Private guided hike at Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park
A Lake O'Hara guided hike is a private, full day in one of the most protected alpine areas of the Canadian Rockies, for up to five guests and led by an ACMG-certified hiking guide. Access is limited and never guaranteed, so dates are requested first and confirmed with you once we have them.
- Private, 1–5 guests
- June to September
- Gentle to advanced routes
- $1,000 CAD per day, flat rate
Fewer people, quieter trails, more time to look around
Lake O'Hara sits in a high basin of glacial lakes, hanging valleys and ridgelines, and Parks Canada keeps daily visitor numbers low to protect it. That is what makes a day here feel different from the busier lakes nearby.
Your guide plans the day with you and adjusts it as you go, considering pace, elevation and conditions, so it feels balanced and rewarding with safety always first. Routes range from introductory lakeside walking to committing alpine terrain, so first-time and experienced hikers can both enjoy it.
Groups are capped at five guests, which keeps the day private, attentive and unhurried.
Four ways to spend a day at Lake O'Hara
There's no fixed itinerary. We draw on a network of connected alpine trails and choose the route together, based on how you like to hike, what you want to see and the conditions on the day.
Lake Oesa
Lake O'Hara area · Yoho National Park
A classic first climb above Lake O'Hara. The trail rises steadily over stone steps and open terrain, past small tarns, wildflower meadows and talus, with views opening back across the lake towards Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. It can be an out-and-back or extended into a larger loop via the Yukness Ledges.
- 6.3 kmOut and back
- 271 mElevation gain
- ModerateDifficulty
Opabin Plateau
Lake O'Hara area · Yoho National Park
We climb the steeper West Opabin Trail into a broad hanging valley, then return on the gentler East Opabin Trail. On the plateau the landscape turns quiet: tarns, meadows and glacial terrain, with Opabin Lake, Hungabee Lake and the Opabin Prospect, a viewpoint that looks straight down onto Lake O'Hara.
- 7.1 kmLoop
- 301 mElevation gain
- ModerateDifficulty
Lake McArthur
Lake O'Hara area · Yoho National Park
Subalpine forest, open meadows and larch stands lead up to one of the deepest and most striking lakes in Yoho National Park. Higher and lower trail options let us choose between bigger views and an easier grade, and the lake itself is known for its deep blue water and quiet setting.
- 7.6 kmLoop
- 354 mElevation gain
- ModerateDifficulty
The Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit
Lake O'Hara area · Yoho National Park
The big day: a high traverse that links the area's best viewpoints, for strong hikers who are comfortable on narrow, rocky ledges. We can walk the full circuit or choose sections to suit the group and the conditions.
Wiwaxy Gap and Huber Ledges
The steepest climb of the circuit, up to Wiwaxy Gap, then along ledges beneath Mount Huber with views across Lake O'Hara, the Victoria and Huber glaciers and down to Lake Oesa.
Yukness Ledges
A rocky traverse that links Lake Oesa with the Opabin Plateau, high above Lake O'Hara.
All Souls Prospect
A steady climb from the West Opabin Trail towards Schaffer Ridge, with one of the widest views in the area over Lake O'Hara, Mary Lake, Wiwaxy, Mount Huber and Mount Lefroy.
- 12.2 kmFull loop
- 873 mElevation gain
- StrenuousDifficulty
What to expect, and what's included
Whether it's your first visit to the Rockies or you're returning with places in mind, the day is shaped with you and led with care: a route chosen together, professional judgement on the trail, and time to stop, explore and adjust.
- A private, professionally guided hike led by an ACMG-certified hiking guide
- Route planning and decisions based on conditions and your group
- Parks Canada bus seats from the Lake O'Hara parking lot, once your date is confirmed
- Group gear such as trekking poles or microspikes, as conditions require
- A gourmet, locally sourced lunch with premium snacks and fruit
- Emergency communication and first-aid equipment
Transport to and from the trailhead can be added for an extra fee. Ask us about it when you book.
How a guided Lake O'Hara day is booked
Guided groups ride the Parks Canada bus up to Lake O'Hara from the Lake O'Hara parking lot, and Parks Canada limits daily visitors. As a licensed operator in Yoho National Park, we apply for your group's bus seats through the commercial allocation, which opens on April 1, so you don't need to enter the lottery yourself.
