Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit

The trail starts at Le Relais day-use shelter. Reach Lake O’Hara from the parking lot at the end of the access road; the seasonal shuttle needs an advance reservation. If you walk instead, the road adds 11 km each way before the circuit, for a 22 km road walk on top of the 6.9-mile loop. Bikes are not allowed on the road. Le Relais is a useful place to warm up, get trail information and buy a hot drink or snack when it is open; bring cash. Shuttle and shelter service are seasonal, so check the current access schedule before you plan the hike.

From Le Relais, the route follows the lakeshore to the Wiwaxy trail and climbs steep switchbacks to Wiwaxy Gap. The climb opens onto a high ridge with a wide view over the basin. From there, Huber Ledges crosses the exposed mountainside toward Lake Oesa. The ledge sections are narrow and uneven, with steep ground below; watch for cairns and blue-and-yellow route markers, and be ready to turn back if cloud or snow makes the line hard to follow.

The route drops to Lake Oesa, where the trail passes through avalanche-swept scree and talus, a patch of stunted forest, and steep rocky outcrops with stone steps built by Lawrence Grassi. The final approach crosses delicate meadows and a trough cut into bedrock before reaching the tilted slabs at the lake. Take care not to trample the small meadow plants around the water.

From Oesa, Yukness Ledges traverses the slope above the basin and connects with the Opabin trails. The Opabin Plateau is a hanging valley on a rocky cliff above Lake O’Hara. Its route winds past small lakes and open views toward Opabin Pass and the surrounding peaks. Stay on the marked trail; the glacier at the foot of Opabin Pass has dangerous crevasses and is not a walking route.

The high traverse gives several different views of the lake rather than one summit panorama. The clearest broad look back into the basin comes from the Yukness ledges, where the blue water sits below steep rock walls and forested slopes.

The circuit continues across the plateau and climbs toward Mount Schaffer before crossing All Souls Prospect, a lookout above Lake O’Hara. It then descends toward Schäffer Lake and follows forest and meadow paths back to Le Relais. Keep the full route in mind at every junction: the Odaray extension is a separate route and is not part of this circuit.

This route is substantially more demanding than the shoreline loop. The alpine routes here are for experienced hikers, with exposure, loose rock, scrambling and route-finding. Snow can linger on high routes into early summer, and steep snow slopes can be avalanche terrain. The best hiking window is generally July through late September, but check current conditions before setting out; mountain weather changes quickly.

Dogs are allowed on the trail if leashed and under control, but they cannot ride the shuttle or enter the campground. A dog means walking the access road, adding 22 km round trip before the circuit. The alpine route is a poor fit for anyone who is uncomfortable with exposure, loose footing or a long day away from the trailhead.

Lake O’Hara takes its name from Colonel Robert O’Hara, an Irish visitor from Galway who came in 1889 after surveyor J.J. McArthur told him about the valley. On the Lake Oesa approach, Lawrence Grassi’s stone steps are still part of the route. They sit among the rugged outcrops on a climb that changes from loose scree to meadows, bedrock and the lake’s slanted shoreline slabs.