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We may not be objective when discussing it, but we spent the most magical night of our life here. From its shore, we enjoyed one of the most spectacular solar storms of the last decade in the form of Northern Lights dancing across the sky.
In this article, we present the complete guide of activities to do in Emerald Lake.
Table of Contents
WHERE THE EMERALD LAKE TURQUOISE COLOR COME FROM?
Undoubtedly Emerald Lake is the primary attraction of Yoho National Park. And, essentially, the blue and turquoise color is the principal reason to consider this lake as the jewel of the Canadian Rockies.
Most of the lakes that can be found in this area contain water originating from melting glaciers in nearby mountains. During winter the glaciers grow and shift. This motion induces abrasion in the rock created by the ice. The tiny fragments stripped from the rock are termed silt, and in spring, they are usually flushed away by meltwater forming what is known as glacial milk.
When arriving at the lakes, the silt does not settle on the bottom but it stays in suspension for an extended period, and when the sunlight hits the surface, we can see these distinctive colors.
Each glacial lake has a unique color, depending on the type of rock where the glacier is situated. The Emerald Lake has a bright green/turquoise blue hue.
BEST TIME TO VISIT EMERALD LAKE
To establish the optimum timing to visit Emerald Lake and observe its distinctive turquoise hue, you must account for when the lake begins to thaw after winter.
Emerald Lake is located at an elevation of 4265 feet, notably lower than other lakes in the Canadian Rockies. It usually thaws earlier than most of the lakes, between mid-May and early June.
It is crucial that the lake is thawed to fully appreciate its intense color. If you visit it too soon, even though it has melted, it may still lack adequate silt to view it at its maximum magnificence.
In contrast, over time, the silt of the lake settles, sinking to the bottom of the lake and losing the light reflection. If you go too late (after September), you may not see the turquoise hue.
In addition to occurring during the ideal time of the lake’s thawing cycle, you must consider the lighting. The sunnier the day, the more vivid the hue will be.
HOW TO GET TO EMERALD LAKE
Emerald Lake is situated in Yoho National Park, just 15 minutes from the principal town of the park known as Field which houses the visitor center. This information hub provides the Guide of hiking routes within Yoho National Park. Here you can see it attached. All the walking paths that may be taken from Emerald Lake are depicted in this guide.
To arrive at Emerald Lake, you can motor the Trans-Canada Highway for two hours from Calgary, where numerous commercial flights come daily.
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Another way to reach Emerald Lake is from Vancouver. Also taking the Trans-Canada Highway but in the opposite direction.
PARKING IN EMERALD LAKE
There are two parking areas in Emerald Lake. The initial one we located on the road heading to the lake, is exclusively for guests staying at the resort, the Emerald Lake Lodge.
If you are going to stay here, park your car in this parking lot and go to the cabin at the entrance. Once there, you will find a telephone so you can call the reception asking for the complimentary shuttle to pick you up. Do not try to walk; it’s too far.
If you only intend on visiting Emerald Lake for the day, you should plan on arriving early during the peak season. The parking area by the lake is quite compact. In the morning, during our visit towards the end of May, there were already vehicles waiting for a spot, so I can imagine finding a parking space in the midst of summer must be a genuine difficulty.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN EMERALD LAKE
Once arriving at the lake, whether using a car or the shuttle, the initial sight seen is the tiny island of the Emerald Lake Lodge connected to the shore by a miniature bridge.
From here we can already admire the intense color of the lake. In this section, we will provide you with all the activities available at Emerald Lake and its surroundings.
CANOE AND KAYAK RENTAL IN EMERALD LAKE
On the left side of the Emerald Lake bridge exists a compact souvenir boutique. Within this shop, in addition to selling various presents, they lease kayaks.
Renting the canoe for two people for an hour on Emerald Lake costs CAD 60. Though not inexpensive, it is worth it as the best means to truly appreciate the immense scale and natural beauty of Emerald Lake.
Emerald Lake is not just the prettiest, but it is also the largest body of water in Yoho. While we were not paddling the whole time, in an hour we did not have enough time to explore even half of the lake.
If renting the kayak for one hour, my counsel is to proceed to the center and from there simply savor the vivid colors surrounding you.
Walking AROUND THE LAKE – EMERALD LAKE TRAIL
Another way to experience the lake is simply circling the shoreline on foot. There is a very accessible and straightforward path, even for those using wheelchairs. The Emerald Lake Trail goes around the lake on a 3-mile route that you can complete in about two hours.
