Field.
- WHAT TO DO
- WHAT TO SEE
- WHAT TO EAT
- WHAT TO EXPERIENCE
Freight trains groan along the Kicking Horse River, hauling grain through the valley while Mount Stephen towers directly overhead. Field started in the 1880s as a gritty Canadian Pacific Railway work camp and never bothered inventing a false veneer for outsiders. A handful of clapboard houses, a legendary outpost bistro, and half a billion years of marine biology locked in the slate above define the daily rhythm. Field is worth visiting if you want direct foot access to Yoho National Park without the bus-tour crowds of Banff.
Last updated 6 Sept 2026
Field notes
Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Build a Field itinerary.
Choose up to 4 threads that pull you in. We'll weave them into a plan for Field.
The Bed
Where to stay in Field
Which part of town to book, and what each one costs you in walking, noise or quiet.
The Comparison
Field, or somewhere near it
The places you are realistically choosing between, and the honest case for each.
The Local Record
Where to read more about Field
The blogs, boards, guides and operators worth bookmarking.
What to do in Field British Columbia Canada
Field is a compact grid of quiet streets pinned between the Trans-Canada Highway and the railway tracks. Daily life revolves around the trailheads of Yoho National Park: early starts for the high ridgelines, afternoon stops at glacial lakes, and relaxed dinners back in town. It suits hikers, geology buffs, and independent drivers who prefer quiet mountain grit over resort-town polish.
24 hours in Field British Columbia Canada
Morning belongs to the 5.2-kilometre loop around Emerald Lake before tour buses arrive. Grab lunch back in Field, then spend the afternoon admiring the spray at Takakkaw Falls and the engineering at Spiral Tunnels. Finish with dinner at Truffle Pigs Bistro on Kicking Horse Avenue. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Field British Columbia Canada
A second day lets you commit to the strenuous eight-hour guided trek up to the Walcott Quarry in the Burgess Shale, examining Cambrian fossils in the high scree. Unwind in the evening with a slow walk along the Kicking Horse River as evening freight trains roll past Mount Dennis. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Field British Columbia Canada
Day three unlocks Lake O'Hara, accessible via pre-booked Parks Canada bus or a steady 11-kilometre access road walk. Hike the Alpine Circuit along the ledges above Lake Mary and Lake Gloria, then take a late coffee in Field before continuing along Highway 1 toward Golden.
Field British Columbia Canada itineraries by interest
Fossil Records in Field British Columbia Canada
Book Parks Canada guides months early to hike the Burgess Shale up Mount Stephen and Walcott Quarry, viewing 508-million-year-old trilobites.
Railway Heritage in Field British Columbia Canada
Watch long freight trains thread through the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint along Highway 1, engineered in 1909 to tame the steep Kicking Horse Pass.
Alpine Hiking in Field British Columbia Canada
Catch the Parks Canada shuttle or hike the steep 11 kilometres into Lake O'Hara, where well-marked alpine circuits circle high above timberline.
Waterfalls & Rivers in Field British Columbia Canada
Drive the switchbacks up Yoho Valley Road to Takakkaw Falls, where meltwater drops 373 metres into the roaring Kicking Horse River canyon.
Lakeside Walks in Field British Columbia Canada
Follow the flat five-kilometre loop around Emerald Lake, or hire a canoe to paddle across glacial runoff beneath the peaks of the President Range.
Mountain Dining in Field British Columbia Canada
Grab a table at Truffle Pigs Bistro on Kicking Horse Avenue for braised elk shank, local pork belly, and regional craft beer after a day on foot.
Winter Trails in Field British Columbia Canada
Ski the groomed cross-country tracks at Emerald Lake or snowshoe the quiet Yoho Valley trails when the highway crowds vanish entirely.
Geological Formations in Field British Columbia Canada
Walk the short path to the Natural Bridge, where the Kicking Horse River carved a passage straight through solid limestone rock over centuries.
Wildlife Watching in Field British Columbia Canada
Scan the avalanche chutes and river meadows along the Yoho Valley for mountain goats, elk, and grizzly bears feeding in the early morning light.
Scenic Drives in Field British Columbia Canada
Navigate the sharp twists of Yoho Valley Road and the climb toward the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, keeping an eye on weather shifts.
Local Cafes in Field British Columbia Canada
Stop at Siding Cafe for strong drip coffee, breakfast wraps, and practical trail advice from locals before hitting the morning ascent.
Backcountry Lodges in Field British Columbia Canada
Reserve years ahead for historic log cabins at Lake O'Hara Lodge or hike into Elizabeth Parker Hut for rustic bunk stays under towering crags.