Odaray Highline trail to Odaray Grandview – Lake O’Hara’s best panorama (and the most exclusive hike)

In Best hikes in British Columbia/Latest on the blog6 min read

Try to imagine a quintessentially Canadian landscape and you’re probably picturing the scenery of Lake O’Hara. Nestled deep in Yoho National Park, this remote location is home to some of the best hiking in all of Canada. But reaching the trail system at Lake O’Hara is no simple feat. Unless you’ve managed to secure one of the elusive reservations, the only option is to hike the 11 km access road – an effort we’ve undertaken a few times now, always drawn back by the raw beauty of this place! Recently, we finally made it to the Odaray Grandview Trail, a route so exclusive that only a handful of people are allowed on it each day. In this guide, we’ll share some of the best tips we’ve learned from experience and explain why this is one Lake O’Hara hike you don’t want to miss.

If you’re looking for more information on Lake O’Hara including how to get there, best hikes and our recommended trail if you’re also hiking the access road on the same day, check out our 2025 Lake O’Hara guide.

Trail Stats For the Odaray Grandview Hike

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Map used: AllTrails app

Planning Considerations

Trail type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: This is subjective, but as reasonably fit hikers we would rate this trail as Moderate. However, if you’re hiking in and out on top of completing this trail, it becomes a hard hike due to the total distance which will exceed 30 km in a single day.
Best time to hike: Conditions are ideal between July and September. Expect snow in other months, even in June.
Time needed: 3 – 5 hours (depending on your fitness level). Our moving time was 2 hours and 54 minutes and we were hiking at a reasonably fast pace (though nothing crazy).
Washrooms: Only at the trailhead (by the Le Relais Day Shelter)
Wildlife possibilities: Yes. This is a multi-species wildlife corridor for grizzly and black bears, wolverines, cougars, chipmunks, marmots, deer, mountain goats etc.

Trail overview

1. Getting to the Trailhead

The trail starts at Le Relais Day Shelter, right at the edge of Lake O’Hara. Reaching this remote alpine area takes some planning, so if you haven’t already, check out our 2025 Lake O’Hara Hiking Guide for details on how to get here. For a quick overview, here are your options:

1. Book a day use shuttle through Parks Canada’s lottery
2. Reserve one of 30 spots at the Lake O’Hara Campground (includes the shuttle)
3. Book the Elizabeth Parker Hut through the Alpine Club of Canada’s lottery system (includes the shuttle)
4. Book a stay at the Lake O’Hara Lodge: full-service lodge and private cabins (includes the lodge’s shuttle)
5. Hike the access road: 11 km each way (22 km round-trip) with 400 m elevation gain (bikes are not allowed). 

As you can see, all access requires either booking a spot that includes transport or hiking the 11 km access road. We’ve never won the lottery, so we always hike the access road (though we know people who tried just once and got a spot).

2. Le Relais Day Shelter to the sign-in for the Odaray Highline Trail

When you’re at the Le Relais Day Shelter, look for signs for Schaffer Lake and McArthur Pass. The trail passes the shelter on the right and first takes you to Elizabeth Parker Hut. After a few more minutes you start climbing up a pretty steep section in the trees until you reach Schaffer Lake. From there, follow the sign for the Odaray Highline rather than Lake McArthur Pass. It’s a straightforward flat section that leads to a kiosk with the registration book for the Odaray Highline/Grandview trail.

3. Signing the registration book for the Odaray Highline/Grandview trail

In the summer, access to the Odaray Highline/Grandview trail is limited to reduce disturbance to wildlife that regularly moves through the McArthur Pass area. This includes grizzlies, mountain goats, moose, cougars, wolverines and many others.

Because of that, only a few hiking groups are allowed to sign in for the Odaray Highline/Grandview Trail each day. Before August 15 the limit is 4 groups. From August 15 to September 15 it drops to just 2.

The sign-in is voluntary but definitely sign in if there is a spot for you. If the logbook is full, don’t go but do not be disappointed either. These limits are not meant to make your hiking day worse. They exist for the animals and we’re just visitors passing through their space.

The good news is you will not regret skipping the Odaray Highline/Grandview if you spend your day on one of the other trails, especially the Alpine Route. Parks Canada actually encourages hikers to hike other trails first to help protect the wildlife corridor.

4. Odaray Highline to Odaray Grandview

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Odaray Grandview is a large alpine bench partway up Odaray Mountain. The trail starts in the treeline, where you’ll follow a steady path until it turns right and you begin the ascent on the slopes of Odaray Mountain. Keep going until you reach a sign for the Odaray Plateau saying that it’s closed and directing you up the hill to your left. This is the steepest part, with lots of loose rocks and a bit of a scramble (ie you may need to use your hands).

Reaching the bench is a reward in itself. Here, the trail splits. To the left is the official viewpoint where you’ll have an unparalleled view over Lake O’Hara, Schaffer Lake and Lake McArthur. The route on the right leads you closer to the glaciers and offers a striking view of Linda Lake and the Morning Glory Lakes, adding another layer of beauty to an already spectacular hike.

Once you’ve had the chance to soak everything in, you’ll need to turn around and go back the way you came.

How to hike responsibly at Lake O’Hara (and why it’s important)

Lake O’Hara is a sanctuary for countless species of plants and wildlife that call this fragile ecosystem home. The Odaray Grandview Trail specifically is part of a wildlife corridor that animals use to travel every day. Visiting feels like a privilege and many who hike at lake O’Hara already carry a sense of respect for the place. That may be due in part to the limited access that brings a lot of experienced hikers. Still, even in places like this, there are always a few who don’t treat the land with care.

If you’re new to the backcountry and want to make sure your visit leaves no mark, here are some simple tips to help you minimise your impact on the area:

• Plan ahead
  The Odaray Grandview Trail comes with specific rules so familiarise yourself with these in advance. If the logbook at the trailhead is full, don’t go.
• Stay on the trail
  It can be tempting to follow an inviting footpath through the meadow or shortcut a switchback, but doing so damages delicate alpine vegetation. Only follow trail markers. If you have to step off the trail to get somewhere, it’s a sign you probably shouldn’t.
• Leave nature as you found it
  That means resisting the urge to pick wildflowers or rocks, or to get close to wildlife. Observe animals from a respectful distance and please don’t feed them. Even something as seemingly harmless as a nut can harm their health and disrupt natural behaviors.
• Pack it in, pack it out
  Carry a small bag for your trash. That includes organic waste like fruit peels or nutshells which can take years to decompose.
• Keep it quiet
  Wildlife depends on natural soundscapes to communicate and stay safe. Make noise by talking with your fellow hikers so you don’t surprise any bears, but leave the portable speaker at home and don’t shout.

There’s a phrase: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. It’s simple advice, but it holds true and pretty much captures all of the above. If you want to prepare more thoroughly, visit the Leave No Trace website and read their 7 Principles for responsible outdoor recreation.

We hope you found this guide helpful. If you’d like to see more, then check out the Odaray Grandview video on our YouTube Channel. 

Have an amazing time and feel free to leave any questions in the comments!