Wapta Highline Trail

What this hike is

The Wapta Highline is the airy traverse linking Burgess Pass and Yoho Pass high above Emerald Lake. Most hikers do it as a loop from Emerald Lake, combining the lakeshore, Yoho Pass, the highline itself, and Burgess Pass. Expect a full-value alpine day with big lake views, meadows, and a real sense of space.

Distance, effort, and direction

Plan on roughly 13–15 km total for the loop, with a sustained climb and about 400–500 m of elevation gain. Many hikers go clockwise (Emerald Lake → Wapta Highline → Yoho Pass → back to the lake) for a more gradual ascent. The tread is established but can be steep, rocky, and narrow in places, with a few exposed sidehills—trekking poles help. If you’re tight on time or energy, the standout stretch is the highline between Yoho Pass and Burgess Pass.

What you’ll see

This route serves up constant panoramas of Emerald Lake and the surrounding peaks, including Mount Burgess, Michael Peak, and the President Range, with occasional glimpses of Emerald Glacier. Subalpine meadows light up with wildflowers in summer. Keep an eye out for hoary marmots and pikas sunning on talus, and you may spot mountain goats along higher slopes. Near Yoho Pass, seasonal waterfalls add a nice surprise.

Best time to hike

Late June through September is the sweet spot. Snow can linger on the high traverses into late June (sometimes even July), so check current trail reports. July and early August bring peak wildflowers; fall offers crisp air and golden tones with fewer people. Start early to beat Emerald Lake crowds and for better light on the lake.

Practical tips

Park at the Emerald Lake lot near the lodge. Bring layers—weather flips fast at elevation—and carry bear spray; this is prime bear habitat. Early season brings lingering snow and mud on the highline; treat any stream water you use. Junctions are signed (Yoho Pass, Hamilton Lake, Burgess Pass), but a map or GPS helps keep you honest in the higher, more open sections. In winter and spring, this terrain carries avalanche risk—this is a summer/early fall hike.