From this trail, you will have views both of the lake, as well as the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
Remember that in the springtime there is generally a tongue of ice and snow on the left side prompted by an avalanche. With the passing of summer it dissolves, but at the end of winter, it can be perilous to cross this region as it is anticipated that the avalanche occurs from one moment to the next.
When our group went there in May, the trail was partly concealed by a large mass of frozen water.
HAMILTON LAKE
This approximately 7.5 mile round trip hike is among the most challenging routes located within Yoho National Park. It involves an elevation gain of nearly 3000 feet through an unrelentingly steep incline. Wearing durable, high-top boots is essential to safeguard your ankles.
On the way, we will pass by the Hamilton Falls, just 0’6 miles from Emerald Lake and with hardly any elevation increase. From here the climb is steep until you reach the Hamilton Lake.
It generally takes around 3 hours to arrive at the lake, and from there you will have stunning views of Mount Vaux and Mount Goodsir. The best time to do this route is in July and August. In other months it is possible you will encounter snow and that the lake will still be frozen over.
EMERALD BASIN
Initially on this route starting from the northwest corner of Emerald Lake, the path is level and straight. However, at a certain point it turns left and quickly gains elevation of 492 feet.
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Once we leave the forest, the road smoothens out but is rockier than the previous path, until we reach a field of stones.
From here we will have incredible views of The President, Wapta Mountain, and Mt. Burgess mountains.
YOHO LAKE
Another route in Emerald Lake is known as Yoho Pass, which takes you to Yoho Lake.
Beyond the detour that initiated the Emerald Basin, the road again separates and crosses a rocky terrain with small streams that ultimately end up in Emerald Lake once passing the northern end of the lake.
Upon passing them, the trail leads to a mountainous slope until arriving at a small waterfall originating from melting snow.
Behind us, the Emerald Lake glimmered azure among the green pines as we left it behind.
In our case, traveling at the end of May, the road was difficult to follow because of the snowfall. Despite wearing microspikes, it was challenging to advance with the over 30 inches of snow that blanketed the trail.
It will require approximately 3 hours to arrive at Yoho Lake on a round trip traversing roughly 10 miles.
TAKAKKAW FALLS
From Yoho Lake, one can follow the route until reaching the Takakkaw falls. At only 1’8-mile, we were unable to complete the trek as snow cover increased further along the path.
These magnificent waterfalls are among the most impressive natural wonders located in Yoho National Park, so we plan to return soon to explore them further.
Takakkaw Falls can also be reached by road, along the Yoho Valley Road. However, it is usually closed until mid to late June.
BURGESS SHALE
One unique feature of Emerald Lake is the remarkable fossil remains found between two mountains bordering the lake, Mt Field and Wapta Mountain. Known as the Burgess Shale, it notably preserves not just skeletons but also soft tissues of many diverse ancient organisms.
To visit this locale, reservations for the guided group tour of 12 individuals that departs daily must be made. This activity is carried out from mid-July through September. The route is called Walcott Quarry, and costs CAD70.
The guide leading the excursion initiates their journey at the Takakkaw Falls before making the return trip to Emerald Lake by way of Yoho Lake. However, prior to fully descending the whole trail right down to the lake, they divert left to attain the fossil settlement. Some sections of the route present challenges, therefore it is prohibited for children under eight years of age. In total, the journey covers 13 miles completed within 11 hours involving an elevation gain of 2624 feet.
Additional facts and booking options for visits can be found on the national parks website.
ICELINE TRAIL
We will pass once more by Yoho Lake and the Takakkaw Falls, to embark on one of the most popular multi-day hiking routes in Yoho, the Iceline Trail, that passes through various glaciers.
To finish this hike you will require no less than two days, remaining overnight at the Stanley Mitchell Hut.
The simplest way to do this hike is by starting at the Takakkaw Falls (arriving by car). From here we will take the path that leads to the Laughing Falls and continues through the Yoho Valley. After 5’6 miles and an elevation of 1640 feet (approximately 4 hours), we will reach the refuge.
The following day we take the Iceline Trail, the primary route that goes to the base of the Vice President MT. After passing through Yoho Lake, we will continue the Yoho Pass descent until arriving at Emerald Lake. It will take approximately seven and a half hours to travel the eleven miles separating the lake and the hut, with an elevation change of thirty-two hundred eighty feet.
