A Guide to Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, Canada
Are you planning a road trip across British Columbia, Canada? Visit Takakkaw Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Yoho National Park. This Takakkaw Falls travel guide includes tips on how to get there, trail description, where to park, campgrounds, and where to stay.
Takakkaw Falls are stunning waterfalls in Yoho National Park, and this natural attraction is well worth the drive to a side road and a short detour from the Trans-Canada Highway.
There are many beautiful places in the Canadian Rockies, and Takakkaw Falls is one of them.
In fact, Takakkaw Falls are the second-highest waterfalls in Canada after Della Falls on Vancouver Island, which is certainly a point that should persuade you to visit this place.
Yoho National Park is often overlooked by many first-time visitors who plan the trip to the Canadian Rockies as they usually focus on more popular places in Banff NP and Jasper NP.
However, due to easy accessibility by car and a large number of must-visit attractions, Yoho NP is not an off-the-beaten-path destination anymore.
And Takakkaw Falls are one of the most famous places in the area, so don't expect to have this location just for yourself.
Takakkaw Falls are very different from the best falls along the iconic Icefields Parkway, such as Athabasca Falls or Sunwapta Falls, which we had seen earlier during our vacation.
The falls are very high, and there is quite a lot of mist and spray as you are getting closer.
The first impression of the falls was excellent, the scenery stunning, and we had a great time at Takakkaw Falls. We were glad that we incorporated these falls into our Canadian Rockies itinerary.
In this guide, we aim to give you an overall view of our Takakkaw Falls visit, and hopefully, we'll inspire you to include Takakkaw Falls in your schedule as, according to our experience, they are worth your time.
TAKAKKAW FALLS FACTS
Together with Emerald Lake and Lake O'Hara, Takakkaw Falls are among the best natural attractions in Yoho National Park.
And unlike Lake O'Hara, which requires a lot of patience with the bus reservations, Takakkaw Falls are accessible for everyone.
In the Cree language, Takakkaw means 'wonderful'. In our opinion, that's a pretty accurate name for these falls.
Takakkaw Falls is one of the most prominent waterfalls in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada.
The Takakkaw waterfall is 384 meters in height and has two drops.
The lower waterfall is more impressive as it plunges approximately 254 meters before hitting the rocks at the base.
The views are fantastic, and you can see the falls through the trees, even from the parking lot.
TAKAKKAW FALLS HIKE
However, the best way to explore Takakkaw Falls is by getting as close as possible.
A nice flat trail will take you to the bridge, where you can safely cross the icy cold looking river. If you ask how long is the trail to Takakkaw Falls, we have good news.
It is only 1.3 kilometers long in and out path, so this activity is available for every type of traveler.
As we approached the waterfalls on a well-maintained trail, we could feel the impressive power and ferocity of the mass of water dropping over the bedrock ledge to great depths.
If you're a waterfall lover, you already know this description results in a small problem. You might want to put on a rain jacket or rain poncho because of the spray as you are getting closer.
This really depends on many factors such as the current volume of water flowing through the falls, or wind direction, however, don't leave your waterproof jacket in the car; bring it with you.
Takakkaw Falls are easily accessible from the parking lot, meaning that the waterfalls are very popular and busy, especially in the high season.
The Takakkaw Falls trail is very well-maintained, making it perfect even for families with small kids or people with mobility issues, as this is one of the easiest hikes in Yoho National Park. Honestly, this is just a pleasant walk.
If you are short on time and still want to explore the best of this charming national park, Takakkaw Falls is a great choice.
The upper cascade is not very visible from the valley floor, and you would need to get to a higher vantage point in order to get a better view.
On the other side of the valley, you will find the trailhead to Iceline Trail, which is a demanding day hike.
This path will offer you better views of the upper part of Takakkaw Falls plus one of the finest sceneries in Yoho National Park.
As it was getting late, we drove back to Trans-Canada Highway only to realize that both campsites at the main highway are full, so we decided to keep driving to try our luck and continued to Lake Louise (the direction we wanted to go anyway).
The huge Lake Louise campground was unsurprisingly full too.
However, a nice lady at the entrance booth took pity on us and allowed us to share a campsite with a solo biker, potentially saving us from a very expensive night at one of the local hotels.
After a long day on the road, we were pretty tired, so we quickly pitched a tent, had some nourishing beans for dinner and fell asleep as fast as possible.
If you plan on camping in the area, it is necessary to know that same as hotels, campgrounds book out quickly as it is the most popular choice among budget and RV travelers.
Therefore, make your reservation as soon as possible, if camping is your preferred type of lodging.
Our plans for the next day in Banff National Park were made, visit Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and hike the Plain of Six Glaciers.
BEST TIME TO VISIT TAKAKKAW FALLS
Takakkaw Falls are also somewhat famous year-round with climbers who are brave enough to tackle this Yoho's attraction. Did we say year-round?
