Hidden Frozen Gems of Yoho & Kootenay Small Group Adventure

19 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 19 traveler reviews collected by Cool Banff and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Banff, Canada
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.

8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
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Overview

Yoho & Kootenay Winter Escape

Step into the quiet side of the Rockies in winter, where the crowds thin out and the parks feel like they belong to you alone. This tour takes you to iced-over Marble Canyon, Natural Bridge, Numa Falls, and Emerald Lake in full freeze, along with a few local viewpoints most visitors never find.

Ice cleats are included for every stop, with snowshoes available as an upgrade for guests who want to break trail through untouched powder.

Small group, hot drinks, and a guide who knows this valley through every season.

For those who want winter at its rawest and quietest.

What's Included

  • Tea and coffee Hot chocolate, coffee, or tea
  • Lunch Fresh lunch from a local favourite, Turkey sandwich by default. Preference or dietary need? Reach out for an alternative. Included for bookings on or after Aug. 5. Booked earlier? Call to add lunch.
  • Comfortable, premium transportation
  • Guide gratuities (optional)
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What To Expect

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Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park is a place of contrasts. Glaciers carved its valleys and canyons over thousands of years, while wildfire has shaped its grasslands more recently, opening the forest floor to new growth. The drive along the historic Kootenay Parkway takes you through both landscapes in a single afternoon.
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4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Marble Canyon

Just over the continental divide, where the Rockies cross from Alberta into British Columbia, lies one of our favourite local secrets: Marble Canyon.An easy 1.3 km out and back trail leads across several bridges, each one framing a different view down into the canyon and the turquoise water of Tokumm Creek below.If you like a bit of geology woven into your hikes, your guide can explain how this small creek carved through the pale sedimentary rock over thousands of years to form the canyon. Otherwise, just take in the view and let the colour of the water speak for itself.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Lower Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint

Witness one of the great feats of Canadian railway engineering on this Radventures small group adventure: the Spiral Tunnels.Two figure-eight tunnels loop through the mountains here, built in 1909 to replace a stretch of track so steep it had sent runaway trains, and workers, into the valley below. The spirals solved the problem by doubling the distance the trains travel, easing the grade enough to make the crossing safe.Time it right and you might catch a freight train looping through the mountain in front of you. Even without one, the surrounding peaks make this a worthwhile stop.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Emerald Lake

It's easy to see where Emerald Lake gets its name, even in winter, when the surface freezes into pale jade and white.The President Range rises around the lake on all sides, forming a natural amphitheater of towering, snow-loaded peaks and forested banks.As a Radventures guest, you get guaranteed, expedited entry right to the lakeshore. From there, you have 1.5 hours to explore. Walk the shoreline or just stand still. Emerald ice, snow-loaded peaks, and a quiet so deep you can hear the mountains breathing.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is a striking rock formation spanning the Kicking Horse River west of Field, where the slower-moving waters from the Field valley flats begin their descent through a canyon before meeting the Amiskwi River. In winter, ice builds up along the rock and riverbanks, adding a second layer of texture to a formation already shaped by water.The lookout offers a handful of vantage points over the formation, along with interpretive displays explaining the geology at work. It's an easy stop, just 3 km (1.9 miles) from Field on Emerald Lake Road, and far quieter in the winter months than in summer.The bridge itself was carved by the erosive force of rushing water, over what was once a waterfall. Softer rock beneath the hard limestone band wore away faster, and fissures widened over time until the river found a new path beneath the outcrop. Standing here in winter, with parts of the river frozen and the rest still churning beneath, it's easy to see that process still at work.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Yoho National Park

Here's the winter rewrite, with clichés and exclamation points removed and the waterfall language adjusted (frozen falls don't thunder):Yoho National Park might be one of the smaller parks in the Canadian Rockies, but we think it holds its own against any of them.Tucked just up the road from the busier Lake Louise and Banff, Yoho has an intimate feel despite its immense, snow-capped mountains and frozen waterfalls. In winter, the crowds thin out even further, leaving trails and viewpoints that feel like your own.This is a park for guests who want to get off the well-worn path, and we think it belongs on every Rockies itinerary.On this tour, your local Radventures guide decides the best order to visit each location, based on weather, road conditions, and a few other factors only locals would know, so you get the most out of the day, whatever winter throws at us.As one of our signature small group tours, we'll also take you to a few local spots most visitors never find.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Children 5 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Hidden Frozen Gems of Yoho & Kootenay Small Group Adventure?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-299389P20

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Reviews

5.00
19 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 19 traveler reviews collected by Cool Banff and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
19
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Tea and coffeeHot chocolate, coffee, or tea
  • LunchFresh lunch from a local favourite, Turkey sandwich by default. Preference or dietary need? Reach out for an alternative. Included for bookings on or after Aug. 5. Booked earlier? Call to add lunch.
  • Comfortable, premium transportation
  • Water refills (BYO bottle)
  • Small group guarantee (Max 12 guests)
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off at select Banff locations
  • Expert local guide trained in photography and storytelling
  • Guide gratuities (optional)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Children 5 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

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