Hiking Wapta Falls in Winter

Hiking to Wapta Falls in winter is the perfect way to spend a chilly day in the Canadian Rockies. The Wapta Falls hike is in Yoho National Park which is close to Banff and features a gorgeous frozen waterfall.

Some other notable stops in Yoho you can make when you hike Wapta Falls this winter are the Natural Bridge, Morant’s Curve, and Emerald Lake.

Now, let’s go hiking!

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How to get to Wapta Falls Trailhead

Wapta Falls is in Yoho National Park which is located approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Banff and half an hour from Golden.

The road leading to Wapta Falls is closed in the winter – you can check the Parks Canada page for more information regarding road closures.

There’s no shuttle that takes you to the Wapta Falls trailhead, so you’ll have to drive. If you don’t have a car you’ll need to rent one.

About Wapta Falls Winter Hike

Distance: 4.8km (+3.6km in the winter)
Elevation gain: 125m
Rated: easy
Type of trail: out & back
Estimated time: 2hrs

The alternate Route to Wapta Falls Lookout via the South Loop is 4.5km with 140m gain. I didn’t hike this way, but the Alltrails reviews say you can’t hike down to the falls from this point. I imagine you might be able to find a way to hike over to the falls during winter because the river is frozen, but I can’t confirm whether this is true or not.

This trail is easy, well trafficked (moderately trafficked in winter) and easy to follow. During the winter months you’ll have to hike an extra 1.8km both ways due to a road closure. It’s totally worth the extra few kilometres though!

If you’re hiking Wapta Falls in winter I’d recommend waiting until mid January to hike to ensure the falls are frozen. This makes for much more dramatic scenery.

The Wapta Falls winter hike starts on a long road with no views. If you’re hiking after a fresh snowfall, I’d definitely recommend wearing snowshoes or cross country skiing to the Wapta Falls trailhead.

After hiking 1.8km down the road with some (minimal) elevation gain you’ll reach the actual trailhead which leads directly into the forest.

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The Wapta Falls trail gently gains elevation via switchbacks. You may cross a few fallen logs/trees along the way, but for the most part the path is clear in winter. You can expect some roots in summer.

Wapta Falls Viewpoint

You’ll come to a viewpoint overlooking Wapta Falls. Hike down from here then up the small hill in front of Wapta Falls to get the full, unimpeded view of this frozen beauty. Be warned though – the hike down is very slippery! My brother hiked this trail with me and we were sliding all over the place. We had to hold onto trees to pull ourselves up and just slide down on our butts.

I’ll talk more about essential winter hiking gear and clothes next, but I’d recommend bringing micro-spikes on this hike for sure. They’re especially useful when you hike up close to the waterfall as the spray freezes all the snow.

Wapta Falls in winter is by far the most scenic hikes in the snowy Canadian Rockies. If I could recommend one winter hike, it would surely be this one!

Where to Stay in Yoho

Booking.com

Hostels – HI Yoho Whiskey Jack Wilderness Hostel, Dreamcatcher Hostel (25 minute drive).
Mid-range hotel – Canadian Rockies Inn (adults only).
Luxury stay – Emerald Lake Lodge is an iconic hotel in the Rockies featuring a restaurant, bungalows, canoe rentals, and more. Cathedral Mountain Lodge is another gorgeous lodging option in Yoho where you’ll have the opportunity to stay in log cabins.
Camp – reservation info.
See all Yoho lodging options.
See Golden lodging options (25 minutes away).

1 Day Yoho Itinerary

Looking for More Adventures in British Columbia?

The Holistic Backpacker is full of hiking and travel resources for destinations all over the Canadian Rockies.

The following are a few of my personal favourites, but you can find all my BC guides here:

Explore Alberta

Alberta is British Columbia’s next door neighbour and is home to incredible National Parks and Wildland areas like Kananaskis Country, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton National Park, etc.

You can find all my hiking guides and travel resources for Alberta here.

Essential Gear For Winter Hiking

Who says hiking is just for the summer months!? Winter hiking can be absolutely exhilarating and it offers the chance to see some pretty spectacular frozen wonders.

Before you set off for your next winter hike though, it’s important to note that you’ll need extra gear and you’ll definitely need extra layers to stay warm! I’ve outlined exactly what you’ll need for a typical day-hike during the warmer months here, however I’ll quickly break down some winter hiking essentials.

Let’s start with footwear. In addition to Gore-tex hiking boots – I wear these (men’s version) – you’ll want the following:

Micro-spikes are chains with grips that attach to your boots. These help you navigate slippery and icy terrain. Micro-spikes can get quite expensive, but these ones seem to be of good quality and are priced affordably.

Ice cleats are a version of micro-spikes, but they have less grip. These are ideal for hikes that aren’t overly icy and when you only need a small amount of grip to avoid slipping.

Snowshoes are necessary only when you’re breaking in a fresh trail with new snow. If the trail you’re hiking is already packed down there’s no need for these. If you’re hiking in fresh snow though, snowshoes are a lifesaver.

What To Wear Winter Hiking

Now that we have proper footwear covered, let’s quickly go over a few clothing essentials for winter hiking. The most important thing is layering. I’ve found the best combination for lower body to be leggings or merino base layers under a pair of soft shell pants. For upper body I’d recommend wearing a long sleeve dry-fit/merino top layered with a puffer jacket and waterproof jacket. The following are the clothes I always wear for winter hiking:

Softshell pants are durable and warm. They’re like a thin and more mobile version of snow pants. I have these ones (men’s version) and I’ve been using them for years for winter hiking, skating, and doing errands in the cold months.

A water proof jacket in my opinion is the most important layer when it comes to hiking. A waterproof jacket traps your body heat and it protects you from wind and rain/snow. I use this one (men’s version) which is lightweight, compact, and its easy to pack as an extra layer because it folds into it’s own pocket!

A puffer jacket acts as your warm layer. I have this one (men’s version) and I absolutely love it. It’s affordable, packs down small, and its hoodless! If temperatures will be really cold you can also pack a fleece zip. This fleece (men’s version) is great for winter hiking.

Additionally you’ll also want to pack a toque and warm mittens. I have these mitts (men’s version) which have become my favourite mitts for skiing, backcountry camping, and winter hiking. They’ve got tons of fun features and they come with glove liners which keep your hands extra warm.

Explore my extensive gear guide for day-hiking

Read my guide for exactly what to wear hiking

Find all my hiking trail guides

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