O’Hara Era
By Wildly Supply Co.
Entering your Lake O’Hara era this hiking season? We recently did the legwork and have suggestions on what to build into your itinerary. As this super special place can be hard to get into (just like a Taylor Swift concert), we want to ensure you maximize your time while you’re in this wonderful neck of the woods.
First, we’ll start with some tips to get the crowd warmed up:
Remember to bring bear spray and to check Parks Canada important bulletins for closures and restrictions before going to Lake O’Hara.
If you were lucky enough to snag a seat on the Lake O’Hara Day Use Bus, be sure to give yourself enough time to park, unload, and be in line 20 minutes before your departure. Also, hang on to the token that the friendly bus driver gives you once you’re seated or you’ll have to pay $10 in cash for a ride down the 11km road.
Speaking of cash, do yourself a favour and bring some so you can buy the famous, made-fresh-daily carrot cake available at Le Relais Day Shelter right where the bus drops off and picks up. They are $6 a slice and worth every pretty penny. You are going to love crushing that cake after a day of burning carbs.
Now, onto the main event:
Whether you are only at Lake O’Hara for a day or for a few, you can really pack in all of the crown jewels because of the amazing job the Lake O’Hara Trails Club and Parks Canada have done in maintaining the extensive and intuitive trail network. You can check out the whole discography of trails here, but these are a few of our favourite hits.
Wiwaxy Gap/Huber Ledges to Lake Oesa
Distance: 4.35km
Elevation Gain: 510m
Getting to Lake Oesa is a ‘choose your own adventure’ accessible from a few different routes: the Lake O’Hara lakeshore, the Yukeness Ledges, or Wiwaxy Gap/Huber Ledges. Start your walk around Lake O’Hara clockwise and pretty quickly you will find signage for the Wiwaxy Gap turnoff. It’s a steep ascent with switchbacks and a popular ledge where you can take photos overlooking the lake. Follow the yellow and blue alpine route symbols you see marked into rock to the top of the gap. After taking a rest/photo/snack break at the gap, you will begin descending down the Huber Ledges to the aquamarine gem, Lake Oesa.
Opabin Plateau Circuit
Distance: 5.9km
Elevation Gain: 250m
The Opabin Plateau is a tour of its own as a valley hanging above Lake O’Hara. This area is definitely a crowd pleaser during larch season too. There are two ways you can get to the plateau: the West Opabin and East Opabin trails. Either way, once you are up onto the plateau we recommend two stops: Opabin Lake and Opabin Prospect. Opabin Lake is the main attraction, nestled between Mount Schäffer and Yukeness Mountain. And before you head out to carry on to the All Soul’s Prospect route or to the Yukeness Ledges, you have to take in the view from Opabin Prospect. It’s a showstopper with a bird’s eye perspective of Lake O’Hara and Mary Lake. (Please mind your step as you are on a cliff side.)
Lake McArthur
Distance: 8km
Elevation Gain: 310m
This lake is what album covers are made of. The trail begins at Le Relais and takes you to a meadow where both the Elizabeth Parker Hut and the Linda Lake Circuit starting point are located. Continue to follow the trail past the hut and up through larch forests until you reach Schäffer Lake. Here, there is a junction where you can again decide from a couple of paths to bring you to Lake McArthur, the low level or high line trail. We recommend continuing onto the low level and then returning via the high line. Travel through McArthur Meadows and continue to follow the signage towards McArthur Pass, where the trail will fork. The west branch takes you to Lake McArthur via the McArthur low level trail, which winds its way along a rock ledge and then through an open meadow to the shore. We highly suggest you bring your lunch here to truly soak in the wonder of this backcountry beauty. Then make your way back to Schäffer Lake via the high line trail for a change of scenery.
Closing act is to go try and grab a slice of that carrot cake; it’s the cherry on top of a wonderful day at Lake O’Hara.
A NOTE FROM WILDLY: You, the reader, are responsible for your own safety and gathering the information you require to tackle these trips. Please adventure safely.
