snag a site. You’ll have to be patient, fast, and flexible when trying to score a campsite here.

My best tip is to have your Parks Canada account ready a couple of days before booking opens, and be logged on at least 5 minutes before reservations start (don’t log on right when it opens at 8am).

Parks Canada has implemented an “online queue system”, which puts visitors to the site in a “waiting room” before booking starts at 8am. Once the clock strikes 8am, visitors will be randomly placed in the queue and when it’s your turn it will bring you to the site to book.

If you log on at or after 8am, you will be put at the back of the line for booking.

In previous years, I have been in the waiting room and have been placed around number 16,000 in line – so make sure to get in the waiting room for your best chance, but also make sure to be flexible because you never know how many will be booking ahead of you.

It doesn’t really matter what site you book, as long as you book one. Once you get to the campground, a Parks Canada guide will do an introduction and you’ll choose your actual campsite when you arrive.

What if I Don’t Get a Campsite When Bookings Open?

If you aren’t able to book a site at the campground the day bookings open, don’t panic! My biggest tip would be to watch for cancellations online and snap them up as soon as you see them. Check Parks Canada whenever you have time and keep your eye out for them. I have scored sites this way and it is such a great feeling! 

Otherwise, the only way you can guarantee seeing Lake O’Hara, is trying to book a spot on the bus in and doing a day trip, or planning to hike the fire road that leads to Lake O’Hara (in and out, 11km both ways).

Lake O’Hara Campground Fees

• $13.50/person/night for a campsite
• $11.50 online reservation fee (non-refundable)
• Your shuttle bus ticket is included in your camp fee!
• Park Fee – There is a fee for visiting Yoho National Park (where Lake O’Hara is located). You can pay per day ($11/adult), or buy a year-long Discovery pass that is valid for any Canadian National Park ($72.25/adult or $151.25). I would visit the Yoho National Park Visitor’s Centre to pay this before parking at the Lake O’Hara parking lot.

What to Bring Camping at Lake O’Hara

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Sleeping pad
• Tent (allowed up to a 4-person tent)
• Stove, fuel, and any cooking utensils or equipment you may need
• Food and snacks
• Water bottle (there is potable water at the campground)
• Garbage bags to pack out trash
• Bearspray
• Clothes
• Headlamp/flashlight
• Camping permit
• Toiletries
• Cash for Le Relais Day Use Shelter

Other Lake O’Hara Camping Information

• They try to limit bags because there is limited space on buses, they recommend 2 smaller bags per person or one larger bag. I saw people with huuuge bags and they weren’t really sticking to the limit. So don’t panic, but do your best to stay as close to the limit as possible (don’t haul your coolers, grills, bags, loose tents, etc., try to stay compact).
• Download offline maps to use – there is no cell service at Lake O’Hara.
• If you want to save phone battery, you can purchase the Lake O’Hara trail map from any visitor center (Banff, Yoho, etc.) or at Le Relais Day Shelter when you arrive. This was SO HELPFUL! It helps you while on the trail if you find yourself lost or wondering which way to go. It has descriptions about each trail to help you choose which trails to do, and it was just so handy to have. It costs around $5, so why not! 
• Everyone there is SUPER FRIENDLY – talk with others you see, say hello, and don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations about hikes!
• Be respectful of this place and use Leave No Trace Principles. The reason Lake O’Hara is so hard to get to and visitors are so limited, is to keep the area clean, pristine, and preserved. It is already so hard to get here, don’t ruin it for future visitors. Use garbage cans, pack out what you pack in, don’t go off trail, and just be a good person.
• You are in bear country! There are bears around! Don’t depend on other people to be prepared for your safety – you are responsible for you.

Le Relais Day Use Shelter

One of my favourite things about the Lake O’Hara are is the Le Relais Day Use Shelter. It is almost like a concession where you can buy snacks and souvenirs!

They carry things like pop, iced coffee, popsicles, chocolate, postcards, stickers, and their famous carrot cake!

Le Relais only accepts cash – so make sure to bring enough before arriving (there are no ATMs at Lake O’Hara).

I love to stop at Le Relais after an amazing hike for a delicious treat!

What Other Gear do I Need for Lake O’Hara?