Another option would be to return directly to the Takakkaw Falls parking lot where we had previously left our vehicle, even though linking the Iceline Trail with the Yoho Pass trail in a single outing would make efficient use of both routes. Naturally, if traveling through Canada by automobile after arriving at Emerald Lake, we will need transportation assistance to get back to the Takakkaw Falls parking area to retrieve our car.
If travelers do not have two days to complete this route, then they must take the shortened Iceline via Celeste Lake, which cuts out much of the longer Iceline trail section leading to the refuge and misses all areas of Yoho and Emerald Lake but visits Celeste Lake. This 12-mile route with an elevation gain of 2624 feet can be completed in 6 hours, allowing one to return to the parking lot of the Takakkaw Falls.
NORTHERN LIGHTS AT EMERALD LAKE
It may be unfair to persuade you that observing Northern Lights at Emerald Lake is effortless. Opportunities to enjoy a substantial solar eruption (starting at KP5) to render them visible here are relatively low.
However, we witnessed the natural phenomenon, and it is not impossible. If you visit Emerald Lake and there happens to be a solar disturbance producing Northern Lights, we don’t want you to miss experiencing them only because you are unaware it is possible to see them in this location.
If you visit Emerald Lake or any place in the Canadian Rockies, check if there are probabilities to see the Aurora Borealis. We explain how In the prediction segment on this Guide to photographing Northern Lights.
WHERE TO STAY AT EMERALD LAKE
The optimal choice to remain would be at the Emerald Lake Lodge, inside the wooden huts located on the Emerald Lake island which is one of the top Northern Lights accommodations in Canada.
One thing that surprised us about this hotel is that the room decorations appear to still be the same since it opened in the 1980s. However, rather than making us feel like we were in an antiquated hotel, this fact allowed us to travel back in time, to when the Canadian Rockies were based solely on luxury tourism, available only to a select few who could enjoy this fantastic place.
In our cabin, we had a terrace overlooking the lake with a partial view emerging from the pine trees, a fireplace by the bed and a small bathroom.
You should also be aware that the accommodations lack Wireless Internet. If you want to link up, you should go to the reception or the restaurant.
Within the common areas, the Emerald Lake Lodge has a sauna, a hot tub and what I liked most, a huge and beautiful shared firepit. Additionally, the hotel supplies chocolates and marshmallows that you can roast over the fire.
We only remained one night at this lodging since the cost was extremely high, even with a low-season reduction it was approximately $230 per night.
Based on our experience, it is advisable to stay at the Emerald Lake Lodge at minimum one time during your travels. For us, this lodge offers the top accommodation option while exploring Yoho National Park.
WHERE TO EAT IN EMERALD LAKE
The Emerald Lake Lodge restaurants are not only the best places to eat in Emerald Lake, but I would state in the Canadian Rockies.
After many days camping and eating freeze-dried provisions, enjoying a good dinner was reinvigorating.
The primary restaurant is known as Mount Burgess Dining Room, and it is accessible all year. The Cilantro Restaurant only opens during the summer months.
We enjoyed dinner one evening at the first restaurant, and while the prices were somewhat high, the food was delicious.
However, the banana French Toasts at breakfast were our favorite part. You cannot miss them.
WHERE TO TAKE THE 5 BEST PICS OF EMERALD LAKE
The following are five excellent photographs you should try to capture at Emerald Lake
- Emerald Lake when viewed from the center at noon
- The rising of the sun was seen from the bridge leading to Emerald Lake Lodge.
- Sunset from the right shoreline of the Emerald Lake
- Sunrise from the canoe rental house
- A view of Emerald Lake from the trail heading towards Yoho Pass kept the central idea.
EMERALD LAKE MAP
To finish this guide of things to do in the Emerald Lake we attached below a map with all the places of interest mentioned and the hiking routes marked in different colors.
If you want to use this map of the Emerald Lake area on your mobile and without internet:
- Download the Mapswithme app on your mobile device.
- Access and save the subsequent KML file in your Dropbox.
- Open the Dropbox file on your mobile device, receiving a dialog to select opening with the Mapswithme app (Maps.me).
And with that, you are fully prepared! Now you have all the routes conveniently accessible on your mobile device even without a network connection in the landscapes surrounding Emerald Lake.
