Iceline Trail (7/17/2026)

The Iceline truly is a "premier and classic" hike according to the book entitled "Don't Waste Your Time in the Rockies". Yoho National Park is smaller than the other parks in the Canadian Rockies and yet has the heaviest concentration of high-impact scenery. Let's get out and enjoy it while also making good use of our long summer day!

Please read the information below prior to signing up.

The pace will be moderate but steady. We'll park at the end of the trail and walk to the trailhead (much nicer way to end the day). After the warmup to the trailhead, we head up a steep incline for about 45 min, and then proceed for another hour on more gentle up before stopping for lunch. After lunch is a short climb of about 120 m before we reach the high point and begin decending towards Little Yoho Valley. We'll then continue down and around the loop, passing by Laughing Falls on our way out to the parking lot. Please ensure that you have completed at least one D5 level hike (similar distance and/or elevation, shorter but steeper or less steep but longer) or several D4s prior to registering - this is not a season opener! No beginners or speed demons please. We'll break into two speed groups, but aiming to stay in groups of at least 4.

Note that PC limits groups to 10, so I'll be sticking to that. This is a popular hike, so please do not take a spot unless you are certain you will attend. Finally, do not be in a rush to get back to Calgary- this is a full day event. Carpools may decide to stop for food on the way home if they wish, but I'll leave that to each vehicle group to decide.

Hike description

The Iceline is a desolate yet dramatic route beside Emerald Glacier and the President Range, offering expansive views across Yoho Valley towards Takkakaw Falls and Daly Glacier. To reach this stark land of rock and ice entails a stiff climb from the floor of Yoho Valley, but you are rewarded along the way with expansive views over the valley - so much visual bombardment, in fact, that you may be distracted from noticing too much the steep elevation gain.

The narrow trail leaves Whiskey Jack's parking area and climbs quickly through lush vegetation, with good views back to the falls. It winds steeply up the hillside, entering denser, old growth forest after 10 minutes. Switchback steeply through large spruce trees, accompanied by the constant roar of Takakkaw Falls.