Imagine walking through a forest of gold while imposing mountains sit above you. The Larch Valley hike in Banff National Park is one of the most stunning fall hikes in all of North America! Cover yourself in a sea of gold and get ready to hit the trail! 🍂
I had always wanted to see the larches and luckily (or unluckily) our van broke down right outside of Banff. So, we got the opportunity to go larch hunting during the perfect time of year. We decided to head out on the Larch Valley trail to spot the gorgeous trees. As soon as we got into the valley, my jaw was on the floor! 😱
It was like walking through a fairytale and it was completely magical. ✨ If you have time to do the Larch Valley hike in the fall, then you need to do it!
Planning a hike to Larch Valley entails a lot of logistics, because of the Moraine Lake road closure. So below, I’ve written a complete guide to the Larch Valley hike. This includes when to go, how to get there, and what to expect on the trail. I hope you enjoy!
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Table of Contents
Larch Valley Hike Guide
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 5.5 miles/7 miles with Sentinel Pass
Elevation: 1800 feet of gain/2350 with Sentinel Pass
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2-4 hours (doing Sentinel Pass adds 1-2 hours)
Difficulty: Moderate
Larch Valley Location
Larch Valley is a gorgeous hike in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Calgary 🚙 and 30 minutes from Lake Louise in Banff. This trail leaves from Moraine Lake and climbs up into the mountains until you get to the stunning larches.
The easiest way to get to this area is either to fly into Calgary ✈️ and rent a car or to go on a road trip from a nearby destination. However, once you get to Banff, you’ll still need to take a shuttle to Moraine Lake, which you can read more about below.
How to Get to Moraine Lake
The road to Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles. 🚫 So, that means there are only a few ways to get there:
- Take the Parks Canada Shuttle or another authorized shuttle
- Bike the 11 km road
- Hike the 11 km if you’re really dedicated
The Park decided to close the road, because the parking lot is very small and it does not have enough space for many visitors. So, instead you’ll need to plan ahead. Parks Canada shuttles go on sale a few months in advance and then they offer additional seats a day in advance.
If you miss out on a Parks Canada shuttle you can look at other private providers for a tour or bus ticket 🚌. We actually got shuttle seats with Fairview Limo because they had reasonable prices. Some of those providers are listed below:
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 There is a $11 Daily Fee per adult for Banff National Park. You can also get a Parks Canada Discovery Pass either for one adult or for a family/group. That will get you entry to the parks for a year!
☀️ Weather changes quickly in the mountains, which means you should be prepared for inclement weather. When we went up the mountain it was sunny, but rain came in right as we got to the end of the hike luckily!
⛺️ There are no campgrounds along the Larch Valley trail. However, there is backcountry camping at Paradise Valley which is accessible by a long hike.
🐻 This is bear country and fall is when bears are getting ready to hibernate for the winter! So, they can be more aggressive. Make sure that you stay bear aware and carry bear spray with you on the trails.
🦮 Pets are allowed on the Larch Valley Trail, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
⚠️ The road to Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles. You must get a shuttle to access the trail or you can bike there.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
What are Larches and What Makes Them So Special?
Larches are members of the conifer and evergreen families, but unlike their relatives they shed their needles in the fall. These trees can grow to over 100 feet tall! They only grow in cooler climates, so Western larches can only be found in a few places in North America. Luckily, Banff has a large number of these beautiful trees.
The reason the larches are so special is because the trees turn a gorgeous golden hue 🍯 before dropping their needles. The golden hues only last a couple of weeks, so you have to time seeing them perfectly!
When Do the Larches Turn Yellow?
Larches usually peak sometime in late September to early October, where you can see gorgeous yellow and amber colors. Once the larches turn the beautiful golden hues, they usually last for just a couple of weeks.
We went on the Larch Valley hike on September 25th and we timed it perfectly! The larches were brilliant. 🤩
However, trails will often peak at different times, so some areas may turn before others. You can go to the visitor center to ask which trails are currently at their peak. When we went they gave us a few suggestions on where to go.
What to Pack for Larch Valley
Although Fall is a gorgeous time to visit the Banff area, the weather can be truly hard to predict. This area sees snowfall ❄️ as early as September and things can change drastically overnight.
So, you’ll want to be prepared for this hike with plenty of layers and waterproof items. We were nervous that our trek up was going to be really cold. But, we got a gorgeous day in late September and I completed the entire hike in a t-shirt! 😮 You really never know.
Packing List
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Bear Spray
- Headlamp
- Shelter
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Base Layer
- Good Hiking Pants/Bottoms
- Winter Hat
- Gloves
- Satellite phone
You can read more about my day hike gear list here!
Larch Valley Trail Description
Larch Valley is a great hike that’s clearly marked, but you can read more about the trail below. This detailed trail description will explain exactly what you should expect to experience. I hope you have a wonderful hike! 🥾
Around Moraine Lake & Up the Switchbacks
As soon as you get to the Moraine Lake area, you will see a sign for the Larch Valley trail. You’ll want to continue to the right side of the lake and continue to follow the signs. Eventually, you’ll see another Larch Valley hike sign that points up to the right.
From there, you will continue up into the forest and soon over a series of switchbacks. This hike feels like it gains a steady incline the entire time and these switchbacks can feel tough. We gained about 1000 feet of elevation in just over a mile, 🥵 so it’s not easy!
Make sure to take breaks and look to the right 👀 as you get higher, because you’ll see peaks of the bright blue Moraine Lake from above.
Through the Valley
Finally after a little more than miles, the forest will begin to clear and you’ll start to see your first glimpse of the gorgeous larches. From there, you’ll just begin to see more and more of them until they cover the landscape.
Soon, the larches begin to surround you on all sides and it’s absolutely insane. 🤯 I could not believe that places like this truly exist. There are numerous spots with wild panoramas over Ten Peaks and the trees behind you. You can go to the small lake below for great reflections of the landscape!
It feels like a larch wonderland. 💛
This trail climbs for about 400 more feet to the end, where you will get to Minnestima Lake under Sentinel Pass. It’s a great spot for a picture, you can either stop here and turn around or continue up the difficult pass!
Up to Sentinel Pass
Unfortunately, we had to do this hike in the evening, so it was too late to attempt the climb to Sentinel Pass. But, I’ve done all the research so you will know what to expect on your trek up.
Remember, that completing Sentinel Pass adds about 500 feet of elevation and 1-2 hours of time to your hike!
At the top, you’ll get incredible views over Paradise Valley and the Ten Peaks. Although Paradise Valley is just below, completing that portion of the hike would require another vehicle to meet you on the other side.
Once you have admired the landscape and taken your photos, it’s time to head back down through the sprawling larches.
Final Tips for Hiking Larch Valley
I hope that I’ve convinced you to get out to see the beautiful yellow trees on the Larch Valley hike! If you do plan on going, just remember to book your transportation to Moraine Lake ahead of time. As long as you have that sorted and you pack layers for the trail, you should be good to go!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this trail guide!
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WOW September seems like the perfect month to visit Banff for hiking 😍! I just visited Banff in late May, and it was stunning, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the best time to visit for hiking due to the lingering snow. I guess that means I just need to plan another trip to Banff soon!! 😂
Yes you need to get there! It’s honestly unbelievable in the Fall