While it’s not uncommon knowledge that Yoho National Park in the BC Rockies is home to one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls, its slightly more obscure knowledge that it is also home to one of the largest, both in volume and width.
At spectacular Wapta Falls on the Kicking Horse River a whopping 96 cubic metres per second of water rushes over a rocky ledge about 100 feet wide. Impressive is not only the power and scale of the waterfall, but also the beautiful turquoise colour of the glacial water above and below the powerful cascade. As the powerful water has eroded away at the rock, it’s left behind an island of harder more resistant rock that the water now flows behind and around. Climbing the slippery trail up this island allows hikers to get face-to-face with this awesome waterfall without needing to go swimming. (That said, the spray from Wapta Falls is enough that it won’t take long at all to get soaked regardless.)
The hike to Wapta Falls is fairly straightforward, and pretty much follows a straight and flat line from the parking lot to a viewpoint overlooking Wapta Falls. From here the trail somewhat steeply descends to the Kicking Horse River below the falls, from which point one can get as close to the falls as one feels comfortable.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Wapta Falls hike in Yoho for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
Note: The Wapta Falls hike 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 Wapta Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Wapta Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 8.3 KM / 5.2 MI
Elevation Gain: 250 M / 820 FT
Hiking Time: 2-2.5 HRS
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. Bear spray is a must whenever travelling in bear country, as well as learning how to use it. Though your chance of an aggressive bear encounter is low, it is always better to be prepared with bear spray. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike to Wapta Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Wapta Falls
Glacial-fed Wapta Falls flows tremendously and never dries up, but in spring when melting snow feeds the Kicking Horse River the waterfall is naturally at its most dramatic. That said, those same high water levels in spring spread the river out making it impossible to walk to the island without having to wade through the river. Personally I suggest visiting Wapta Falls later in the year when the waterfall is still impressive but the lower viewpoint of the waterfall is more accessible.
The Wapta Falls hike is also popular in winter when the waterfall freezes beautifully, but as with any winter hike ice spikes and correct layers are necessary.
How to Get to Wapta Falls Trailhead
Wapta Falls is located in Yoho National Park, 45 minutes from Lake Louise and an hour twenty minutes from Banff, or half an hour from Golden. The trailhead is located in the western end of the park not far from the highway, and the drive through the park to get there from Banff is spectacular. From the trans-Canada highway turn south on the not-super-well-signed dirt road that continues down for one and a half kilometres to the Wapta Falls parking lot. This road is closed in winter, adding an extra three kilometres to the total hike distance.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Wapta Falls
The trail for Wapta Falls sets out from the corner of the small parking lot.
For the first while the trail heads in a direct line without any change in elevation.
The trail does get a little rooty and especially if hiking in spring it can be muddy as well.
The first opportunity to look down on spectacular Wapta Falls below. After this point the trail proceeds downwards, eventually reaching the base of the falls.
The view of Wapta Falls from above.
The trail forks. I highly suggest heading left. Though it’s a little steeper than continuing straight, it offers an additional viewpoint of the falls on the way down. In winter I would continue straight though to avoid the steepest section of trail.
Another fantastic viewpoint along the way.
The trail heads down steeply to the base of the falls.
Staying on the main trail as it winds down here, and avoiding the shortcuts.
The walk from the base of the trail across the muddy riverbed to the island is easy as when the water level is low (as seen here) the river flows only on the other side of the island. In spring however, when the water level is high, the entire riverbed is filled up making travel to the island more difficult (and wetter.)
Still turquoise pools are all that remain of the course of the river earlier in the year. To the left of the island you can see where the river pours over when the water is high enough.
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 hiking to Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.