The hardest hikes in Yoho National Park, by the numbers
Of the 68 trails in Yoho National Park in our dataset, 11 (16 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 11 are listed here, highest rating first.
Great Divide Trail leads with 7,343 ft of gain over 21.4 miles, 343 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 71 percent.
Across the 11, gain runs from 1,661 to 7,343 ft and distance from 3.4 miles to 25.6 miles; the median gain is 2,926 ft and the median distance 12.1 miles.
8 of the 11 are point-to-point routes; the rest are loop (2).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Divide TrailBC Rockies | 21.4 | 7,343 | 343 | 71% | 4,093 to 8,095 | 560.6 | |
| 2 | GDT ekw | 25.6 | 3,341 | 131 | 13% | 3,835 to 6,486 | 413.6 | |
| 3 | Yoho Valley LoopBC Rockies | 17.2 | 2,926 | 170 | 45% | 4,924 to 7,294 | 317.3 | |
| 4 | Emerald TriangleBC Rockies | 12.2 | 3,421 | 280 | 80% | 4,270 to 7,239 | 288.9 | |
| 5 | GDT ekm | 13.6 | 2,854 | 210 | 15% | 3,648 to 6,266 | 278.6 | |
| 6 | David Thompson Heritage Trail | 9.3 | 2,725 | 293 | 18% | 3,648 to 6,266 | 225.1 | |
| 7 | Mount Owen Route | 4.2 | 4,825 | 1,149 | 77% | 4,682 to 9,423 | 201.3 | |
| 8 | Amiskwi Pass Trail | 12.1 | 1,661 | 137 | 19% | 4,888 to 6,490 | 200.5 | |
| 9 | Iceline TrailBC Rockies | 7.3 | 2,573 | 352 | 45% | 4,947 to 7,294 | 193.8 | |
| 10 | Mount Burgess Route | 3.4 | 4,301 | 1,265 | 69% | 4,101 to 8,448 | 171 | |
| 11 | Mount Balfour Route | 5.9 | 1,971 | 334 | 51% | 8,533 to 10,174 | 152.5 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Yoho National Park" here means the 68 trails in Yoho National Park in our dataset, not every trail in Yoho National Park.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Great Divide Trail.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other parks in our dataset.