Kiwetinok Pass Trail (7.6 km, Challenging) – Yoho National Park

Overview

About Kiwetinok Pass Trail

Why go

A lake-and-pass destination reached by a direct alpine spur from Little Yoho.

Heads up

The 9.8 km approach from Takakkaw Falls makes the full outing a long backcountry day.

Kiwetinok Pass Trail is a steep out-and-back from Little Yoho Campground to Kiwetinok Lake and the pass above it. Plan around 7.6 km (4.7 miles) round trip and about three hours from camp. Reported round-trip lengths range from 7.1 to 7.6 km, so the exact figure varies between sources. This is a good high-alpine extension if you are already staying in the Little Yoho Valley. From Takakkaw Falls, the approach to camp adds 9.8 km each way, so the full road-to-pass day is about 27 km.

Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation2,045–2,477 m

TrailheadLittle Yoho Campground51.52410, -116.56882

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use the Takakkaw Falls day-use lot at the end of Yoho Valley Road; this is the road access, not the Kiwetinok trailhead. Follow Little Yoho Valley Trail 9.8 km one way to the campground, where the pass hike begins. Parks Canada says this popular lot fills early in summer. Reserve Little Yoho campground or Stanley Mitchell Hut ahead if you plan to stay overnight.

Safety

Steep, rocky high-alpine terrain with two stream crossings; snow and winter conditions can linger at elevation. Cell service is limited. The established path ends at the pass, beyond which the Great Divide Trail alternate requires cross-country route-finding. Dogs must stay leashed in the backcountry, and Parks Canada recommends leaving them at home because they can trigger wildlife responses.

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

See all 5 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Yoho Tour Guide

Your drive to Kiwetinok Pass 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 tour

Hiking Kiwetinok Pass Trail

Climbing out of Little YohoThe route climbs steeply from the valley through trees, then gets rougher and more open.

The route climbs steeply from the valley through trees, then gets rougher and more open. Past the trees, the route crosses a smaller stream and then a larger, more gently flowing one; water levels vary with the season. Above them, the path enters a sparse alpine basin of dark rock and seasonal snow. Expect a sustained climb and uneven footing as the pass gets closer.

At Kiwetinok Lake and PassThe lake sits below the pass, with a bare, rocky shoreline and layered peaks beyond it.

The lake sits below the pass, with a bare, rocky shoreline and layered peaks beyond it. Take in the lake and the snow-patched cliffs together; the loose rock along the shore gives the view some scale. The established trail ends at the pass. The Great Divide Trail's Kiwetinok Alternate continues for about 8 km of cross-country travel beyond it, so that is a separate route for hikers prepared to navigate off trail.

Access and backcountry rulesThe road approach is Takakkaw Falls parking, then 9.

The road approach is Takakkaw Falls parking, then 9.8 km one way on the Little Yoho Valley Trail. Yoho Valley Road usually opens from mid-June to mid-October. Little Yoho campground and Stanley Mitchell Hut are useful bases, but both require advance reservations. Dogs are allowed in the backcountry on leash; Parks Canada recommends leaving them at home because wildlife may react to them.