Yoho’s Natural Bridge – Best Canadian Rockies Day Hikes

#39 – Canadian Rockies Day Hikes: Yoho’s Natural Bridge

Yoho's Natural Bridge
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  • Location: Yoho National Park
  • Trailhead: Kicking Horse Fire Road
  • Type: Out-n-Back
  • Rating: Easy
  • Total Distance: Less than 0.25-mile
  • Trailhead Elevation: 3,960′
  • Recommended Time: 15-min
  • Recommended Season: Mid-May to Early-October

Yoho’s Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is a rock formation that spans a small but powerful waterfall on the Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park. The water has cut through the bedrock carving a unique rock arch that crosses over the falls. The eroded stone arch doesn’t simply cross over the falls in a horizontal plane like other rock arches but rather zig-zags in a bizarre and unique orientation that seemingly follows the flow of the water underneath it. We’ve seen many natural arches but Yoho’s Natural Bridge might be the most unique.

Kicking Horse River
The Kicking Horse River is a torrent of snow and glacier meltwater as it crashes into the channel that carved out the Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park.

Hiking the Natural Bridge

Yoho's Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park has been carved out by the Kicking Horse River.

The “hike” to see this formation is as easy as they get. The parking lot is adjacent to the formation and the park’s service has put in a bridge for easy viewing. Even though this isn’t much of a hike, it is a must-see place when in the Canadian Rockies.

Longer Hiking Options

Emerald Lake Flowers
The staff at the Emerald Lake Hotel cultivate flowers that add even more color to the fringes of the turquoise lake.

If you are looking for a longer trek after taking in Yoho’s Natural Bridge you can hike (or bike) the Kicking Horse Fire Road (8-miles total) to the confluence of the Emerald, Amiskwi, and Kicking Horse Rivers, or head up to Emerald Lake and hike the loop there.

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One Comment Add yours

  1. Anonymous says:

    Seems along time past to be out and about. What a great memory and hopefully will all resume shortly. Stay healthy

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