A bunch of board games, a guitar, and wood burning fireplace make this place quite cozy at night and you’re sure to make new friends! Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park - Hiking route - British Columbia. Takakkaw is pronounced “TACK-a-kah”, now you can spend the hike practising. on the Whaleback section of the trail. On a previous trip to the Iceline, we hiked the 21 km trail over two days, camping at Little Yoho Valley. There were two relatively distinct trails at the top of the Whaleback. I was willing just for a drink. You can make this longer or shorter depending on your energy. Route: Iceline Trail via Little Yoho (23) Date: September 21, 2015 Distance: 20 km Duration: 8 h 10 min Peak: 2252 m Gain: 889 m. Takakkaw Falls to Laughing Falls Camp (5 km) Misty Takakkaw Falls from the trailhead. It was slow going and full of switchbacks. The trail, starting near Takakkaw Falls, climbs to and traverses a high bench with inspiring views of the glacier clad summits towering above the Yoho and Little Yoho Valleys. Inside I couldn’t help but smile at how the boot was now on the other foot. DIFFICULT 12.5 mi. This was the first hike that I had done that was this high up. But you’ll miss some of the wonderful scenery further up the Iceline Trail. With the hut it’s an easy intro to overnight trips! Great for beginners and experienced hikers alike, the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park is one of the premier hikes in Western Canada. After maybe 90 minutes we had broken through the tree line and making our way along the ridge line. These falls are the second highest in Western Canada. This will help us keep this report accurate for other hikers: pc.yohoinfo-infoyoho.pc@canada.ca. Parks Canada has a pretty good map of the area here although from our experience, distances didn’t seem to be completely accurate. As we came out of the trees we felt the nip in the air. Stop and take a couple pictures to enjoy the scene. Back. For experienced backpackers, this hut is a nice little piece of luxury. Two round the world travellers and our guide for adding a little zen to your adventures. Little Yoho National Park of Canada is located just outside of the small town of Field, BC, and not far from the ski resort of Lake Louise in Alberta. Let’s work together to keep Yoho National Park safe.. Share your trail pictures with us! Strong hikers may access the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park via Goodsir Pass in Yoho. Before the steep descent to the Yoho Valley trail, continue a short distance for a view of the Iceline Trail, pictured at the top of this post. 1 Reviews of Iceline / Little Yoho Valley Loop "A great scenic route with very accessible trails. The Iceline hike is a wonderful trail up past tree line to and along a ridge presenting beautiful vistas across the Yoho Valley of Takakkaw Falls as fast-receding glaciers teeter above you. If you’re one of those crazy speedy hikers or a trail runner it is possible to do both sections in one (very long) day but we take no responsibility for your sore feet! I was never going to win this one. We camped overnight at Laughing Falls. Falling 384m (1,260 feet) in total from the Daly glacier and Waputik Icefield. Aug 21, 2014. We couldn’t see it on the trail so we only really noticed it when we saw a break from the forest to the side. Yes, it’s definitely a great hike and worth the effort. If doing the trail clockwise as we did, one goes left (northwest) towards the top of Twin Falls and I assume the other goes straight down to Yoho Valley and the parking lot. The Iceline Trail starts from Takakkaw Falls in the heart of Yoho National Park. RVs and trailers are not permitted due to steep switchbacks.” Cell Reception: Only once in the alpine. We had some nice chats but didn’t really get to know each other for too long. So once we had gotten over the hurdle of pace we were all good, apart from my farting, which was not much appreciated. We had already taken in a couple of smaller hikes that would take a morning or an afternoon but now it was time for an all dayer. Thanks so much! Weather: Weather can change quickly in the Rocky Mountains. Never underestimate how cold it can get at night in the Rockies, even during the heat of summer! If you visit Yoho National Park or hike the Iceline Trail tell us about it in the comments or send us a picture. Noteably, the distance for the last portion of the Iceline Trail to Stanley Mitchell Hut seemed to be mixed up with the distance to Celeste Lake Junction from Stanley Mitchell