Iceline to Whaleback to Twin Falls

August 8, 2016 by Bill Rowe ·

Twin Falls. Yoho Nat Park

August 3 Wednesday 2016

Hiking the Iceline trail to Celeste lake, Whaleback trail and onto Twin Falls, passing Laughing Falls on the way back. I have hiked and described The Iceline Trail on this link. https://willski.ca/iceline-trail-yoho/ The trail begins at Takakkaw Falls. Turn off Hwy 1 near Field to the Kicking Horse Campground and the Cathedral Mountain Chalets. It is about 0.5 km to the Whiskey Jack Hostel, crossing the road to the trail head. 1.3 km to the Yoho Pass Trail to Emerald Lake. 4.5 km to the Celeste lake right turn. The views are spectacular with Micheal Peak and the Vice President with the lower portion of the Emerald Glacier on your left. To the right is Takakkaw Falls and the Daly Glacier feeding out of the Waputik Icefields with Mt Niles and Mt Daly. We then decided not to go to the Stanley Mitchell ACC Hut but drop down to Celeste Lake. Just before the lake we were fortunate to watch an Alpine Helicopter land right in front of us and drop off a trial worker. I called him Mr. Happy as he was very grumpy and I think he liked his own company better than ours. Past Celeste Lake it is not far to Little Yoho Valley Trail, which is 4.2 km from the Iceline Trail. Cross a bridge over the river and in 0.1 km turn left up the endless switchbacks of the Whaleback Trail 4.0 km to Twin Falls. Great views of more glaciers to the north at the top of the trail. Drop down to the stream that feeds Twin Falls and over the bridge. Take a look at the view down to Twin Falls Chalet. More switchbacks down the 2.7 km trail to the view point of Twin Falls and the Chalet. We chose to take the 1.5 km trail to Twin Falls Campground. Marpole Connector Trail is an alternative. I read it was a bit boring. 2.3 km to the Laughing Falls and another 4.5 km along the Yoho River back to the car. Thanks to Vince and David for coming out with me on what looked like being a wet day but turned into great day in Yoho Park.