For many people the hiking season ends when the snow starts to fly. But it…
Taylor Lake Hike in Banff National Park
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When it’s larch season in the Rocky Mountains, its time to do the Taylor Lake hike. You’ll miss the horrific weekend crowds in the Banff and Lake Louise areas – especially around Moraine Lake area. What you get instead with a little effort – are outrageous scenes of beauty that words can’t possibly describe. And I guarantee you will feel a sense of awe.
The Taylor Lake hike can certainly be done in summer – and it makes for a great snowshoeing trip in winter but it’s fall when this area shines.
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Taylor Lake is at its best in larch season
Despite hearing about how bad the crowds could get our group of six was keen to go hiking. Two of the group had scouted out Taylor Lake a few weeks before and figured it would make a great destination come larch season. It most certainly did.
After living in Calgary for eight years and hiking a lot, I’d still call Taylor Lake one of the best larch hikes.
What the Taylor Lake hike looks like
The Taylor Lake trailhead is close to Lake Louise but because you must hike 6.5 km one way just to get the views so there isn’t too much in the way of crowds. Compare that to driving for a larch-filled views in parts of Banff National Park. That suited all of us just fine.
Although the parking lot was quite full we only saw six or seven groups of people over the course of a day.
The hike to Taylor Lake climbs 595 m (1,952 feet) over 6.3 km. It’s not that interesting until you get to the lake as its primarily in the trees with peek a boo views. The trail starts off quite gently and then steepens around the 2.0 km mark.
Just before you reach Taylor Lake look for the signed intersection that leads to O’Brien Lake. I definitely recommend the side trip.
To return, retrace your steps to the parking lot. It took us 6.5 hours to hike to both lakes – but that includes a significant amount of time for lunch, exploring and photography breaks.
Have you heard of larch trees?
I never heard of larch trees before moving to Calgary. Their glorious needle like, yellow fall foliage is to the Rocky Mountains what the maple tree’s red foliage is to eastern Canada – a feast for the eyes.
Larches are coniferous – but deciduous so they lose their needles every autumn. You’ll find larches in mountainous parts of the world with cold temperatures – parts of Canada, Russia and Bavaria as examples. And interestingly the wood of the larch is so hard that it can resist forest fires in some cases.
The side-trip to O’Brien Lake
If you’ve made it as far as Taylor Lakes and you’re not in a rush, add the side trip to O’Brien Lake. The signed junction is 200 m east of Taylor Lake. From there it’s another 1.8 km one way to reach the lake.
The trail is less well maintained and quite soggy in places but the setting is spectacular – in a cirque formed by the east wall of Mt. Bell.
Ultimately the trail continues to Boom Lake but it’s reportedly a rough trail and not recommended.
There is also a 10 km trail that curves around Panorama Ridge and ultimately connects with the Consolation Lake trail. But again it’s not recommended. You’re better off doing Consolation Lakes from the Moraine Lake trailhead.
Camping at Taylor Lake
There is a backcountry campground at Taylor Lake on the northeast shore. To reserve a site visit the Banff National Park reservations page.
Getting to Taylor Lake and O’Brien Lake
The trailhead to Taylor Lake is accessed from the Trans-Canada Highway, eight km west of Castle Junction (get in the left hand lane but exercise caution crossing the east bound Trans-Canada Highway) or 17 km east from Lake Louise Village.
Don’t forget
If you’re hiking in fall I’d also recommend a warm coat as the weather can change in an instant. And a blow up seat cushion for lunch time, especially if it’s damp can be a game-changer.
I’d recommend a map. For this hike it’s Gem Trek Banff & Mt Assiniboine.
Take bear spray with you, even if the likelihood of seeing one is low.
Check out the Banff National Park website for current conditions.
Take the 10 hiking essentials.
More reading on larch hikes in Alberta
- The Fabulous Arethusa Hike in Kananaskis
- The Pocaterra Ridge Hike in Kananaskis Country
- 5 Winning Day Hikes from Calgary to see the Larches
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Lovely colours. No wonder there’ such a big audience.
Lovely colours. No wonder there’ such a big audience.
What an autumn feast for the eyes.
@Mette It really was a treat.
Alberta sure has quite many scenic locations. I really like Banff. Nice colors. Must have been a great hike.
@Shamis The hike was fun because it was with friends but really not that interesting until we hit the lake. Then it was amazing.
I’ve never heard of larch trees before. Another gorgeous hike, Leigh especially with the explosion of Fall colors. I love the miniature island and all your reflection shots. What a glorious place to start the Fall season.
I’ve never heard of larch trees before. Another gorgeous hike, Leigh especially with the explosion of Fall colors. I love the miniature island and all your reflection shots. What a glorious place to start the Fall season.
@Mary Larch trees were new to me last year and now one of the delights of fall in the Rockies.
@Shamis The hike was fun because it was with friends but really not that interesting until we hit the lake. Then it was amazing.
Leigh these pictures are so pretty. I’ve been out to the mountains in September, but never late enough when the leaves had changed colour. Those larch trees sure look magnificent.
@Alouise It was one of those days that made you happy to be alive because of the beauty.
Gosh, it’s soooo gorgeous!!! Banff just seems to glow with colors in the Fall, eh?
Gosh, it’s soooo gorgeous!!! Banff just seems to glow with colors in the Fall, eh?
@Jill The woods and the lake were like nothing I had seen before – truly beautiful.
Who wouldn’t be enchanted with this really beautiful view? The crystal clear waters, the colorful leaves, breathtaking! Everything in that place is just so perfect.
Lake O’Brien is perfect for camping activity. By just looking at those clear and perfectly shot pictures, I do love the place. You’re good to have found the miniature Lake O’Brien. Haha
@Michael I loved that perfect miniature island – a bit like a Japanese garden in it’s perfection.
Stunning photos of Banff National Park! Fall hiking is especially glorious because of the vivid colors. (And I’m always relieved by the reduced worry of a bear encounter!)
Absolutely stunning! Your feet must have hardly touched the ground while hiking 🙂
@Natasha It was a positively wonderful day!
I haven’t heard of a larch before, but I’m in awe of this place. I wish we had places like this near us. I’ll be in Nashville this fall and hoping to see some color!
@Christy I had never seen a larch either until I moved to Calgary. I wish the season wan’t so short.
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