Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park is a unique and fascinating natural formation. The bridge is formed by the erosion of the limestone rock by the rushing waters of the Kicking Horse River behind what was once a more standard waterfall. Over time, the constant flow of water over thousands of years wore away at the rock, creating a hole in the limestone behind the falls. As the hole grew larger, the river began to flow through it, creating the tunnel that we see today. The result is a beautiful and unique natural structure that is truly one of a kind, and is a must-see when visiting Yoho National Park.
Natural Bridge is only a minute walk from the parking lot, and is best viewed from the bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River just downstream of the unique waterfall. Not far from the town of Field and on the same road as Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge is a short stop that is low on effort but high on reward.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Natural Bridge in Yoho for yourself, including how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
Note: Natural Bridge is located in Yoho National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Day passes can be purchased at the park gates and are per day per person, but if you’re staying a week or longer, it’s more cost-effective to just buy an annual pass instead.
Before visiting Yoho National Park it’s essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Natural Bridge as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
When to Visit Natural Bridge
Like many waterfalls in the Rockies, Natural Bridge is at the most dramatic in spring. Melting snow and recent rainfall mean that the water level is at its highest, and the waterfalls at their most dramatic. The more water in the Kicking Horse River, the more powerfully it will punch through the right space that makes the Natural Bridge. That said, the Kicking Horse river does flow well year round and there’s no chance of being disappointed by a dry waterfall. Read on to learn about visiting Natural Bridge during winter.
Natural Bridge in Winter
As beautiful as the powder-blue water of Natural Bridge is in summer, the experience of visiting this Yoho attraction is only more magical in the winter. With ice spikes it’s possible to walk onto the frozen Kicking Horse River and view Natural Bridge from below, when the roaring waterfall turns to ice. Plenty of caution is required though, as it is very slippery, and it’s important to make sure the ice is thoroughly frozen. Once spring and temperatures above freezing arrive, the ice slowly weakens and starts to melt, making Natural Bridge very unsafe to visit. The already-melting ice has broken under the weight of vistors, sending them into the dangerously cold water. If you get swept further downstream under the ice, you die. Only attempt to walk on the ice during winter when the river is completely frozen.
How to Get to Natural Bridge
The parking lot for Natural Bridge is located just past the town of Field in Yoho National Park, and is an hour from Banff, just under half an hour from Lake Louise, or 45 minutes from Golden. Just west of Field a small road turns off from the Highway 1, initially paralleling it before following the Kicking Horse River downstream. After 2.5 kilometres the road reaches the parking lot for Natural Bridge before continuing on to Emerald Lake another 7 kilometres away. From the parking lot the path to the river is clearly visible.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
The best (and safest) view is from the large bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River.
A less safe view looking down at the rushing waters below.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.