A sometimes overlooked destination by international visitors just outside of Banff, Yoho National Park is no less awe-inspiring. Any trip near the Icefields Parkway would be incomplete without a lengthy detour the park for its many waterfalls, alpine lakes, and many glaciers. Yoho National Park was created in 1886 by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald after a trip he made with his wife along the newly opened Transcontinental Railway, making it the second national park in Canada after Banff.
The Iceline Trail is an excellent way to experience a varied selection of what Yoho has to offer. Starting at the thundering Takakkaw Falls, the tone will certainly be set for the dramatic scenery that will be explored on the Iceline Trail. You will hear the hum of the falls across the valley for almost the entire hike due to the immense amount of water falling almost 1,000 feet from top to base.
The route climbs up to the Iceline Shelf, an exposed rocky alpine tundra walk next to several large glaciers, the largest of which is Emerald Glacier just below the President Range. Views across the valley toward Daly Glacier, which feeds Takakkaw Falls, will reward you. There will be expansive views north, south, and across the valley for the entirety of the shelf before the route drops into the valley along the north flank of the shelf. There is an optional extension to take you north up another ridge, or you can follow Yoho River just beyond Laughing Falls back to Takakkaw Falls to complete the loop.
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