Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls & Canadian Rockies Hidden Gems

A land of ice and fire, Kootenay National Park is a place of contrasts, with valleys and canyons carved by glaciers and grasslands marked by fire. Take a scenic drive along its historic highway.

Just over the continental divide, where the Rockies cross from Alberta into British Columbia, lays one of our favourite local secrets in Marble Canyon.

Awaiting us here is an easy 1.3 kilometre out and back trail that crosses several bridges providing amazing views across the canyon and down into the startling turquoise water of Tokumm Creek below.

If you like a learning moment woven into on your hikes, stop to marvel at how this little creek carved through the creamy coloured sedimentary rock over millennia to create the canyon. Otherwise, just marvel at the beauty.

Witness a historical example of engineering ingenuity firsthand on the first stop of this jam-packed and award-winning Radventures small group adventure.

Sprial Tunnels make up two vast figure-eight tracks that run through the mountains and mark the site where a train plummeted into the lake, killing three workers.

You may just see a freight train pass through; if not, the picturesque mountain range makes this short stop worthwhile!

It’s pretty easy to figure out where Emerald Lake gets its name.

If the colour of the lake isn't enough to move you, the surrounding landscape certainly will!

The President Range mountains surround the lake and form a natural amphitheater of the grandest scale with towering peaks and forested banks.

As our guest on this small group tour, you’ll get guaranteed & expedited entry right to the shoreline of the lake.

Here, you will have 1.5 hours to explore the lakeside trails, rent a canoe or simply hang out under a tree and watch the world go by!

Natural Bridge is an impressive natural rock formation that spans the flow of the Kicking Horse River west of Field, where the slower-moving waters from the Field valley flats begin their descent through a canyon to be joined by the Amiskwi River.

The Natural Bridge lookout presents visitors with the opportunity to view the formation from a variety of different vantage points, with interpretive displays explaining the physical processes at work. The bridge can easily be reached by car just 3km (1.9 miles) from Field on Emerald Lake Road.

Sculpted by the erosive forces of rushing water over what had once been a waterfall, the Natural Bridge is a powerful reminder of how much influence water has in shaping the landscape. Softer rock found below the Natural Bridge's hard limestone band eroded more quickly, and fissures in the rock widened until the flow of water was diverted below the outcrop.

At 1,224 ft, Takakkaw Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies and the second tallest in Canada.

As the snow and ice melt in the early summer, they fuel the cascading water creating picturesque mist through the pines. If you’re lucky, you may see a rainbow or two at its base.

It’s no wonder that the waterfall is based on the Cree word for “wonderful”, to go hand in hand with national park name of Yoho, which is the Cree expression of awe and amazement, similar to “wow.”

Yoho National Park might be one of the smaller parks in the Canadian Rockies, but we believe it packs the biggest punch!

Located a little further up the road from the busy & bustling Lake Louise & Banff National Park, Yoho National Park has an intimate feel, despite being filled with immense, snow-capped mountains and thundering waterfalls!

This beautiful region is heaven for explorers looking to escape the ordinary, and we think it should be on everyone’s Rockies bucket list.

On this tour, your fun & local expert Radventures guide will determine the best times to visit each of these locations, in no particular order, based on weather conditions, big bus tour schedules & a few other factors that we as locals consider to ensure that you, as our valued guests, are getting the best and most authentic experience on the day.

As one of our signature small group tours, we'll also treat you to a few secret local spots with incredible views too!