When I stayed in Golden British Columbia for ten days, I enjoyed some day trips to nearby hiking trails and gorgeous scenic drives. While I wouldn’t call the short walk to Takakkaw Falls a hike, it is a gorgeous stroll from the parking area, across the Yoho River, to the thundering waterfall.
The trip to Takakkaw Falls from Golden takes about one hour but you should also stop at the Meeting of the Waters on your way to Takakkaw Falls.
You can walk right up to the waterfall – and get covered in the mist of the falls. Takakkaw is an amazing waterfall.
The panoramic views of the mountains and Yoho River are mesmerizing. Yoho is a spectacular display of nature’s best.
The view from Takakkaw Falls Yoho National Park
Forests. Mountains. Rivers. Waterfalls. Wildlife.
Stunning views all around Yoho National Park in British Columbia
On the way to Takakkaw Falls you’ll walk this bridge across the Yoho River
Takakkaw Falls Info
- 384 m (1,260 ft) total with a section that is 254 m (830 ft) drop
- Horseshoe waterfall
- 17 km northeast of Field British Columbia
- 39 km northwest of Lake Louise Alberta
- 74 km northeast of Golden British Columbia
Looking at Takakkaw Falls – take a right on the pathway to get to the waterfall
Note that you cannot drive a large trailer because there are 2 very tight switchbacks on the road to Takakkaw Falls. Small cars or bicycles can access the road from mid-June through October 9th then the road is closed due to avalanche risk.
Takakkaw Falls is a horseshoe waterfall – in total 384 m (1,260 ft)
You can visit Takakkaw Falls in winter BUT you must have avalanche training, skills and equipment including beacon, probe, and shovel.
A beautiful BC road trip in Yoho National Park offers stunning panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains
Getting to Takakkaw Falls
From Field – Take the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 East for 3.5 km then turn left onto Yoho Valley Road and follow it for 13.5 km to the parking lot for Takakkaw Falls. Total driving time is around 30 minutes.
From Golden – Take the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 East for 58 km then turn left onto Yoho Valley Road and follow it for 13.5 km to the parking lot for Takakkaw Falls. Total driving time is around 1 hour.
From Banff – Take the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 West for 77 km then turn right onto Yoho Valley Road and follow it 13.5 km to the Takakkaw Falls parking lot. Total driving time is around 1 hour 15 minutes
Driving on the winding Yoho Valley Road you see spectacular scenery
Stopping near the bridge on Yoho Valley Rd you can hike by the river
The Yoho Valley Road is a twisty roadway with two extreme switchbacks to navigate. In my tiny Toyota Yaris, it was easy but larger vehicles will need to take it slow.
Signs point to mountains in Yoho – Takakkaw Falls on the right
Magnificent view of Takakkaw Falls from the trail
Takakkaw Falls hike info
- Distance: 1.4 km (.9 miles)
- Type of hike: Out and back
- Difficulty: Easy – suitable for all ages
- Dogs allowed at Takakkaw Falls? Yes, but dogs must always be on leash
A paved walkway through the forest leads to Takakkaw Falls
You’ll find the perfect picnic spot with a view of Takakkaw Falls along the Yoho River
At the start of the trail to Takakkaw Falls there is a small cabin – it’s the Takakkaw Falls Warden residence.
Takakkaw Falls Warden residence Yoho National Park
A list of hiking trails in the Yoho Valley is posted near the start of the trail. On a previous road trip I stayed at Emerald Lake Lodge and hiked around Emerald Lake – highly recommended!
List of hiking trails in the Yoho Valley in British Columbia
Meeting of the Waters
Meeting of the Waters is the confluence of the Yoho and Kicking Horse Rivers.
Sign at the Meeting of the Waters – the confluence of the Yoho and Kicking Horse rivers
There is a small parking lot and a picnic table at Meeting of the Waters – watch for it on the right-hand side of Yoho Valley Road on the way to Takakkaw Falls.
A quick hike through the forest leads to Meeting of the Waters
A short hike down to the water reveals the two rivers – though you’ll hear them from the parking area.
At Meeting of the Waters in Yoho there are some huge boulders near the water
The forest walk is through a carpet of moss and along some huge boulders near the water. This place is gorgeous, but it made me nervous. Because I couldn’t hear anything except for the thundering river flow I felt a bit uneasy.
Traveling solo I sometimes get a bit anxious about bears when I’m out hiking.
Meeting of the Waters is where the Yoho River and Kicking Horse River meet
I am glad that I stopped at Meeting of the Waters on the way to Takakkaw Falls though. Otherwise I would have missed out on the spectacular view and a lovely walk through the forest.
When you get to Yoho park stop by the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre in the village of Field British Columbia. They have maps and brochures for things to do around Field and Golden BC.
The Visitor Centre is also a great place to get advice on which trails to hike in Yoho National Park. Tell the staff what type of hiking you like to do – easy to difficult – and how many hours you want to hike, and they’ll suggest the best trails for you.
If you’re looking for a longer hike with a beautiful waterfall you need to check out Wapta Falls – my favorite waterfall hike!
Here is a map of Yoho National Park from Parks Canada.
Remember to buy your Parks Canada pass – you can purchase the pass in advance of your visit or wait in line at the entrance to buy it – check here for prices and buy your pass now
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