Why everyone's so obsessed with Lake O'Hara

Lake O’Hara is a bucket-list destination - its breathtaking natural environment is kept pristine through intense regulation and population management measures, making it a highly-sought after and hard-to-reach area.

Only 200 people are allowed at the Lake O’Hara site at one time - this includes all staff, campsite visitors and day use guests. Day-use guests booking individual seats on the shuttle must enter a lottery for the limited number of spots! So, there must be a better way to get up there, right?

On select dates from June 20 - October 1, 2026, Big Nature will be offering trips up to Lake O’Hara for groups of up to 5 people*. This breathtaking guided adventure to one of the Canadian Rockies’ most iconic destinations includes convenient pick-up and drop-off from West Calgary, Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise, followed by a Parks Canada bus ride into the heart of Yoho National Park. From there, your expert guide will lead you on a rewarding hike to classic trails in the Lake O’Hara valley, with stops like stunning Mary Lake, picturesque Cascade Lakes as well as Hungabee and Opabin Lake along the way.

This unforgettable journey combines alpine beauty, crystal-clear waters, and interpretive insights for a truly immersive mountain experience.

*Our maximum group size on the early shuttle departure is 5, however our maximum group size on the late departure is 4.