Lake O'Hara (Hiking)

After leaving Kananaskis country, we stayed at Lake O'Hara for five nights. Our trips to the Canadian Rockies revolve around when we get in to Lake O'Hara. It is a fragile subalpine and alpine environment (the lake is at 6700' or so, accounts vary); Parks Canada accordingly limits the number of persons that can be there at one time, including the lodge, cabins, campground, and day trippers. (It's a 7-mile fire road from the parking area to the lodge). This limitation means that if you want a spot at the lodge or cabins -- we always go for a cabin -- you must apply by the end of September for a spot the next year, and by the end of the year you will find out when Alison has been able to schedule you. Tip: flexibility helps a lot!

I would have never heard of Lake O'Hara except that Joan was there a few times in the mid 1970s with her parents. The occasional telling of that story made it sound like a mythical Shangri-La. Then, in 2002, Joan discovered that it had not morphed into another Emerald Lake (huge parking lot, non-stop tour buses arriving). She managed to get us accepted in 2003; she had specified that mid-July through mid-September was OK (remember the first rule: be flexible), and we got an offer for the first week of July. Taken!

Here are some hiking photos from Lake O'Hara in 2008 and 2009 (we can't do all the hikes in a few days). First, a view of the cabins from the mouth of the lake:

A view to the lake from near Wiwaxy Gap:

Along the Huber Ledges alpine route:

 

A view of Lake Oesa from Wiwaxy Gap (zoom):

A scene on the Opabin Plateau after a light snowfall (early July):

Approaching Lake McArthur:

A panorama from Odaray Grandview, with Lake O'Hara to the left, and Lake McArthur to the right:

A view back to the lake (hidden by forested ridges) from Last Larch Prospect:

It's an absolutely spectacular location.