Parking
Use Emerald Lake parking lot, the established access for Hamilton Lake Trail. The lot fills early in summer and on weekends, so aim for an early start when parking matters.
Overview
About Hamilton Falls Trail
Why go
- Waterfall payoff on a short return from Emerald Lake.
- The path follows Hamilton Creek through forest.
Heads up
- A steady uphill climb for most of the walk.
- The upper cascade can be hidden, and closer access may require scrambling.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yoho map
Full mapElevation1,302–1,452 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 Hamilton Falls 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 Hamilton Falls Trail
A short waterfall walkHamilton Falls Trail is the short return walk from Emerald Lake parking, following the first…
Hamilton Falls Trail is the short return walk from Emerald Lake parking, following the first stretch of the Hamilton Lake trail through forest beside Hamilton Creek. The falls are about 0.8 km from the lot, so plan for roughly 1.6 km (1 mi) out and back and 30–60 minutes. It is a steady uphill climb. The much longer Hamilton Lake hike continues beyond the falls, so turn back here unless you planned that bigger outing.
Follow the creek uphillStart at Emerald Lake parking and take the Hamilton Lake trail southwest.
Start at Emerald Lake parking and take the Hamilton Lake trail southwest. Stay on the main path at side trails, then turn back at Hamilton Falls. The final approach is described differently: some accounts stop at a viewpoint, while others say the tread fades by the creek and reaching the base takes scrambling. Keep to the established path rather than scrambling down the gorge. Dogs may hike here but must stay leashed and under control.
In the narrow gorgeHamilton Falls drops through a twisting rock canyon.
Hamilton Falls drops through a twisting rock canyon. The walls can hide the upper cascade from the usual viewing area, so treat it as a close waterfall rather than a broad panorama. For a photo, include the close rock walls and creek around the drop; do not climb around the rocks for a wider view.
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.
