The Ultimate Guide to The Larch Valley Hike in Banff, Canada!
Banff National Park has loops after treks after mountain climbs all year round but there’s one type of hike that is exclusive to just two weeks of the fall: The Larch hikes that display the incredibly beautiful larch trees!
You can find various routes around Alberta that feature these trees but the most famous of the Alberta larch hikes is the Larch Valley Hike.
If you’re going to do just one hike, let this be it and read this guide for a flawless experience to witness this show-stopping act of nature.
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About Larch Valley Trail Banff
Larch Valley trail starts in Moraine Lake, is considered a moderate hike and has the best result at the end.
During the larch season Banff has certain hikes that are overgrown with golden foliage. But for just two weeks of the whole year!
This is truly one of the best larch hikes in Alberta as it’s easy to get to, the trees are clear and beautiful in the valley and the larch trail is doable for beginners! I also seen children and dogs along the larch valley hike Banff but many times they were being carried as the walk is quite strenuous.
Complete Guide to Visiting Larch Valley Banff
larch valley alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/canada/alberta/sentinel-pass-trail
trailhead: Moraine Lake Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass. The type of the Larch hike Banff is out and back.
distance of hike: 4.3km for the entire hike to the end of the Larch Valley trail (one way). You can see the trees after 2.5km.
difficulty: Moderate. As a beginner hiker I found the switchbacks quite strenuous on the way up and the path fairly slippery/rocky on the way down but took a few breathers along the way and took my time.
larch valley elevation: Gain of 535 metres / 1755 feet.
average time of larch hike: 1-2 hours one way. I’d allow 4 hours to hike, stop, and photograph and appreciate the views.
best time to visit: You absolutely must visit in the Autumn when the Larch Trees have turned a golden colour. This is usually mid-September / beginning of October. I hiked on 7th October and the sun was shining, the sky was clear, the mountains were blissful and the larches were gorgeously-golden.
Parks Canada will close the road to Moraine Lake in the Winter when it is no longer safe to hike here but you can start in the Summer usually between June and October.
address: Moraine Lake, 1 Moraine Lake Rd, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
closest self-catering accommodation: Baker Creek by Basecamp
closest hotel: Moraine Lake Lodge
What Are Larch Trees?
The Larch Tree (specifically Alpine Larch here) is part of the pine tree family. The larch color is green for the majority of the time except for two weeks in the Fall. They are usually found at high elevation such as Banff National Park and perfect for snowy/cold climates.
Right before the Larch needles drop in Autumn, they turn an incredible golden colour that is unmissable and why Larch Valley Fall is the best time to visit. The needles are not sharp as they appear but in fact soft and fragile.
Banff Hiking Essentials
- Always check trail conditions here – https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-hiking/etat-sentiers-trail-conditions
- Sort accommodation in advance – I use booking.com. See above for my recommendations.
- Make Sure You Get Travel Insurance – I always use Coverwise when travelling unless on a working holiday visa where specific insurance is required. Coverwise is reliable, cheap, has straightforward policies that are emailed and kept on file and the website is easy to navigate. Find quotes for your travel insurance with Coverwise here.
- Pack – Ensure you’ve packed the essential clothes including layers, waterproofs and hiking gear, first aid kits, and make room for Canadian souvenirs.
- Bear Spray – This is an important addition when hiking in Banff to protect yourself. You can buy it in town, on Amazon here, or rent it from your accommodation or convenience stores in Banff Town. Note: you cannot take this on an airplane with you as it is classed as a weapon. Larch Valley is a prime location for Grizzlies!
- Public Transport – Either book airport transfers, rent your own vehicle, get to know the local bus routes and note the Banff taxi numbers (+1 403-762-0000)
- Grab a Lonely Planet Guide, a map and maybe a hiking book for the area!
- Read all my Banff posts here
- Find your tours via Viator
- Safety comes first! Tell someone your route and how long you’ll be, consider a bear bell for your bag, pack bear spray, prepare for changes in weather and leave no trace.
Larch Valley Hike
How To Get To Larch Valley Moraine Lake
By car head to Moraine Lake for parking but note that the spaces fill up quickly so it’s best to get here early. It takes about 20 minutes from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and about 1.5 hours from Banff.
By bus you can either take the shuttle bus from park and ride at Lake Louise or the roam bus from Banff town centre. The roam bus puts a schedule for route 10 from Banff to Moraine Lake in the fall. This costs $10 per person per way and I highly recommend reserving a spot for there and back as I seen several people get turned away.
Join a guided hike including lunch of Larch Valley, or include Moraine Lake on a guided day trip of Banff like this one which gives you 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake. Alternatively, take this tour of several lakes from either Banff or Calgary.
Moraine Lake Facilities
At Moraine Lake you’ll find toilets (portaloos), parking spaces, bus stops, information boards and a Moraine Lake help hut.
Larch Valley Directions
- Starting at Moraine Lake, face the lake and turn right
- Walk past the help hut and canoe docks
- You’ll see a fork in the road with an information board like this:
- Stay to the right path for hiking Larch Valley
- You will then hike a series of short switchbacks including a little waterfall
- As you gradually get higher you’ll come to the longer switchbacks where you’ll start to see the bright blue of the lake through the trees like so:
- After about 2.5km of the steep inclines you’ll arrive at a bench and another trail sign like this:
- This is the first opportunity to see a larch tree!
- Keep to the right for larch valley and after about 15 minutes you’ll reach the larch valley
- The rest of the hike to the end of the valley is mostly flat but you’ll be stopping to take in the incredible views.
- To go back, turn around and follow the route you took to hike up!
These views are so worth the hike!
How To Find The Larch Trees
The larch valley hike best time of the year is definitely in the Autumn because this is the only time of year you can see the golden larch tree! Specifically doing the larch valley hike September / October is the usual dates of the larch season Alberta.
After 45 minutes of hiking (2.5km in), I saw my first Larch Tree. Once the switchbacks are over and you see the bench, the first Larch Tree should be in front of you and after another 10 minutes of hiking, you’ll be in the heart of Larch Valley speechless from what you can see.
In addition, there are other places you can go on or near Banff Larch hikes such as Kananaskis larch hikes, Taylor Lake, Gibbon Pass and Skoki Range. Larch Valley, however, is one of the best larch hikes Banff has to offer.
Moraine Lake Hikes
As well as the hike to Larch Valley, Moraine Lake is a starting point for several hikes in this area. These include Paradise Valley, Saddleback Pass, Temple Mountain and Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley trail.
Things to Do Near Larch Valley
Of course, all around Banff you can admire the Rocky Mountains but in Larch Valley you’ll get to witness the stunning 10 Peaks, Temple Mountain and Mount Eiffel.
At the end of the Larch Valley Sentinel Pass hike you can view Minnestimma Lakes.
As well as the other hikes you can do from Moraine Lake, you can also spend time on the lake by canoeing, fishing or paddle-boarding.
Read My Canada Posts
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- Guide to Marshland Loop Trail in Banff
- Best 13 Cafes in Banff Town
- Getting to Bow Falls in Banff National Park
- How To Apply for a Canadian Work Visa
- Moving to Canada? Arrival Checklist!
- Calgary in One Day
- Directions between Red Deer and Calgary Airport
- How To Go Floating in Alberta
- Christmas in Banff Guide!
I hope this has helped you to find the Larch Trees and now you know the best time to hike Larch Valley.
Larch Tree Hikes Guide: Save For Later!