Oh, Takakkaw falls freeze in winter, and it's possible to do the ice climb, though this is a pretty rare activity as it requires a lot of skill and experience.
We visited the falls in September and actually saw a pair of climbers near the top of the lower fall. That was a pretty nerve-wracking sight, even in late summer and from the safety of the valley floor.
The best time to visit Takakkaw Falls is probably in early summer, as a glacial lake feeds the falls a hundred meters up the mountain, and the volume of water is at its maximum.
However, thanks to the height, the waterfall is stunning even in the summer and autumn, although it is less impressive from October till December because of the lack of water.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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HOW TO GET TO TAKAKKAW FALLS
Takakkaw Falls are about 30 minutes drive from Field, which is the nearest town to the falls.
In case you will drive from Lake Louise, follow Highway 1 and turn onto Yoho Valley Road just before reaching Field township.
The journey is about 38 kilometers long and should take you about 40 minutes.
However, this is without any stops along the way, and believe us when we say that the road across Yoho Valley is very scenic.
As we traveled along this route, we took several photo stops along the way while admiring Yoho National Park's beautiful scenery.
Bear in mind that the Yoho Valley Road is open seasonally from late June to mid-October, though this depends on snowfall, so it is always worth it to have a backup plan.
There are a couple of switchbacks on this road, which are quite tight and steep, probably not very good for large RVs.
Said that we saw some big motorhomes in the parking lot, so it's probably doable (but might be risky). It was perfectly ok in our rental Dodge Durango.
When planning a trip to Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, consider renting a car.
There is no public transportation, so the only option to get to Takakkaw Falls without a car is with an organized tour such as this Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Tour from Banff.
Another popular tour also departs from Banff, Yoho National Park and Grizzly Bear Refuge Tour.
TAKAKKAW FALLS IN WINTER
The Yoho Valley Road is open in winter for cross-country skiing, and access is possible beyond the switchbacks in winter.
However, you need proper gear, skills, avalanche training, and experience due to avalanche risk.
That means you can visit Takakkaw Falls in winter, and Parks Canada recommends having avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe, and snow shovel.
WHERE TO STAY IN YOHO NATIONAL PARK
Accommodation in the Canadian Rockies doesn't come cheap. On top of that, hotels fill up quickly in high season, which means you should make a reservation well in advance.
Like several months in advance, at least if you want to stay at the place of your choice.
A slightly different approach is to stay in Golden, a town not heavily impacted by mass tourism outside the national parks. When backpacking or traveling on a budget, you might want to consider camping.
Thankfully, there are many campgrounds in Yoho National Park. The car-accessible front country campgrounds are reservable through the busy summer season.
We've handpicked the best accommodation option in the locations you can consider for the stay either before or after visiting Takakkaw Falls.
Takakkaw Falls | Cathedral Mountain Lodge - This is the nearest lodge to Takakkaw Falls. Cathedral Mountain Lodge is located in the Kicking Horse Valley, about 30 minutes drive from the falls. Nice cabins offer antique furniture, a stone fireplace, spacious bathrooms, and balconies with mountain views.
Yoho National Park | Emerald Lake Lodge - Located on Emerald Lake's shores in the heart of Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake Lodge offers a hard-to-beat location, rooms with wood-burning fireplaces, an outdoor hot tub, and three restaurants. This accommodation is all about the setting and worth the extra expense. Keep in mind that this hotel is located on a different road than Takakkaw Falls. This is the road that will take you to Emerald Lake. Use GPS navigation to get there quickly and safely.
Lake Louise | Lake Louise Inn - Located in a premier location, Lake Louise Inn is one of the best hotels in Lake Louise for the price. This hotel features an indoor pool, hot tubs, a cozy lounge, and two onsite restaurants. Rooms are newly renovated, suites and apartments include a fireplace and balcony.
Golden | Best Western Mountainview Inn - Located in Golden off the Trans-Canada Highway, this hotel features free Wi-Fi, an indoor swimming pool, air-conditioned rooms, comfortable beds, and a great complimentary breakfast.
CAMPGROUNDS
Camping in the Canadian Rockies is an incredible experience. There are three front-country campgrounds in Yoho National Park near Takakkaw Falls.
Kicking Horse Campground and Monarch Campground are located very close to each other, just off the Trans-Canada Highway.
Kicking Horse is a slightly better campground, but Monarch is just fine too.
The first time we visited Takakkaw Falls, a few campsites at Kicking Horse were available. The next time, however, the campground was full, and we had to drive to Lake Louise.
Kicking Horse Campground is the only campground in Yoho National Park you can reserve your spot in advance. Make the reservation directly at the official website to secure your spot.
However, camping is also available at Takakkaw Falls. With 35 sites, Takakkaw Falls Campground is a small first come, first serve campsite about ten minutes walk from the waterfall.
Make sure to self-register upon your arrival; rangers check the campsites daily.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
