Lake O'Hara is a
lake
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
at an elevation of in the alpine area of
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park ( ) is a National Parks of Canada, national park of Canada. It is located within the Canadian Rockies, Rocky Mountains along the western slope of the Continental Divide of the Americas in southeastern British Columbia, bordere ...
, in the province of
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
, on the western side of the
Great Divide with the province of
Alberta
Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...
and
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada, Canada's first National Parks of Canada, national park, established in 1885 as Rocky Mountains Park. Located in Alberta's Rockies, Alberta's Rocky Mountains, west of Calgary, Banff encompasses of mountainous ter ...
to the east. The lake and the valley are accessible through a bus service that is run by Parks Canada or by an 11 km hike along a road with an elevation gain of approximately 500m.
The area is known for its scenery as well as its alpine hiking. Visitors often follow the climbing trails which ascend from Lake O'Hara to
Lake Oesa and to
Opabin Lake. The number of people who access the area by bus has been limited in order to preserve the sensitive alpine environment.
The area is named after Colonel Robert O'Hara, an Irishman from Derryhoyle, Craughwell, County
Galway
Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...
who heard about the area from J.J. McArthur, a government surveyor.
The
Elizabeth Parker Alpine Club Hut is in the Meadows about a 15-minute walk from the Lodge. It is a ski destination in the winter, with many skiers doing it as a day trip.
Artwork of the Lake O'Hara area
File:John Singer Sargent - Lake O'Hara - Inlån JSS 512-01 - Nationalmuseum.jpg, John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era, Edwardian-era luxury. He created roughly 900 oil ...
's 1916 painting of Lake O'Hara.
File:Sargent - Lake O'Hara, 1916, 1969.185.jpg, Watercolor sketch of Lake O'Hara by John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era, Edwardian-era luxury. He created roughly 900 oil ...
, 1916.
File:Lake McArthur, Yoho Park - James MacDonald.jpg, Lake McArthur by J. E. H. MacDonald, 1924.
File:Mount Lefroy - James MacDonald.jpg, J. E. H. MacDonald painting of Mount Lefroy (1932)
File:J.E.H. MacDonald - Mountain Solitude (Lake Oesa) - Google Art Project.jpg, J. E. H. MacDonald painting of Lake Oesa (1932).
See also
*
List of lakes in Yoho National Park
References
External links
Lake O'Hara LodgeLake O'Hara Trails ClubLake O'Hara – Yoho National Park
{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Hara
Lakes of British Columbia
Yoho National Park
Columbia Country
Continental Ranges
Kootenay Land District