- Request your date. Book your preferred date with us. At this stage it is a request, not a confirmed reservation.
- We apply for your seats. On April 1, when commercial reservations open, we apply to Parks Canada for your date.
- We check in with you. We let you know whether we secured a reservation and for which date. It may shift a day or two from your request.
- You're confirmed. Once you approve the date, your Lake O'Hara day is confirmed.
About access: dates are limited and never guaranteed, so please keep your plans a little flexible. Please wait for confirmation before booking non-refundable travel. If we can't find a date that works for you, you'll receive a full refund.
- June to SeptemberSeason
- 1–5Guests, private
- $1,000 CADPer day, flat rate
- Gentle to advancedRoute options
You don't need to be an expert hiker, but basic fitness and comfort walking on uneven ground are recommended. We adjust pace and route through the day so it feels challenging in the right ways.
Request your Lake O'Hara date
Choose your preferred date below. It's a request until we've reserved your group's Parks Canada bus seats and you've approved the date, so please keep your plans a little flexible.
What guests say on Google
Lake O'Hara guided hike FAQs
If we haven't answered your question here, please get in touch.
How do you get to Lake O'Hara?
Visitors ride the Parks Canada bus up from the Lake O'Hara parking lot, and seats are limited and reserved in advance. For a guided day, we apply for your group's bus seats through Parks Canada's commercial allocation on April 1, and confirm your date with you once they're reserved.
Can I visit Lake O'Hara without a bus reservation?
You don't need to enter the Parks Canada lottery to hike with us. As a licensed commercial operator in Yoho National Park, we apply for your group's bus seats through the commercial allocation, which opens on April 1. Seats are limited and never guaranteed, so please keep your dates a little flexible. Your day is confirmed once we've reserved it and you've approved it.
How does a guided Lake O'Hara day work?
You request a date, we apply for bus seats when commercial reservations open on April 1, and we confirm the date with you. On the day, your guide chooses the route with you, based on your pace, interests and the conditions, and the bus, lunch and group gear are included.
How much does a private Lake O'Hara hike cost?
$1,000 CAD per day, a flat rate for a private group of 1 to 5 guests, from June to September. It includes your guide, Parks Canada bus seats once your date is confirmed, lunch and group gear.
Is Lake O'Hara access guaranteed?
No. Parks Canada limits daily visitors, so dates are requested, not guaranteed, and may shift by a day or two. Please keep your plans a little flexible and wait for confirmation before booking non-refundable travel. If we can't find a date that works for you, you'll receive a full refund.
Which Lake O'Hara hike is best for us?
For most active hikers, Lake Oesa, the Opabin Plateau or Lake McArthur make a rewarding moderate day. Strong, experienced hikers who are comfortable on rocky ledges may enjoy the Alpine Circuit. We'll talk it through before your trip and decide together on the day.
How hard is the Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit?
It's the most demanding day here: about 12.2 km with roughly 873 m of elevation gain for the full loop, including steep climbs and narrow, rocky ledge sections. It suits fit hikers comfortable with exposure, and we can walk only part of it if conditions or the group call for it.
What are your guides' qualifications?
Every hike is led by an ACMG-certified Hiking Guide from our team, which includes owner Jacob Downie and Chris Murray-Schlitt. We operate under a professional Emergency Response Plan, reviewed annually for our national park business licences, and carry emergency communication and first-aid equipment on every outing.
What should I bring?
A comfortable daypack, sturdy footwear and layers for changeable mountain weather. You'll receive a detailed packing list as soon as you book. We provide group safety gear and trekking poles if needed.
Is a liability waiver required?
Yes. To maintain our professional standing with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and our national park permits, all guests sign a Release of Liability Waiver. You'll acknowledge it when you book and sign a copy in person before we head out. We're happy to talk through it, or the risks of mountain travel, before you book.
Hoping for a day at Lake O'Hara?
Join the waitlist and we'll be in touch when a date opens, or ask Jacob anything about the routes, the shuttle or how the day works.