Lake O’Hara Campground

Lake O’Hara Campground is a 30-site backcountry campground for overnight visitors in the alpine area around the lake. It makes a good base for the local hiking trails, but each site is for a compact setup: the 2.5-by-2.5-metre pads allow one small tent and up to four people. Camping requires an advance reservation.

The campground is 11 km up the access road from the Lake O’Hara parking lot. Visitors cannot drive or cycle it; the shuttle requires an advance reservation. Each passenger may bring one large bag or two small bags, so pack with carrying everything in mind. Walking the road instead is a 22 km round trip.

Two cooking shelters, a fire pit, food and garbage storage, grey-water disposal, outhouses and firewood make this a well-supported backcountry camp. Bring a backpacking stove; the wood stoves and fire pit are mainly for heat. Treated well water may be unavailable early or late in the season, so check before relying on it. The nearby Le Relais day shelter is separate from the campground and sells hot drinks and snacks during hiking season. The shared layout offers limited privacy, and pads by common facilities can be noisier.

July through late September is the prime hiking season. Higher routes can remain snow-bound and avalanche-prone until late June, so an early-season campsite does not guarantee the high trails are ready. Pets are not allowed on the shuttle or at the campground.