Family Fun in the Fall
Family Fun in the Fall
Your kids are going to love this route! It’s one of my favourites – because well, I’m a kid at heart. The Golden Triangle three-day route has you standing at the base of towering waterfalls, taking short hikes to awesome sites and interesting geological formations, stopping at spectacular viewpoints and screaming with delight at an outdoor adventure park. Sure, you can do it in the summer, but in the fall, there are less crowds and a magnificent display of autumn foliage. Pack the overnight bags – it’s going to get bumpy.
Yoho National Park showers you with splendor
I’m serious on the shower. There is a short relatively flat hike to the base of the 373-metre tall Takakkaw Falls. Enjoy the view from the brilliant red Parks Canada chairs, or follow the kids as they dash across the bridge towards the base of the falls. The water flows from the Daly Glacier, to drop and bounce for that final freefall of 254 metres. In July when the water shoots like a firehose, the spray drifts across the trees and anyone standing at the base gets soaked. In the fall however, the flow is diminished, the thunder of the waterfall is slightly less deafening, and the rocks are easier to wander through to the base. It really is magnificent.
Now that you have seen a waterfall from the bottom up, take a short drive to the Natural Bridge on the road to Emerald Lake to see that same flow of water cascades through a hole sculpted in the bedrock as it continues its journey to the coast. There are vantage points to see the feature near the parking lot but take the kids a bit further to see the water come gushing through the hole. All it took was a few million years for the water to erode through a layer of soft sediment, but you can see it all in less than an hour. Continue on the road to Emerald Lake for an easy walk around the shore or explore further on the rugged trails. Rent a canoe to dip a paddle in the beautiful teal blue waters.
Golden shines with family activities
Remember I said I was a kid at heart? The new Golden Sky Bridge attraction makes me giddy like a kid in a playground. Two of Canada’s highest suspension bridges draped 130 metres (426 ft) above the expansive canyon and waterfall. Yes, that’s cool but even better is the new Canyon Edge Challenge. Three different courses test your balance, nerve and ability on ladders, bridges, and ropes. It’s great for the whole family.
In the town of Golden, take a break and wander the new River Walk alongside the Kicking Horse River. Include a walk across the Kicking Horse Pedestrian bridge. It’s the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada. Stop in at the nearby sports and recreation shop to rent some gear to try disc golfings. If you can throw a Frisbee you can play disc golf at the course in Golden.
Have you met Boo yet? He is the grizzly bear living at the Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. I met him last summer and was amazed at how much I learned on my tour. Of course, he was on the other side of a fence but getting up close to a grizzly and learning about the species is a bucket list adventure for any age.
Wetlands to Hot Springs – it’s Radium
The Columbia River Wetlands stretching from Golden to Radium Hot Springs is a perfect area to slow down and play “Spot the wildlife.” More than 216 species of birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals all use this valley. Rent a few kayaks or paddleboards and drop them in the river to let the current take you on a journey. If you silently slip along with the current, the birds and shore species are less likely to flee too quickly. Last time we were through we saw a few Great Blue Herons. If you don’t like the option of getting wet, the 9-km long Old Coach Trail overlooks the wetlands and is perfect for hiking or biking. Considering it was first constructed in the 1920s for Model T cars, you know it will be easy.
If the kids are game for a few hours on a pretty hike, tempt them with the Sinclair Canyon Trail. It offers opportunities to see Sinclair Falls and the narrow canyon. The best part about this trail is that it ends in the Radium Hot Springs parking lot. Did you bring your swimsuit? Don’t worry if you didn’t. Parks Canada has some retro suits you can rent. After a day on the trail or paddling the waterways, a soak in the mineral rich hot water is appreciated by any age.
In Radium, you’ll see the resident Bighorn Sheep wandering through town. Always keep your distance. Those horns mean business. See if the kids want to tour the town and nearby trails on a Segway.
Travelling along highway 93 there are a few perfect spots to let the kids out to explore the colours. Olive Lake boardwalk is super short. The kids will love how the lake changes colours with the light. The trees will be putting on a brilliant orange and red show too. Further along is Marble Canyon. In the summer, the short trail to see the emerald-blue glacier-fed stream tumble through the gorge can be crowded, but in the fall, you’ve got the trail to yourself.
Chutes Wapta
Rendez-vous jusqu’à la cascade d’eau la plus imposante de la rivière Kicking Horse.
Faites une randonnée facile de 4,6 km (aller-retour) dans une forêt verdoyante pour accéder à plusieurs points de vue saisissants.
Pont naturel
À quelques pas du terrain de stationnement, contemplez toute la puissance de la rivière Kicking Horse qui coule en cascade sous un pont en roche formé par Dame Nature.
Lac Emerald
Admirez toute la beauté des paysages et des fleurs sauvages pendant une balade autour de ce lac aux couleurs de pierre précieuse. Apportez de quoi pique-niquer ou optez pour une balade en canot et laissez-vous charmer par le panorama.
Chutes Takakkaw
Faites une balade panoramique en voiture sur une route de montagne. Ensuite, rafraîchissez-vous sous la vapeur d’eau qui jaillit du pied de l’une des plus hautes chutes du Canada.
Cherchez les chaises rouges de Parcs Canada le long du sentier.
Field
Promenez-vous dans le village de Field et faites l’expérience de l’hospitalité des montagnes.
Passez la nuit dans un petit hôtel unique en son genre ou savourez les délices culinaires de cette localité pleine de charme.
Randonnées guidées – Schistes argileux de Burgess
Saisissez dans vos mains un fragment de l’histoire de la Terre au cours d’une randonnée guidée qui vous mène à la carrière Walcott ou au mont Stephen, deux sites fossilifères à accès restreint. Réservations obligatoires.
Centre d’accueil du parc national Yoho
Situé le long de la Transcanadienne, dans la collectivité de Field, en Colombie-Britannique.
Faites-y une halte pour obtenir des conseils utiles sur le secteur et des renseignements à jour sur l’état des sentiers.
Les expositions vous font découvrir les caractéristiques du parc.
Faites un saut à la boutique de l’association coopérante Friends of Yoho pour acheter un souvenir de votre voyage.
Tunnels en spirale et lieu historique national du Col-Kicking Horse
Regardez les trains qui serpentent à flanc de montagne et admirez les pics majestueux qui ont inspiré les récits du lieu historique national du Col-Kicking Horse.
Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site
Watch trains snake through the hillside and discover how Yoho's towering peaks inspired the stories of the Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site.
Yoho Visitor Centre
Located on the Trans-Canada Highway in the community of Field, British Columbia.
Stop in for helpful advice on the area as well as current trail conditions.
Displays and exhibits teach you about the unique features in Yoho.
Pop by the Friends of Yoho store for a souvenir from your travels.
Burgess Shale Guided Fossil Hikes
Hold a piece of earth's history on a guided hike to the restricted Walcott Quarry or Mount Stephen fossil sites.
Reservations are required.