Field in the Heart of Yoho National Park

Field is located on the Trans-Canada Highway in the heart of Yoho National Park. The community combines its location in a national park with a history closely tied to the Canadian Pacific Railway. When planning your trip, you can focus on different aspects: the landscape around Field, the community’s history or a hike on Mount Stephen.

Scenery at the Confluence

Field is located on an alluvial fan at the confluence of Stephen Creek and the Kicking Horse River, on the steep slopes of Mount Stephen and Mount Dennis. The highway and national park place the community within the broader landscape; the confluence and mountain slopes describe its immediate surroundings. These geographical features give Field a clear setting without reducing the landscape to a single viewpoint.

Railway and Community History

Field’s beginnings date back to the 1880s. At that time, the settlement consisted of tents and simple huts for Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers. The Canadian Pacific Railway Station is a later building: the small station in the International Style was built in 1953–1954 and is considered an outstanding example of a small station in this style. The founding settlement and the station therefore represent different chapters in the community’s history.

The CPR Telegraph Building also tells the story of the railway. The historic stone and brick building dates from around 1931. It is the only building from before the Second World War still standing in Field. The building offers a view of the nearby railway tracks. Do not enter CP property without authorization.

Freight and tourist trains regularly pass through Field; operating patterns may change over time. Another facet of the community is Velvet Antler Pottery, where an active pottery studio is combined with a gallery. Railway history and pottery thus represent two distinct cultural themes in Field.

Hiking and Practical Information

From the town of Field, a hike follows steep, natural forest trails to the trilobite beds on Mount Stephen. Hiking conditions vary by season. The Yoho National Park Visitor Centre in Field is the meeting point for the guided hike on Mount Stephen; booking details may change. If you plan this hike, check the latest conditions and information about the guided tour in advance.

The Yoho National Park Visitor Centre and the Friends of Yoho gift shop are located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Field, British Columbia. Since facilities may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before visiting. The community of Field has restaurants and cafés; individual businesses and opening hours may change.

Field has long served as a gateway to the Lake O’Hara region. Shuttle services and reservations are seasonal and subject to change. If you plan to visit this region, check the latest shuttle and reservation information. Hiking conditions and shuttle information may require different planning.

Discover more destinations: Parson, Anglemont, Revelstoke, Sorrento, Squilax, Tappen, Sicamous, Salmon Arm

For the main travel overview: Columbia-Shuswap.