Golden to Yoho National Park: An Easy & Beautiful Day with Kids

Yoho National Park is the perfect day trip from Golden, BC. Or it’s the perfect stop on your way from Golden to Banff. The drive from Golden to Yoho National Park is only about 25 minutes which makes it an easy spot for a quiet morning in nature, or helps break up the drive to Banff. We spent a beautiful morning in Yoho National Park with our kids and can’t wait to explore more here!

Disclosure : Some of my blog posts do contain affiliate links which means I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to make a purchase. Thanks for supporting me and helping me to continue to make free content on this platform!

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is absolutely incredible. If you’re looking for that bright blue water that Banff is known for but want less crowds, you need to visit Emerald Lake. We visited early in the morning and had almost no one else there. Another way to get some solitude at Emerald Lake is to take a walk around the lake. You can explore the Emerald Lake Lodge, which is a stunning bucket list stay. We can’t wait to stay here someday!

Total distance: Just a short walk to the lake from the parking lot, if you walk around the entire lake it is 3.2 miles (5.1 km) and 400 feet (122 m) of elevation.

You’ll also find a big parking lot here (although it does fill up mid day!), with bathrooms. Emerald Lake is less busy than Lake Louise, but you’re still going to want to visit early if you can.

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is located just down the road from Emerald Lake which makes it super easy to visit both on the same morning. It’s just right off the road, and you can see a raging river going under a, you guessed it, natural rock bridge. There is a bridge you can walk across for different viewpoints and it’s a fun stop in Yoho National Park with kids.

Since it’s right off the road, this stop could also be busy if you visit mid day. But adding this to your relaxing morning itinerary in Yoho would be perfect!

Yoho Visitor Center in Field, BC

You can end your relaxing morning in Yoho National Park by heading into the small town of Field. The National Park Visitor Center has a small souvenir shop, some wildlife displays, rangers to talk to, and more!

We also love getting our National Parks Passport stamped in each National Park we visit. We didn’t have a Canadian National Parks book, but used this one for the states and stamped the Rocky Mountain section. It’s a really fun tradition that we all look forward to when we visit a National Park.

Other Things to do in Yoho National Park

There are so many things to do in Yoho National Park. I’ve listed a few popular stops below. You could spend several days exploring this park or do a quick drive through on your way to Banff.

Quick Stops:

• Spiral Tunnels: A place where you can watch trains drive through tunnels in the mountain, a unique engineering feat.
• Wapta Falls: 3 mile roundtrip to reach a 328 ft wide beautiful waterfall!

Other Stops in Yoho:

• Takakkaw Falls: The second highest waterfall in Canada! Requires a 1.4 km hike to reach.
• Sherbrooke Lake: 5.8 mile roundtrip hike (1000 ft elevation) to a lake with incredible blue water and you can avoid the crowds at Lake Louise by coming here instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yoho National Park

Is Yoho Less Crowded than Banff?

Yoho National Park is definitely less crowded than Banff. You’ll still find a lot of visitors here, especially mid day on weekends. However, most people skip Yoho and head straight to Banff. So this is a good place to stop if you’re looking to see some incredible stops with less crowds.

Is Yoho Part of Banff National Park?

Yoho and Banff are two different Canadian National Parks. They are not part of each other. However, they are very close to each other so visiting both is well worth it for your Canadian National Parks trip.

What Town is Near Yoho National Park?

Field, British Columbia is a very small town (population of less than 200 people!) that is located inside Yoho National Park. There is a visitor center, a few restaurants, a gas station, and a few other places. If you’re looking for bigger towns, Yoho National Park is also near Golden, BC, Banff, Alberta, and Lake Louise, Alberta.

Can you Drive to Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park?

Yes! Emerald Lake is an easy drive from Golden, British Columbia (66 km), and Banff, Alberta (93 km). It’s a short drive off the main road and has a fairly big parking lot.

Yoho National Park or Banff?

Both! Yoho is a much smaller national park compared to Banff, so it’s worth a quick detour to see some of the highlights. It’s also a refreshing place to escape some crowds for a quiet morning.

Looking for other Canada adventures? Check out some of our other posts!

• Mount Revelstoke National Park with Kids
• Glacier National Park Canada: Best Hikes for Kids and 1 Day Itinerary
• 13 Fun Things to do in Golden, BC with Kids
• Is Golden, BC Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons You Need to Go!
• 15 Fun Things to do in Canmore with Kids

Happy travels! AND if you’re looking to plan an epic 7 Day Canadian Rockies Itinerary with your kids – we’ve got you covered with incredible hikes and all the best stops!