Yoho National Park of Canada

Lake O'Hara 2009

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Reservations | O'Hara Bus Schedule | Lake O'Hara Fees | Cancellation and Refund Policy | Stewardship | New This Year | Checklist | Camper Information | Pets and Bicycles | Related Lake O'Hara Area Information | Commercial Reservations | Lake O'Hara Backcountry Map | McArthur Valley | Odaray Highline Trail | Connecting Wildlife and People with the Land | Yoho National Park Backcountry Guide | Weather Forecast | Yoho National Park Trail Report

To protect this sensitive alpine area and maintain a wilderness experience, a quota system is in place to limit the number of visitors using the public bus service into Lake O'Hara. The daily quota allows 42 day users, along with overnight visitors staying at the park's 30-site campground, two Alpine Club of Canada huts, and a small, private lodge.

Reservations

Reservations are required to take the bus to Lake O'Hara for day use and camping. A reservation fee applies. The bus operates from mid-June to the first weekend in October (start and end dates vary year to year). You may reserve up to three calendar months in advance of your visit, by telephone only .

There are no restrictions on the number of people who wish to hike the 11 km access road. Reservations are not required for buses returning from Lake O'Hara, but a one-way cash fee is collected.

Lake O'Hara Reservation Line: 250.343.6433

Hours of Operation (Mountain Time)

April 1 - May 29: Mon. - Fri., 8 am - 12 pm / 1 pm - 4 pm
June 1 - Sept. 30: Daily, 8 am - 12 pm / 1 pm - 4 pm
October 1 - 4: reduced hours

When you call, please have the following information ready:

• Dates requested: maximum of 3 nights for camping
• Number of people: maximum of 6 people per party for day use
• Number of campsites: maximum of 2 sites per party and 1 tent per site
• Preferred ingoing bus time: reservations are not required for an outgoing bus
• Mastercard, Visa, or American Express number: all fees are collected at the time of booking

O'Hara Bus Schedule, mountain time

Please arrive early. Bus reservations become invalid 10 minutes prior to departure, and may be given away.

mid-June - September

• In-going
  8:30 a.m.
  10:30 a.m.
  3:30 p.m.
  5:30 p.m.
• Out-going
  9:30 a.m.
  11:30 a.m.
  2 :30 p.m.
  4 :30 p.m.
  6:30 p.m.

early October

• In-going
  10 :00 a.m.
  3:00 p.m.
• Out-going
  11:00 a.m.
  4:00 p.m.

Lake O'Hara Fees

Bus

Return trip:

One-way, out:

Camping

Reservation: $11.70 non-refundable

Cancellation: $11.70

Please Note: If you hold an annual Wilderness Pass holder, your O'Hara backcountry campground fee is covered.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations are received by an answering machine at 250.343.6433 . Please leave your name, reservation number, credit card number and expiry date.

• An $11.70 cancellation fee is in effect for both bus and camping reservations. Cancellations made on the day of arrival forfeit refunds.
• The first night's camping fee is forfeited after 4 p.m., with less than four days notice prior to the first reserved date. Campers who must leave before the end of their stay may be refunded camping fees depending on the circumstances and if requested before 10 a.m.

Stewardship

Please stay on trails to minimize your impact. Research has identified important grizzly bear habitat and a regional wildlife corridor in the area.

• To ensure wildlife can move freely through McArthur Pass, please voluntarily limit your use of the Odaray Highline trail, which cuts across the wildlife corridor at this narrow pass.
• McArthur Valley is closed to hikers until August 15. After August 15, when seasonal plant foods favoured by grizzly bears have peaked, McArthur Valley is opened to a small number of hiking parties. A hiking permit is required to hike this unmaintained wilderness route. It can be obtained by phoning the Field Visitor Centre: 250.343.6783.
• Read the brochure Bears and People: a guide to safety and conservation on the trail . It is available on the park web site, the bus and at Le Relais .

New This Year

• Baggage size and weight is being monitored. To avoid delays, please pack appropriately!
• No hard-sided coolers allowed ― only small, soft-sided coolers will be permitted (max. length + width + height: 67 cm/26”).
• Water may not be available in the campground in the early/late season. Be prepared to carry water from the nearby creek.
• Changes to Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Checklist

The Lake O'Hara Valley is a high-elevation backcountry area with trails that are often snow-bound, muddy or inaccessible. Come prepared for all weather conditions and to be self-sufficient. Here's a checklist to help you get ready:

Camper Information

To help us maintain the backcountry atmosphere of the Lake O'Hara Campground, this information is important.

• Baggage is restricted to two small bags per person (max. weight: 25 kg; max length + width + height: must not exceed 158 cm/62”).
• Hard sided food coolers and storage bins and items stored in plastic bags or loose items will not be accepted on the bus.Please leave musical instruments, radios and lawn chairs behind.
• Communal facilities include two kitchen shelters with wood stoves; a fire pit; separate food and garbage storage; grey water disposal; pit privies; firewood and a splitting maul; and well water (not always available early and late season).
• Primus stove required for cooking.
• Bear-aware procedures for cooking, and storing food and garbage must be observed.
• Tent pads (2.7m X 2.7m) are designed for small backpacking tents. One tent per campsite.
• Campers choose their site once they arrive. It's not always possible for parties to camp at adjacent sites.

Pets and Bicycles

You may walk your pet on leash into the valley, but pets are not allowed on the bus or at the campground.

Cycling is not permitted on the Lake O'Hara road.

Related Lake O'Hara Information

• Alpine Club of Canada, Elizabeth Parker & Abbot Pass Huts: 403.678.3200
• Lake O'Hara Lodge, 250.343.6418
• Lake O'Hara Trails Club

Commercial Reservations

All companies licenced to guide visitors in Yoho National Park are now able to conduct commercial trips in the Lake O’Hara area. To ensure fair access to bus seat reservations for both the public and commercial interests, a maximum of eleven commercial bus seats per day have been allocated. Six of these may be reserved up to three calendar months in advance of your visit on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining five seats within the commercial limit are to accommodate the needs of local alpine guides who have traditionally used the area as a poor weather mountaineering alternative. These five seats may only be reserved 24 hours in advance, on a first-come, first-served basis.

What You Need to Know

• Licenced companies will be limited to no more than ten reservation bookings per calendar month.
• Maximum commercial group size is six.
• Licenced companies may only reserve space on the public bus within the commercial quota. Commercial reservations may only be made under respective company names.
• After 10 a.m., any remaining seats within the three-month commercial reservation window will be released for public sale. Any unused seats within the 24-hour commercial reservation window may be filled with standby passengers.
• Companies that have obtained commercial sector reservations shall not sell or trade the space to any other commercial or private interests.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellations are received by an answering machine at 250.343.6433. Please leave your company name, reservation number, credit card number and expiry date.

• Cancellations made less than seven days prior to the reservation date will forfeit funds.
• An $11.70 cancellation fee applies for commercial companies who cancel prior to the forfeiture date.
  

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