Get online this week to book camping at BC’s wildly popular Lake O’Hara
If you have your heart set on visiting Lake O’Hara this summer, then you may want to set a reminder this week because a major date to reserve your spot is coming.
Parks Canada is opening up Lake O’Hara campsite reservations on Thursday, January 23, at 7 am Pacific Time. The backcountry sites near the turquoise alpine lake in Yoho National Park are open from June 20 to October 5 and can be reserved for up to three nights.
The opening date for campsite reservations is important because of how difficult it is to visit Lake O’Hara with Parks Canada’s strict crowd control policies.
The picturesque body of water is located about 11 kilometres up a service road. Private vehicles aren’t allowed on the road, and neither are bikes. Folks hoping to visit either have to walk up the road (which adds 22 kilometres roundtrip to the nine-kilometre lookout circuit) or secure a spot on the Parks Canada shuttle bus.
Shuttle spots fill up quickly. Visiting the lake has become so popular that Parks Canada has created an application system for a chance to be included in a random draw for seats.
Lake O’Hara day shuttle (Parks Canada)
But snagging a camping reservation automatically gets a camping party seats on the shuttle bus — and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful site at a more relaxed pace.
Camping reservations can be made via Parks Canada’s reservation service or by phoning 1-877-737-3783. There is a maximum of one tent and four people per site.
“Parks Canada is committed to maintaining the ecological integrity and visitor experience in the Lake O’Hara area by maintaining the means of access,” Parks Canada says on its website.”Demand for Lake O’Hara reservations is very high and is steadily increasing.”
The day-use shuttle has space for approximately 3,000 people to visit the lake every year. That doesn’t include folks who’ve made a camping reservation.
Have you tried your luck visiting Lake O’Hara? Let us know by emailing vancouver@dailyhive.com