• Bring cash for Le Relais – a shelter where you can buy snacks, souvenirs and find out any information you may need about Lake O’Hara.
• Your camera!
• Enough food, and snacks & a way to prepare them (jet boil, etc.).
• Water bottle – There is typically potable water at the campsite.
• Appropriate clothing (jacket, hiking shoes, sunscreen, bug spray…) and extra clothing in case it rains.
• Your swimsuit – you can swim at Lake O’Hara, the lodge even has a dock you can jump off of (but it’s chilly!).
• Backcountry camping gear if you are staying overnight (see camping section above).
• I recommend purchasing the GemTrek Trails Map from the Yoho National Park Visitors Center or from Le Relais once you arrive at Lake O’Hara – it was so useful and is only $5.
• Bear spray – you are responsible for your own safety!

Lake O’Hara Hiking

There are a lot of amazing hiking trails to explore in Lake O’Hara. Most of them are short and are very manageable – you could do more than one in a day (depending on fitness level). 

Some of the more popular hikes include: 

Lake O’Hara Shoreline Trail

The shoreline trail is basically a hiking trail that runs along the shores of Lake O’Hara. This hike is very easy and you’ll probably end up hiking most of it just by doing other hikes in the area, as most hikes leave from somewhere along the shoreline trail. 

Opabin Prospect & The Opabin Circuit (my personal favourite hike)

The Opabin prospect is probably the most famous hike at Lake O’Hara. It is the one featured all over Instagram and for good reason. It is stunning. This is one of my favourite hikes of all time. I recommend starting on the West Shoreline Trail, hiking up West Opabin, hiking to the Prospect, then descending through East Opabin, and completing your hike along the East Shoreline Trail. 

If you have extra time or extra ambition, you can extend this hike even more and make a stop at Opabin Lake.

Lake McArthur Trail

The Lake McArthur Trail is a great hike leading to beautiful Lake McArthur, which takes around 3 hours to accomplish. This trail also connects to a lot of other, larger trails, which is perfect if you are looking to extend your hike for a longer day. 

Lake Oesa Trail

Lake Oesa is a highly recommended hike that leads to a beautiful lake nestled in the mountains, where you can have a picnic, swim (it’s glacier fed and cold), or just hang out! The hike to Lake Oesa takes around 3 hours, so it is a perfect hike to do if you are hoping to finish two hikes in one day. 

The Alpine Circuit

11 km | 887m elevation gain | ~ 5 hours

The Alpine Circuit is one of the longer hiking trails at Lake O’Hara, that essentially is a loop around the area. This circuit has amazing views of Lake O’Hara and it’s valley, and is typically considered challenging.

Parks Canada has more information on trails here.

Other Practical Information for Visiting Lake O’Hara

• If you are taking the bus in for camping, there is a baggage limit (2 small bags or 1 large bag per person).
• There is no service at Lake O’Hara – so download whatever you need offline before arriving.
• Le Relais does not sell water bottles, so bring your own water bottle.
• You can fill your water bottle at the campsite (even if you’re not staying there).
• Le Relais only accepts cash.
• You need a valid National Parks Pass on any vehicle that is stopping in Yoho National Park. So, if you are parking at the Lake O’Hara Parking Lot, you need to have a visible & valid National Parks Pass. You can purchase these in Field, BC at the Yoho National Park Visitor Center.
• Be bear safe and bring bearspray!

Resources That May be Helpful:

• Lake O’Hara Trails Club
• Lake O’Hara Lodge
• Elizabeth Parker Hut
• Parks Canada & Yoho National Park
• AllTrails Hiking Site

Lake O’Hara FAQ

Lake O’Hara Summary

I have been visiting and exploring the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia every summer for just over 10 years, and Lake O’Hara continues to be one of my favourite places to explore time and time again. I would highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance, as there is something for all budgets (from camping, to the luxury Lake O’Hara lodge).

Apply for your spot on the day-bus with the lottery system between March 11th and March 31st, 2024 or reserve your campsite on January 25th, 2024.

Make sure to bring your camera, cash for Le Relais, and enough food and snacks for the duration of your stay.

There is no cell service at Lake O’Hara, so make sure to be prepared with whatever you need before leaving, and be sure to purchase your Yoho National Park pass before parking and getting on the bus (can be bought at the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre).

Be prepared to be blown away by beauty when visiting Lake O’Hara!

Please message me on Instagram any other questions you have, and I’ll do my best to help you out.

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More Articles on the Rockies:

• Banff National Park Bucketlist
• 24 Things to do in Jasper National Park

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