Yoho National Park lies on the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia, where the Continental Divide forms its eastern boundary. The park protects rugged mountain terrain, glaciers, alpine meadows, deep valleys, and fast-flowing rivers across more than 1,300 square kilometres. Its name comes from a Cree expression of amazement, reflecting the dramatic character of the landscape. The Kicking Horse River valley provides a natural route through the park, while the village of Field serves as its main community and a useful centre for exploring the surrounding mountains and attractions.

Yoho National Park is within the traditional lands of the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc peoples, who have used the region for hunting, fishing, gathering, and travel for generations. Indigenous travel routes through the mountains later influenced transportation corridors used by settlers and railway builders. The Canadian Pacific Railway remains an important part of the park’s cultural landscape, with the historic Kicking Horse Pass and Spiral Tunnels illustrating the challenges of crossing the Rockies. Field contains several heritage buildings, including a historic Canadian Pacific Railway station, while other protected sites preserve stories connected to mountain travel and exploration.

Yoho contains several notable natural landmarks, including Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls, and Wapta Falls, the largest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River. Emerald Lake is surrounded by forested slopes and high peaks, while Lake O’Hara is known for its alpine lakes, hanging valleys, and carefully managed trail network. The park is also home to the Burgess Shale, where exceptionally preserved fossils record ancient marine life. Hiking trails range from short walks near major viewpoints to demanding mountain routes, and the park provides habitat for mountain goats, grizzly bears, wolverines, pikas, and many bird species.

Yoho’s food culture is concentrated around the small community of Field and visitor facilities within and near the park, where menus commonly draw on Canadian and regional ingredients. The area is especially notable for its connection to mountain railway history, which can be seen in the engineering works around Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels. The Burgess Shale is another unusual feature: its fossils preserve soft-bodied marine animals from a period of rapid diversification in early animal life and provide important evidence about ancient marine ecosystems. Together, the park’s geology, wildlife, Indigenous connections, and railway heritage give Yoho a distinctive character within the Canadian Rockies.