Wapta Falls Trail
A family-friendly forest walk to the widest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River.
Route overview
Follow the marked forest trail from the day-use area to the official Wapta Falls viewpoints and return.
The trail descends through forest toward a broad viewpoint over Wapta Falls, where the Kicking Horse River drops across a wide rock step. Roots, mud and a final descent toward the river make the outing rougher than a paved waterfall walk. There is no maintained route to the base, so visitors must remain on signed trails and viewpoints.
Trail facts
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- Yoho National Park, British Columbia
- Distance
- 4.4 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 1.5 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation gain
- official one-way profile 80 m gain and 115 m loss
- Best season
- Late May through October when the access road is open
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No hiking permit; national park entry required
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Wet and muddy sections, roots, unmaintained terrain toward the base, strong current and seasonal road closure
Highlights
Wapta Falls, Kicking Horse River, mature forest and powerful spring runoff
Why find a buddy
A low-commitment first meetup where a partner adds river-edge awareness and wildlife vigilance.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.