Hut (5km). So we took on the Iceline trail via Little Yoho. When you connect, state that you are “In an emergency in Yoho National Park and require Warden Service” Water: Pack enough water and know where you can refill along the trail. Despite this being a perfect spot to stay, we still had a few hours drive back to the house. “I can, but I don’t want to” I say. Yoho’s Iceline Trail e can be done any time in the summer or fall but keep in mind Yoho Valley Road is closed to vehicle traffic from early October through late June due to avalanche risk. This version would be a 17km day, starting from either the Whiskey Jack Hostel or Yoho Valley going through the Celeste Lake junction (see our Iceline Trail Map at the end of the post). A couple minutes after crossing the bridge over Twin Falls, you’ll come to a cliff edge where you can admire the falls and gain some perspective on the height you still have to lose. There was a family there already taking shelter and we managed to find some room in the porch area to settle in and hope for the rain to pass. When you curve around The President, you'll descend a little into the forest of Little Yoho Valley. There would have been nowhere really to take shelter and so we were exposed to whatever the sky had to offer. We’d love to hear your story! Drop off your packs and walk in a bit closer for a view (and misting) from the waterfall. Prepare: Last but not least, research the area. Travel advice, stories, and inspiration! Translated from Cree, Takakkaw means “it is magnificent”. To the north we could see the sky getting darker. Share this report on: Due to its tendency to become a bit of an oven on sunny, summer days, you'll want a healthy supply of water and good sun protection. RVs and trailers are not permitted due to steep switchbacks.” Cell Reception: Only once in the alpine. Parking here can be tricky in the middle of the day, but if you’re patient a spot will open up. As an aside, Field is a quaint mountain village of about 200 people. It’s consistently found on “best of” lists and delivered! It was built between 1908-1928 as a stop for trail ride tours and was designated a national historic site in 1992 for it’s role promoting tourism in Yoho National Park’s early days. At the top of the Whaleback we admired the view of the Yoho Valley’s peaks and glaciers while having a snack and checking over the Yoho National Park Trial Map. Pack a bit of extra food in the event you need to spend more time than anticipated on the mountain. To get to Yoho National Park from Calgary (the nearest major city) drive West on Highway 1 for about 2.5 hours. The Iceline Trail starts from Takakkaw Falls in the heart of Yoho National Park. We had to take (Aug.2, 2007) the longer loop via Little Yoho Valley as the bridge just near where the Celeste Lake Trail meets the Little Yoho Trail … Parks Canada has an excellent page on safety which you should read before entering the backcountry. Twin Falls. Alas this wasn’t the case. Cutting downhill through the forest via switchbacks, the trail passed another junction with the Marpole Lake Trail about a half mile after the Celeste Lake Trail junction; here, I once again stayed on the Little Yoho Valley Trail to head towards Laughing Falls and the Takakkaw Falls Trailhead. The next 2km is the main elevation gain for the day so take heart that the rest of the trip is steadily downhill. Equipment: Ensure that you have enough food (including fuel), water, and the appropriate equipment for your trip. Despite the beauty, it was a little torture. The hike follows remnants of the Emerald Glacier and with the majority of it is above treeline you’ll be treated to stupendous views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. It wasn’t long after we (I) wolfed down our lunch to decide to push on. Our day two  was  a longer 20km trek, but we figured with the weight savings of no tent or cooking gear and the elevation gain out of the way we could make good time. The Iceline hike is a wonderful trail up past tree line to and along a ridge presenting beautiful vistas across the Yoho Valley of Takakkaw Falls as fast-receding glaciers teeter above you. Right along the river, it looked like a nice place to camp but our weary legs carried on for the remaining 4km to the parking lot. We had opted to spend the night at the Stanley Mitchell Hut (And by “opted” I mean it was the only option that wasn’t booked solid) where we met a few other groups, including a guided group out of New York, which represents a testament to the world class beauty of the Iceline Trail. