Wapta Falls, Yoho National Park — Friday, Dec. 30, 2022

Bottom Line:

Yoho National Park on the BC side of the Canadian Rockies, is a gem. The easiest access point is from northeast WA or northen Idaho, and heading up the Columbia valley. This waterfall is a completely different experience in winter, with lower water flow, frozen falls, and the ability to walk right up to the base of the falls. A stunner!

Stats:

• Distance: 5-3/4 miles (snowshoe, or microspike when tracked)
• Duration: 2-1/2 hours
• Vertical: 700 ft
• Road/Parking: In the winter, only a small ~5 car parking lot directly off Hwy #1 in Yoho National Park; deep snow in parking lot, with some ice and slush on the Hwy #1; Canada Parks day pass  ($21 CAD - annual pass the better bargain) required for those stopping in the park to take advantage of the trails; generally cars without a pass get a warning that they can prevent from converting to a ticket by converting to a pass the same day
• Weather: Cloudy, no wind, ~30F (very mild!!)
• Trail: The trail begins on the summer access road (gated at Hwy #1 in the winter); eventually you reach the summer access parking lot (restrooms available), and then the regular hiking trail out to the falls; microspikes are a must on this trail, particularly if you want to descend to the Kicking Horse river and approach the falls (ice on the descending trail); there are a few down trees crossing the trail; at the falls, there is a snowy knoll directly in front of the falls with in-your-face views, although there are cornices on the backside (CAUTION) and steep loaded snow on the frontside (CAUTION); you can also circle counterclockwise around the base of the knoll and pretty much walk right up to the base of the falls; the falls are only partially frozen right now (usually completely frozen in January), but I think I preferred the mix of ice and running water today; lots of animal tracks in the snow, and the woods are crawling for "forest chickens" (grouse), although a little different (more colorful) than those in the Cascades; the blue ice, multi-colored river bed and emerald water of the Kicking Horse River are beautiful, especially with the contrast of the snow
• Takeaway: Breathtakingly beautiful, and a very unique experience in winter while the falls are frozen and the water levels are lower; in the summer, this is more like a mini-Niagara, albiet with beautiful emerald waters :)

The attached 4K video hopefully captures the falls perhaps better than pictures can.