This hike is listed on a number of local websites and tourist brochures, and after talking to…read moresomeone at a visitor information center, my husband and I decided to try it out. All the descriptions list this hike as "easy", and as someone who is in pretty good shape but not an experienced hiker, I would have described this trail as being of "moderate" difficulty. The area is a little remote, and I would have felt more comfortable with bear spray or bear bells to scare off any locals. There is a small parking lot in the area, and the trail is located at the wooden trailhead sign (not the wider vehicle path heading into the forest in the opposite direction). The trail is steep and narrow in a number of sections, so much so that I wondered if we had the wrong trail at one point, and in one area the trail snakes along side of a slope with a fairly significant drop on one side and a sharp upslope on the other. Good hiking shoes are highly recommended for extra traction and stability. That being said, the views of the falls at the end are spectacular. The waterfall is roaring, powerful, and totally awesome. The return trip took us just about two hours, with about 15 minutes at the falls themselves. It's a great shorter hike, and only 20 minutes from Radium Hot Springs.

Busy stop, located just off the road with about 1mi total trail length to check out all if the…read moreviewing spots. We spent about 2hrs here, a bit longer than we initially planned. Large parking lot & plenty of restrooms. This one is definitely worth a stop.

Marble Canyon is one of the popular activity spots within Kootenay National Park. It's located 7…read morekilometers southwest from the entrance border, on the righthand side of the road. Marble Canyon is easy to navigate about. It's simply a 30 minute self-guiding roundtrip walk along a clear cut dirt pathway passing into and out of canyon ravines. There'll be a bunch of bridges and viewpoints for you to stand above the canyon floor watching the Kootenay River zigzag in between the narrow gorge passageways. I wasn't totally impressed with the sights here and looking among Marble Canyon. In fact, initially, I kind of felt like this place was a waste of time in comparison to the other wonderful sights situated around Banff...the park beside this, Kootenay NP. But...as the hiking pathway climbed higher and higher towards the top, I discovered a few cool instances where I was gazing out onto the snowcapped mountainous backdrop. It was then I realized how beautiful the setting was. Next thing, I got my camera stand out and started snapping photogenic moments from this upper portion of the trail, before finally returning back down to the start. So...I wasn't really enthused by the sights of Marble Canyon's rugged walls hovering over the Kootenay River. It was only until I ventured up to the pinnacle of the hike where I had an epiphone realization that Marble Canyon may not be so great, but taking a long term outlook and perspective made Kootenay NP marvelous in its own right. I recommend that you come to Marble Canyon and complete the entire 30-minute roundtrip trail. Make sure to be on the lookout for the snowcapped peaks standing high and mighty in the backdrop. That's the real winning aspect. It'll certainly give you a liberating sense of freedom that I was feeling in the moment. Lastly, what's great about this eastern portion of Kootenay NP is that all the worthwhile attractions are located here. Just 4 kilometers before Marble Canyon is Stanley Glacier Trail, a moderate hike good for taking in some undisturbed views. And, just 3 kilometers past Marble Canyon are the Paint Pots, a muddy walkway but terrific for arriving at colorful hot springs' pools. Reflecting back and thinking about this whole beginning area of Kootenay, it's really where you'll discover your best and most memorable moments. I enjoyed it all.

Same thought with Peyto Lake; too many tourons that only want an Instagram picture and climbing…read moreover railings and acting a fool. 3rd world country stuff here. If you take the trail off the beaten path, you can hike for miles without another person and get some peace and quiet to yourself! The overlook is a 2/5 for me, the trail is a 5/5!

This is a scenic and attractive lake with an entrancing deep turquoise color. It is conveniently…read morelocated right off of the Icefields Parkway about halfway between Banff and the Columbia Icefield, so there's really no excuse for not stopping for a view. There are actually two parking levels and only tour buses are allowed on the top level closer to the Kodak viewing lookout. Private cars need to park on the lower level and folks need to do a modest hike upward to the lookout. This lake is fed by a receding Peyto glacier that is in view also. We saw quite a few lakes on this trip, but they are all worth seeing and all spectacular in their own individual way, and this one was no different in that regards.

