Emerald Lake
If you’ve ever wondered how a lake gets its name, Emerald Lake doesn’t require much imagination. The first time you see it, the color almost doesn’t seem real. Brilliant greenish-blue water stretches beneath the towering President Range, surrounded by dense forest and dramatic mountain peaks. It is, without a doubt, our favorite lake in the Canadian Rockies.
Emerald Lake is the largest lake in Yoho National Park, and its spectacular setting makes it one of the most recognizable destinations in British Columbia. The mountains surround the lake like a natural amphitheater, creating a scene that feels almost perfectly composed. And then there’s the water.
The incredible color isn’t a trick of photography. Emerald Lake gets its distinctive color from glacial rock flour. As glaciers move across the surrounding mountains, they grind the underlying rock into incredibly fine particles. These particles are carried into the lake by glacial meltwater. When sunlight hits the suspended rock flour, it scatters and refracts the light, creating the lake’s famous turquoise-to-emerald appearance. The color can be particularly vivid on sunny summer days, especially during July and August. We visited in October, and while the color wasn’t necessarily at its summer peak, the combination of the lake, mountains, and fall foliage was spectacular.
Travel Tip
Parking can be difficult. If visiting during peak season, arriving early is your best bet.
During the summer, the main public parking lot can fill quickly, particularly around midday.
Emerald Lake isn’t quite as crowded as Lake Louise, but don’t assume that means parking will be easy.
There are several ways to enjoy Emerald Lake. You can rent a canoe and explore the lake from the water, or simply walk along its shoreline. The complete Emerald Lake Loop is approximately 5.2 km (3.2 miles).
We didn’t have enough daylight to complete the entire loop, so we decided to hike a portion of the trail instead. And honestly, it was one of the best decisions we could have made.
The crowds near the parking area and bridge began to disappear as we walked farther along the shoreline. The lake became quieter. The views opened up. And we could finally appreciate the peaceful side of Emerald Lake. We spent more than an hour hiking, photographing, and simply relaxing beside the water. For us, this was the perfect way to end our time in Yoho.
Photography Tips
This is the place to spend some time experimenting.
Photograph the lake from different points along the shoreline. Use the mountains as a backdrop. Look for reflections.
And don’t forget to turn around—the views behind you can be just as impressive.
Pro tip: Early morning and late afternoon light generally produce much more interesting landscape photographs than harsh midday sunlight.