The scenery around Lake O’Hara is some of the finest in the Rockies, with a flawless mix of alpine and sub-alpine terrain and pretty lakes hard up against the Continental Divide. The rugged slopes of Mt. Lefroy (3423m) and Mt. Victoria (3464m) frame the scene to perfection.

And that’s the region’s problem: it’s too beautiful to cope with the influx of people that would arrive here if there weren’t tight restrictions on numbers. The 11km road from Hwy-1 is not open to general traffic (or bikes), so the only way to get up here is to hike ($9.75 fee), or get a place on the daily shuttle bus ($15/adult + $12 booking fee), which is done by lottery system every February for the following summer.

Accommodation

Those with reservations at the Lake’s Lodge or Alpine Club Huts get a bus seat with their booking.