Lake O'Hara at its Most Spectacular Time of the Year

Classic hiking trails, opportunities to get off the beaten track, and everything from old growth to alpine. Lake O’Hara is a gem of the Rockies. Come spend 5 days with us hiking and exploring pristine lakes, beautiful mountains and all during larch season!

This time of year the larch trees turn and the mountains are suddenly covered in a yellow blanket. What’s more is you’ll be staying the in one of the ACC’s oldest huts, Elizabeth Parker. The trail system around Lake O'Hara is one of the most extensive and well maintained networks in the Canadian Rookies, accessing 25 named lakes.

A variety of daily trips will be led by professional ACMG guides dedicated to your safety, enjoyment an discovery of the area. Food will be provided so all you have to worry about is taking in the views.

Camp Objectives

Hike, hike and hike! Guides know the best lookouts to take photos and all the best trails but some classic hikes are: Odaray Grandview, Lake Oesa, Lake McArthur, Opabin Platea.

Day by Day Adventure Itinerary 
  •  
  • Day 1: Meet your group at the Lake O’Hara bus parking lot (just past Lake Louise) and take the 15:30 bus into Lake O’Hara. Unload at the hut.
  • Days 2, 3, 4 (general itinerary): Get up early to enjoy the best views on one of the many trails from the hut
  • Day 5: Opportunity to do one last hike before packing up and catching the 1630 pm bus back to the parking lot.
Is this Camp For Me?

This camp is designed for anyone who wants to hike in the mountains. You don’t need previous hiking experience but you should be prepared to walk 4-9 hours with a light day bag. Some trails will be rocky and uneven but no climbing is necessary. There will be the opportunity for more challenging hikes but this is not mandatory.

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food

To keep the cost of this course as low as possible for participants, food will not be provided as part of the course. Please bring 5 lunches 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners as well as your favorite snacks!

Accommodation

The Elizabeth Parker hut rests in a scenic alpine meadow and provides excellent access to a variety of hiking and climbing objective. One of the most popular huts the ACC maintains and for good reason. The Wiwaxy Cabin (smaller of the 2 buildings)  was constructed in 1912 and the larger Hut was laid down in 1919. The historic log buildings are named in honor of Elizabeth Parker a founding member of the ACC  

You will also be visiting the Peyto Hut, a popular destination on the Wapta providing access to a range of classic Rockies mountaineering objectives. Providing a view you may not have seen before the chance to see Peyto Lake with a  birds eye view.

Guiding

Our guiding ratio will be a maximum of 8:1. This camp is guided by ACMG-certified hiking guides.

The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!

Rentals

If you don't have everything on the gear list and aren't ready to invest in your own, there are many awesome local businesses that rent out all of the equipment you will need.  Be sure to reserve your rentals ahead of time to make sure everything you need is available for you when you need it.

  • Coming from the Bow Valley? Check out GearUp in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!
  • Coming from Calgary? We recommend renting your gear from MEC, the University of Calgary Outdoors Center, or the Norseman.
  • Coming from the Revelstoke? Give Revelstoke Powder Rentals a try.

 

 

Your Guides

Hiking Hazards

  • Terrain
    • Cornices
    • Crevasses
    • Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps
    • Creeks
    • Rocks and Boulders
    • Variable and difficult walking terrain
    • Impact or collision with other persons or objects
    • Encounters with domestic or wild animals
    • Contact with poisonous flora or fauna
    • Loss of balance or control
    • Slips, trips, and falls
      • Hazard Mitigation
    • Our ACMG certified guides have experience and training to manage this risk
    • Radios and/or other communication devices
    • Your guide will be carrying bear spray if an encounter is possible
  • Communication, rescue, and medical treatment
    • Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident rescue and treatment may not be available
    • Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment or transportation out of the field,
    • Alpine weather conditions can be extreme and change rapidly without warning making travel by helicopter, dangerous
    • If an injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow
      • Hazard Mitigation
    • Your guide is trained in both backcountry first-aid and rescue techniques
    • Emergency response plans
    • Satellite communication tools
  • Other
    • Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor
    • Infectious disease contracted via direct or indirect contact, including but not limited to influenza or Covid-19
    • Equipment failure
    • Negligence of other persons, including other guests
    • Negligence of the guide Including failure to to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, oh participating in ACC activities
      • Hazard Mitigation
    • Your guide is trained in both backcountry first-aid and rescue techniques
    • Satellite communication tools

Adventure Map

Details

  •  September 8th - 12th, 2023
  •  $900+ Tax
REGISTER NOW Gear List  

Trip Waivers and Liability Page

Before registering, please review our Waivers and Liability page.

More Information

Please try to register online before calling. If you are having issues please try to have your emergency contact information and course questionnaire filled out before calling.

Email Us  

(403)-678-3200 ext 312
Cancellation Policy  
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips: 

Travel Insurance

 

INCLUDED WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

  • 5 days of professional guiding at max 8:1 ratios by certified ACMG hiking guides 
  • 4 nights accommodation at the Elizabeth Parker Hut
  • All Group Gear

PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE

  • Transportation to and from the trailhead
  • Food for your trip (4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, and snacks!)
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Organizing Fantastic ACC Adventures For Over 100 Years

  • Local Knowledge - based out of Canmore, AB, we know the Rockies region and the best local caterers, guides and porters
  • Dedicated resources - full-time office staff, ACMG guides and group equipment on-hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly
  • Not-for-profit - any money we make on camps and courses is reinvested into providing services for our members and the mountain community