Emerald Lake – I’ve lived nearly my whole life within arm’s reach of Yoho National Park. That’s not an exaggeration—it’s a gift. One I didn’t always appreciate the way I do now.
As a kid growing up in Golden, the mountains were just… there. Towering over everything, a permanent backdrop to daily life. I was desensitized to their majesty. When your school field trips include hikes around Emerald Lake or bus rides to Takakkaw Falls, the bar for “scenic” gets set pretty high, pretty early. I didn’t know any different. It took years—and leaving, returning, and watching others marvel—to realize how fortunate I was to call this place home.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about those early days hiking the Emerald Lake loop—muddy runners, paper bag lunches, and teachers reminding us not to throw rocks in the water. We’d skip stones anyway. We were kids, surrounded by postcard views and unaware of just how lucky we were. That trail shaped my sense of place more than I knew at the time.
Now, decades later, I’m heartened to see that Emerald Lake Lodge (ELL) is partnering with Friends of Yoho, along with Parks Canada, and other partner organizations are stepping up to take care of that very same trail. They’re launching a maintenance project to improve sections of the loop that have worn down over time—installing new boardwalks, repairing erosion damage, and helping make sure future generations can experience the same beauty I took for granted.
It’s easy to assume the wilderness will take care of itself. But trails, like memories, fade without care. It takes people—real, on-the-ground effort—to preserve these spaces.
And while it’s likely business as usual for groups like Parks Canada to do this kind of maintenance, I still think we should take the time to really appreciate the effort.
Of course, projects like this cost money, so kudos to ELL for launching some fundraising efforts.
So the next time you walk that loop, maybe with your own kids or grandkids in tow, take a moment to feel the gratitude that comes with standing in one of the most beautiful corners of the country. I know I do now. I see it with new eyes—and deep appreciation.
Because while I may have grown up desensitized to the view, the older I get, the more I understand just how rare and extraordinary it really is to live where the mountains meet the sky.
