A reserved bus seat from the Lake O'Hara parking lot, 12 km west of Lake Louise, to Lake O'Hara. Day-use seats are given out by random draw, with applications in March; seats not drawn are released later. This is the bus only: the Lake O'Hara campground is booked separately.
Plan your Lake O'Hara Bus trip here, then enter the lottery.
Lottery permit
How to get Lake O'Hara Bus
Day-use seats are given out by random draw on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, with applications in March, and seats not drawn are released later. PermitSnag does not check this booking system for openings yet, so there is no alert for this one.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See every permit in Canada.
How booking the Lake O'Hara Bus works
Lake O'Hara Day-Use Bus: Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. Parks Canada takes the bookings. Day-use seats are given out by random draw on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, with applications in March, and seats not drawn are released later.
How to get a Lake O'Hara Bus permit
- Type
- Day Use
- Location
- Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
- Group size
- Up to 6 people
Step 1: How it is booked
Day-use seats are given out by random draw on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, with applications in March, and seats not drawn are released later. PermitSnag does not check this booking system for openings yet, so there is no alert for this one.
Step 2: Book with the agency
Book Lake O'Hara Bus on reservation.pc.gc.ca. Have your dates, group size and payment ready.
Step 3: Check the agency page before you go
Fees, release days and closures change. Confirm the current rules on the agency's page before your trip.
In an emergency, call 911. When the operator answers, say you are in the backcountry of Yoho National Park, have an emergency and need the Warden Service. With a satellite phone, call 1 403 762 4506. Cell phones are not always reliable in the backcountry.
Lake O'Hara Bus FAQ
How do I get a Lake O'Hara bus reservation?
Apply in the Parks Canada random draw, which runs in March. Seats the draw does not fill are released later.
When is the Lake O'Hara random draw?
In 2026 you could apply from March 2 at 8:00 am to March 23 at 11:59 pm Mountain time. Parks Canada had not published the 2027 dates on October 29, 2026.
How many people can book the Lake O'Hara bus together?
Up to 6 people per reservation, and children aged 1 to 16 must be included.
Where does the Lake O'Hara bus leave from?
The Lake O'Hara parking lot, 12 km west of Lake Louise.
Can I get a Lake O'Hara bus seat if I lose the draw?
Seats not drawn are released later, and a cancellation returns its seats. This page does not check that system for you yet, so look at the agency page again as your dates get closer.