Parking
Start at Emerald Lake parking lot, 10 km west of Field via the Trans-Canada Highway and Emerald Lake Road. It fills early in summer and on weekends. The Natural Bridge parking area is the pickup point at the other end.
Overview
About Emerald River Trail
Why go
- A shaded riverside route ending at a natural stone bridge
- Connects Emerald Lake and Natural Bridge in one walk
Heads up
- The point-to-point finish needs a pickup or an 18 km return walk
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yoho map
Full mapElevation1,167–1,377 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
5 active Yoho alerts
- ClosureYoho Valley Road closed for avalanche seasonYoho Valley Road is closed to vehicles from mid-October to mid-June because of avalanche risk. - Parks Canada’s current trail report lists no vehicle access to trails in the Yoho Valley.Official details
- CautionWatercraft and angling prohibited in YohoWatercraft use and angling are prohibited on all waterbodies in Yoho National Park until March 31, 2027, to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species, including whirling disease.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Yoho Tour Guide
Your drive to Emerald River Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yoho National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yoho audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Emerald Lake: Shore, Colour and Lunch0:00 / 0:34
“You're approaching Emerald Lake, where a short, level walk to the bridge brings you to the blue-green water and its mountain backdrop. Stop even if you haven't got time for a hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Yoho Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Conifer That Drops Its Needles
- Yoho Visitor Centre: Fossils and a Useful Break
- Field: A Bistro Meal or a Quick Restock
- How the Rock Layers Got Tilted
- 35 audio storiesacross Yoho’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 54 trails, 58 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Emerald River Trail
A shaded through hikeEmerald River Trail is a moderate 9 km point-to-point walk from Emerald Lake parking to Natural…
Emerald River Trail is a moderate 9 km point-to-point walk from Emerald Lake parking to Natural Bridge, following a shaded riverside route. Allow about 3½ hours one way. Walking back to your car makes it 18 km; budget around seven hours, or arrange a pickup at Natural Bridge for the through-hike.
Along the riverThe trail stays in the trees beside the river, with narrow and steep sections.
The trail stays in the trees beside the river, with narrow and steep sections. It gains 250 m and loses 335 m overall, so expect some climbing between lower stretches. If you want a shorter walk that returns to its start, Emerald Lakeshore is a 5.2 km loop with minimal climbing.
Natural BridgeAt Natural Bridge, the Kicking Horse River surges beneath a natural stone bridge.
At Natural Bridge, the Kicking Horse River surges beneath a natural stone bridge. The river got its name during an 1858 expedition, when explorer James Hector was knocked down by a kick from his packhorse, an incident that nearly killed him. The bridge and rushing water make a memorable finish to the walk.
Parking and dogsStart at the Emerald Lake parking lot, 10 km west of Field via the Trans-Canada Highway and…
Start at the Emerald Lake parking lot, 10 km west of Field via the Trans-Canada Highway and Emerald Lake Road. The lot fills early in summer and on weekends, so keep a backup plan. For a one-way walk, arrange pickup at the Natural Bridge parking area. Dogs can join but must stay leashed and under control.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Yoho
21 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
55 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
61 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
66 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
26 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
10 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yoho. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
