When larch season is almost upon us, it’s time to mark your calendar so you don’t miss their awe-inspiring display. It’s the equivalent of eastern Canada’s fall display but more localized.
If you’re looking for a day trip from Calgary, any of these larch hikes will leave you speechless – and perhaps breathless as all are not a walk in the park. The larches typically reach their peak somewhere around September 20th – and some start to turn even earlier but you really have until the end of September to get out and enjoy them.
Viewing the larches – a coniferous tree that changes colour and drops its leaves (needles) – is bucket list worthy! The downside is that many of the hikes are getting very popular. Go early to get parking on weekends and aim for weekday hikes if possible.
Taylor and O’Brien Lakes – top pick for larch hikes from Calgary
Accessed via the Taylor Lake Trailhead on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Banff, both Taylor and O’Brien Lakes are magnificent in fall – and devoid of the crowds that you’ll find in Lake Louise.
Plan on a full day hike if you visit both lakes. Its 6.5 km to Taylor Lake with an elevation gain of 595 m. Add an additional 1.8 km to reach equally lovely O’Brien Lake. You’ll want to enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the lakes so allow at least five hours – and up to seven for the hike.
The Boulder Pass – Skoki Lakes area
Granted it’s a long day hike to Boulder Pass and the Skoki Lakes area – and an overnight backpacking trip is really the better way to go, but it’s doable. To Boulder Pass and back to the trailhead you need six to eight hours to hike the 17 km, a bit more if you descend the pass to see the Skoki Lakes.
As one of the Parks Canada interpreters told me, this is one of her favourite areas to visit for the larches in the fall. And the scenery once you leave the Temple fire road is terrific. Expect a blast of yellow as you hit the larches on the way up to Boulder Pass.
Arnica Lake larch hike
The 10.2 km return hike to Arnica Lake in Banff National Park is a busy one in larch season. The draw is a beautiful alpine lake rimmed by larch trees – and even the hike to it is loaded with brilliant yellows and oranges in the understory.
If you’ve got the energy, continue up past the lake for a few kilometres so you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the larches around Arnica Lake. Be warned though that the hike just to the lake climbs 580 m and will take you 4 – 6 hours.
Unless you arrive early, you will have to park on the highway as the Vista Lake parking lot is very small.
Gibbon Pass option
Note that there is another option if you continue all the way up to Gibbon Pass.
I did this hike as part of a three day backpacking trip to Egypt Lake in the summer and couldn’t help but notice the huge number of larch trees around Gibbon Pass. It’s also home to some beautiful meadows and expansive mountain views.
Larch Valley and the Sentinel Pass area, Banff National Park
As one of the premiere larch viewing areas in Banff National Park, you need to plan ahead if you want to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. But there’s a reason for that. In late September, Larch Valley is a riot of yellow in one of the prettiest settings in the Rockies. If you can possibly visit on a weekday, do so.
Read about how to get up to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake during prime larch season as private vehicles are nor permitted on the Moraine Lake Road.
Alternatives to this hike in the Lake Louise area include the Saddleback Mountain hike on the way up to Fairview Mountain and the hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse or the Big Beehive.
Read: The Larch Valley Hike – Sentinel Pass Hike in Fall
Arethusa Cirque, Kananaskis Country
The Arethusa Cirque hike is one of the great larch hikes to do from Calgary because it’s more family-friendly than most. There is still some elevation gain involved, especially if you do the loop, but you don’t have to go far from the parking lot to get into the larches.
The hike is about 4.6 km return with an elevation gain of 250 m. The biggest drawback to this hike is that parking can be an issue as you aren’t allowed to park on the highway and in September 2024 there is construction at Highwood Pass to increase the amount of parking.
Chester Lake larch hike in Kananaskis
Chester Lake is one of those multi-season destinations that always shines. By mid-September the larches around the lake are in their prime. Over a four hour round-trip hike with only 400 m of elevation gain you’ll reach larch country as you get close to the lake.
A dusting of snow in September just added to the beauty.
There are loads of other hikes for larches – though some of the outstanding hikes are kept secret from what I’ve heard, so the crowds don’t descend. Do you have a favourite hike for larch viewing you’d be willing to share?
Other larch hikes in Alberta I’d recommend
- The Pocaterra Ridge Hike in Kananaskis
- A Guide to the Best Places for Larch Viewing in Alberta
- The Lake Agnes – Big Beehive Hike
- The Hike to Rockbound Lake, Banff National Park
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