We had an amazing time visiting sites in Kootenay National Park while staying in Radium Hot Springs…read morefor a week. The is such a picturesque part of British Colombia, Canada. Our first stop was Olive Lake. A gorgeous green-blue body of water. A short trail from the parking lot. Our next stop was Paint Pots. Such a cool experience. We've never seen anything like it before. The colorful, iron-rich pools were so cool to see up close. The boardwalk to the paint pots was picturesque too. There are many stops and viewpoints along highway 93. Be sure to stop at the ranger station to get your park pass ($14/day) and map of all stops along the route. Most stops have restrooms available as well. Overall a must while visiting British Colombia, Canada. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this area and would highly recommend.

Rumor had it that Kootenay National Park was, perhaps, the most underrated of the National Parks in…read morethe area. I'm all for supporting the underdogs (& avoiding the crowds). Compared to Banff, Kootenay was empty & there are plenty of bodies of Gatorade-like waters. We enjoyed the wide open spaces and the non-touristy vibe of the park. On our Stanley Glacier Hike, we only saw 3 other sets of people... no shoulder bumping or shuttles needed here. We opted for the annual family/group pass, a great value if you're spending a week or so in any combination of the parks &/or may come back. (& we will come back... already planning it)

Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is a wonderful alternative for canoeing if the boathouses at…read moreLake Louise and Moraine Lake get too busy. What really stands out is the value; the canoe rental rates are significantly more affordable here than at the other major lakes. The staff that operates the boat house and the attached gift shop were wonderful, incredibly friendly, and helpful. While the lake is certainly less crowded than its more famous neighbors, parking can still a challenge. Expect to spend around an extra 20 minutes to park, and be prepared to walk a short distance from your spot to the water's edge. Once you're there, it's well worth the effort. There are also several beautiful, easy-to-moderate trails circling the lake to explore the scenery on foot after your paddle. Cilantro on the Lake restaurant can get busy, but The Window walk up food counter is quick, and perfect for grabbing some food for a picnic in the canoe. Highly recommended for a more relaxed and less crowded scenic mountain experience!

I go to see three beautiful lakes on my first day in Banff National Park. Our last stop was at…read moreEmerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Yoho National Park is one of the four contiguous national parks in Canada's Rocky Mountains. Emerald Lake is a freshwater lake near the town of Golden. The lake has a emerald green color to it and is enclosed by mountains of the President Range. I had a nice time here. I did some of the hiking trials and saw a little bit of wildlife along the way. This lake is less crowed than Louise and Moraine lakes which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the views while hiking and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. I grabbed lunch at the Cilantro on the Lake restaurant before heading out. There are canoe rentals at Emerald Lake if you want to get out on the water.

Johnston Canyon may be a bit of a hike but it truly is magical. The trails are accessible for most…read morehikers and lead you to the canyon, over bridges with rushing turquoise water underneath. The Upper Falls is worth the extra kms of trail and the sounds of the powerful falls enraptures you. I love that it's challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment but still manageable for a casual day trip. It's busy during peak summer, but the views are worth it.

Just stopped here while on a tour with Vancouver Journey. We only hiked to the lower falls and in…read morethe snow/ice it takes about an hour to walk there and back. ~350 ft of elevation gain per my Apple Watch. Beautiful icy sights in late March. Definitely wear crampons! Wish we had more time to see the upper falls.

Even though my trip to Canada mostly cantered around Banff, my tour bus did take us into Yoho…read moreNational Park for a part of the day. Yoho is the smallest of the four contiguous national parks. The other ones are Jasper, Kootenay and Banff National Parks. Yoho is an interesting name for a National Park and comes from the Cree language. It means "awe and wonder". After a stop at Lake Louise and Moraine, we ended up finishing our day at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. One of the things that I enjoyed about this park and lake was that it was less crowded than Banff and the other two popular lakes. I ended up walking the nature trail around beautiful deep-green Emerald Lake. I enjoyed the views and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. Sadly, Emerald Lake was the only area of Yoho National Park that I was able to explore. Hopefully I am able to see other areas like Takakkaw and Wapta Falls, Lake O'Hara and the Natural Bridge next trip.

