Lake O'Hara Bus Gear List
At Lake O'Hara Parks Canada asks every hiker to carry bear spray and pack out all garbage, including toilet paper. The higher routes stay snow-bound until late June, and the alpine routes are for hikers comfortable with heights and route finding.
What Parks Canada says to carry
Bear spray
Parks Canada asks visitors to carry it, and not to feed or approach wildlife.
Bags to pack out garbage
All garbage, including food waste, diapers, sanitary products and toilet paper.
Cash
The Le Relais day shelter sells hot drinks and snacks for cash only.
A satellite device
SPOT or inReach devices and satellite phones are often the only devices that work in Yoho's backcountry.
Food, water, bear spray, clothing and footwear for the road
If you walk the 22 km round trip on the road instead of riding the bus.
On the bus and the road
No pets on the bus
Pets are allowed on the road when leashed.
No cycling on the road
Parks Canada prohibits it.
Bulky items
Hard-sided coolers, storage bins, plastic bags and loose items are not permitted on the bus.
The terrain
Snow until late June
Prime hiking season runs July through late September. Before that, many higher routes are still snow-bound and may carry avalanche hazard.
Alpine routes
Five alpine routes are for experienced hikers comfortable with route finding, heights and exposed terrain, and may cross scree or boulder fields.
Stay off the glacier at Opabin
Parks Canada warns of dangerous crevasses.
Stay on the trails
This limits trail braiding, trampling and erosion.
Gear questions for Lake O'Hara
Do you need bear spray at Lake O'Hara?
Parks Canada asks visitors to Lake O'Hara to carry bear spray and not to feed or approach wildlife.
Can you bring a dog on the Lake O'Hara bus?
No. Pets are prohibited on the bus. They are allowed on the road when leashed.
When is the snow gone at Lake O'Hara?
Parks Canada says prime hiking season runs July through late September. Until late June many higher routes are still snow-bound.
Sources
- Parks Canada: Yoho, visiting Lake O'Hara
- Parks Canada: Yoho, Lake O'Hara
- Parks Canada: Yoho, Lake O'Hara trails
- Parks Canada: Yoho safety
Checked against the agency pages above on November 9, 2026. This page names no products, and it lists what the agency says, in our words. Check the agency page for rules that changed since.
In an emergency in Canada, call 911.