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Outdoors

Iceline Trail Hike

Climb from Takakkaw Falls to the Iceline, a high bench with close views of glaciers, then descend past Celeste Lake through alpine meadows and subalpine forest back to the Yoho Valley.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Iceline Trail near Yoho, British Columbia
Photo: Iceline Trail, British Columbia, Canada (Unsplash) by Alex Shutin fiveamstories, CC0 (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Yoho, British Columbia, Canada
Distance
17.4 km loop
Climb
970 m
Time
7 hours
Difficulty
Hard

The route

Iceline via Celeste Lake loop from Takakkaw Falls.

The loop starts at the Takakkaw Falls car park at the end of Yoho Valley Road, 17 km north-east of Field, British Columbia.

When to go

Yoho Valley Road is open from mid-June to mid-October; snow can linger or arrive early on the high section.

Permits and fees

You need a Yoho National Park pass (adult day pass $12.25 in 2026).

Before you go

  • Parking at Takakkaw Falls is limited and fills early in summer and at weekends, so arrive early or have a backup plan.
  • Vehicles over 7 m must reverse to get round the tight switchbacks on Yoho Valley Road, and trailers are not permitted.
  • For a longer day, the Iceline via Little Yoho loop is 20.3 km with 1,090 m of climbing (about 8 hours) and returns via Laughing Falls.
  • There is limited mobile coverage in the park, so download maps before you set off.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

Plan for a long day: 7 hours.

Build up with a few walks of four hours or more first, ideally with climbing and the pack you will carry. Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • Parks Canada rates both Iceline loops as difficult; on 29 September 2026 its trail report listed deadfall on the trail and snow at high elevation.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against parks.canada.ca, pcweb2.azureedge.net, parks.canada.ca and parks.canada.ca. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.