After spending most of our week stay exploring Banff and Kootenay National Park's, we decided to…read morecheck out Yoho as well. We stayed at a timeshare in Radium Hot Springs, which was a perfect central location for exploring all three! Yoho was less busy than Banff and Kootenay, which we appreciated after almost a week of crowded stops. Our drive up to Golden was gorgeous in the Fall. We then headed over to Field, to visit Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake. Both were gorgeous! We even had lunch at The Emerald Lake Lodge during our visit. You can rent canoes on Emerald Lake. It's cheaper and less crowded than the more popular Lake Louise in Banff National Park. We also stopped to visit Natural Bridge. The glacial blue water was absolutely beautiful. My husband enjoyed the Spiral Tunnels stop more than I did. He found all the placards interesting. It would have been cool to see a train enter or exit the tunnel, but it didn't happen during our visit. Overall, we enjoyed our time here. It was much more relaxing than the busier ones. Don't sell this national park short. If you have extra time, it's definitely worth a visit!

This is a top notch national park. Not huge, but plenty of trails to walk on. Very friendly…read morerangers. Limited interpretive content. Great scenery, especially plant life. Not as crowded as other national parks in area. A place worth checking out.

Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada! I believe hiking to Miller and Eva Lakes are the two…read moreprimary focal points for experiencing this beautiful, yet under the radar park. To arrive at them, you must drive the Meadows in the Sky road about 26 kilometers or 16 miles up to the summit area parking lot. After you exit your car... - Hike 5.5 kilometers or 3.5 miles to reach Miller Lake. - Then hike another 8/10th's of a kilometer or 1/2 mile to get to Eva Lake. Either way, the two lakes pair perfectly together. You can't go to one and not visit the other, lol. Along the way on the trail, it's not really elevated. You mostly descend down a dirt pathway into an alpine bowl of trees and shrubberies within the forest. It's a pleasant setting among nature. And it wasn't hot or cold along the way when I hiked in late June. The conditions were perfect. Miller Lake and Eva Lake are both similar in that they offer some of the most untouched, undisturbed surroundings you can encounter, anywhere! The reflections in the waters are pristine, symmetrical, masterpiece works of art!! Here were some of the differences between the two lakes... According to what I noticed, you can't walk around Miller Lake. There's a giant boulder you can stand upon and get 360 views. Basically, there's not much maneuverability to capture that ideal photo moment. Whereas at Eva Lake, you walk around the entire lake as it's bigger and offers more of a playful area in nature to enjoy the scenic sights. Eva Lake is more open in terms of landscape. There are panoramic vista point views of the mountains in the background as you stroll the perimeter of the lake. So...Eva Lake gives you the best of both worlds. Miller Lake sort of sits in an enclosed lower bowl tier and when I stopped by, the sun was partially hidden by the forest growth and hindered some sensational picture instances. At Eva Lake, there were benches afforded to hikers to sit down on. Also, visitors were swimming in Eva Lake as well. In total, with hiking to and from the lakes and spending brief time at each of them and with driving back down Revelstoke Mountain, the entire experience took 7 hours. Btw, back at the trailhead for Miller and Eva Lakes, you have Fire Lookout House which is a unique landmark worthy of exploring for a little. Fire House Lookout appeared to be a popular destination among visitors. Right next to Fire Lookout House is Heather Lake...another charming lake with some green coloring to it and perfect reflections of alpine trees glistening off the waters. Both Fire Lookout and Heather Lake are within the heart of Mount Revelstoke activity so you're not really going out of your way to see more sights after the moderately difficult Miller and Eva Lakes Trail. Lastly, for those with a real sense of adventure, next to Miller and Eva Lakes is a continuous pathway for 4 more kilometers or 2.5 miles to Jade Lakes, but I skipped it so I don't know how it appeared. If I had an assumption, I'd say Jade Lakes would be worthwhile as well. Just thinking off my head at this moment, Jade Lakes may have snow covering on the trail year round. This is my impromptu thought, but I'd inquire with park rangers before trekking to Jade Lakes and setting off for the day. Mount Revelstoke National Park! No one has talked about it, but if you're a parks fan and lover of nature...I would certainly suggest paying a visit here and you'll be rewarded with quality time spent in the great outdoors.