Hiking Canada's Lake O'Hara

The 45 miles of trails in the basin around Lake O'Hara in are among the most scenic and coveted treks in Canada's Yoho National Park. Strict quotas allow no more than about 150 hikers a day into the area to help prevent the fragile alpine meadows and lakes from being loved to death. Explore the area in these photos by Outdoors editor Rich Landers, as he eventually leads you around the dramatic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit, one of the classic hikes in the Canadian Rockies.

Section:Gallery

Fri., Sept. 23, 2011

Hikers head to McArthur Lake near Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A bus shuttle takes hikers 7 miles up a valley to the campground at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Accommodations at Lake O'Hara include the campground, the Elizabeth Parker Hut managed by the Alpine Club of Canada and the luxurious Lake O'Hara Lodge.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Accommodations at Lake O'Hara include the campground, the Elizabeth Parker Hut managed by the Alpine Club of Canada and the luxurious Lake O'Hara Lodge.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
One of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area heads up to Lake McArther, where western anemone goes to see in the shadow of Mount Biddle in the background.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers approach McArthur Lake, one of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers take a break at McArthur Lake, one of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers approach a marked trail junction at McArthur Lake, one of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Ken Mondal of Spokane pauses before leaving the McArthur Lake area, one of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A hoary marmot feasts on leaves and wildflowers blossoms along the Big Larches Trail in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers pass the rubble dug up by a grizzly bear while it was hunting ground squirrels or marmots near McArthur Lake, one of the most popular dayhikes in the Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers begin the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit, going clockwise, by hiking up the steep 1.3 mile climb from Lake O'Hara to Wiwaxy Gap.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Meredith hike negotiates the Wiwaxy Ledges while hiking the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit on the climb from Lake O'Hara to Wiwaxy Gap.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hiker on the Wiwaxy Ledges portion of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Meredith Heick treks to the last switchback on the steep 1.3-mile climb from Lake O'Hara to Wiwaxy Gap on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit, going clockwise reach Wiwaxy Gap after a steep 1.3 mile climb from Lake O'Hara.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A few places along the Huber Ledges portion of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route are fairly exposed. That's Outdoors editor Rich Landers' boot with a dropoff to a tarn far below.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Accommodations at Lake O'Hara include the campground, the Elizabeth Parker Hut managed by the Alpine Club of Canada and the luxurious Lake O'Hara Lodge.

Don Gaynor
Wildlife caught in a spring from the side of Mount Huber above Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A hiker angles down from the Mount Huber ledges toward Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Glacier melt rushes down through a total of five lakes and ponds from Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A hiker angles down from the Mount Huber ledges toward Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Ken Mondal of Spokane and Meredith Heick take a break at Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Glacier melt rushes down through a total of five lakes and ponds from Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
The trail skirts above a small lake below Lake Oesa on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Blue and yellow markers painted on the rocks help hikers find their way through rocky scrambling portions of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Blue and yellow markers painted on the rocks help hiker find their way through rocky scrambling portions of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Blue and yellow markers painted on the rocks help hikers find their way through talus on the Yukness Ledges portion of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Blue and yellow markers painted on the rocks help hikers find their way through talus on the Yukness Ledges portion of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Larch trees line a creek flowing over a rock shelf below Opabin Lake near the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Rocks have been set like stepping stones through meadows to help hikers avoid trampling fragile meadows in the Lake O'Hara area in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A hike heads down from Lake Opabin toward the All Soul's scramble route (in the distant shadows) of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Larch line a tarn below Lake Opabin and the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
The view down on Lake O'Hara (right) from Opabin Prospect (viewpoint) on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Ken Mondal of Spokane hikes away from Opabin Prospect (viewpoint) on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Blue and yellow markers painted on the rocks help hikers find their way through talus on the All Soul's portion of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Meredith Heick approaches All Souls Propspect on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Outdoors editor Rich Landers pauses at All Souls Propspect. He had started hours earlier climbing the slope on the trail you can see switchbacking up in front of his left fist to Wiwaxy Gap at the beginning of the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Meredith Heick drops off All Souls Propspect toward Lake O'Hara on the classic Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit route in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A sign at Lake O'Hara Lodge encourages hikers to be thoughtful of the environment as they trek through the popular alpine scenery in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Alpine larch are a main scenic attraction to the Lake O'Hara, especially in late September when their needles turn golden yellow. This photo shows the gold just beginning to come out in the first week of September.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Alpine larch are a main scenic attraction to the Lake O'Hara, especially in late September when their needles turn golden yellow.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hikers relax by the fire pit at the Lake O'Hara Campground as the sun sets on the Wiwaxy Peaks looming above Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review