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The trail, starting near Takakkaw Falls, climbs to and traverses a high bench with inspiring views of the glacier clad summits towering above the Yoho and Little Yoho Valleys. It had pretty much come out of nowhere. Shared By: This would be a good place to spend a night if you’re looking to break the trail up into three days (either the first night or the last night). It is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Banff or one hour from Golden. The beginning of the trail climbs through forest and steadily gains elevation, quickly putting you above treeline. Share Bookmark My Map Print GPX KML ... Of Banff via Trans Canada Highway west to theTakakkaw Falls- junction in Yoho National Park, 4 km east of Fields. When hiking you are responsible to take care of yourself and assistance may not be nearby. “Relax, we have all day, there’s no need to rush”. Not quite the answer she continued ahead until we reach the trail head. There's a backcountry campground here if you wish to explore the area more before you… on the Whaleback section of the trail. We took on some water and it was at this point that we switched and Loz took the lead. It was a 20.8 k route which by no means unmanageable, but also not a walk in the park either, such as with Emerald Lake. Takakkaw Falls Campground via Iceline Trail. Last year we had to turn back on this hike due to a huge amount of snow and no ability to find the trail. We came to a natural resting point when we joined an old couple taking a breather and trying to peek through the trees. Iceline – one of the top Yoho National Park hikes. Starting from Takakkaw Falls, one of tallest in Canada, it goes up to follow the lower edge of several glaciers. Luckily the people that we saw from 1k away had already gone so we had it to ourselves for a while. Retailers also sell bells but those have been proven to be ineffective and may actually make the bear curious, so save your money. Beginning at Takakkaw Falls, we headed up Yoho Valley. I think we both agreed that we had our thirst for hiking adventures quenched as well. I am always cautious about the water I drink from streams so I wasn’t so sure about drinking direct from the river. The tail was pretty clear as it was rather well trodden, which made things much easier as the trail markers (ribbons) were not too easy to spot, wrapped around rocks by our feet. Here we were, on top of a mountain with all the fresh-air and space we could ever need, and my guffs would float down wind and find a way straight up Loz’ nostrils. Download its GPS track and follow the route on a map. We saw some silhouette figures at the top and there was no question that we weren’t going to join them. We carried along the ridge. Day Trip: summit the Iceline Trail and return on the same route for a 13km there and back hike. 9. The trail to the Stanley Mitchell Hut is roughly 11km, so with a relatively short distance ahead of us,  we figured we could make up for our late start. Although we were happy to have stopped we got cold pretty quickly. Pack a first aid kit and know how to use it. The next day we’ll hike out via the Whaleback. Like Little Yoho Campground, the Stanley Mitchell Hut is placed well to break up the Iceline and Whaleback portions of the trip. Check out the Alpine Club of Canada’s website for more info. Following signs for Iceline via Little Yoho loop, the run started off on a runnable gravel path. Also, it can be done in both directions, starting at the Whiskey Jack Hostel or Takakkaw Falls Campground. It was a 20.8 k route which by no means unmanageable, but also not a walk in the park either, such as with Emerald Lake . Even though you may be tired from the journey, it’s worth the effort. Nearby Hiking Trails. Alternatively, use a filter or purchase tablets to treat the water. This is one of Yoho National Park’s premier backpacking trails. Record your own itinerary from the Wikiloc app, upload the trail and share it … Mount Carnarvon Loop. Takakkaw Falls is only the beginning! Twin Falls is worth the extra effort. Cancellations often come available last minute so keep an eye on it if your dates are already taken. With a soft smile, I did remind her that this is exactly what she was doing earlier at the car park and on the other hikes, but they were different, apparently. “Scottie! My water had run out a couple of hours ago. Essential information about the Iceline Trail Getting to the Iceline Trail. 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