Banff 
The name may not be familiar to you if you are new to Calgary, but if you are a fan of fall colours, you will recognize these beautiful trees as they start to stand out in the autumn months.
From mid-September to early October every year, you can find the green of these particular larches turning a beautiful golden yellow, giving them their name.
These deciduous conifers can be found in the alpine areas of the province and are well worth the effort to get to see them. Autumn hiking can be very different than spending time on the summer trails – cooler weather and fewer crowds (some famous larch trails have more crowds than summer) make more memorable experiences as you explore the mountainsides in Kananaskis and Banff.
** Make sure you are aware of all travel advisories and obey all Parks Canada/Alberta Parks restrictions. Keep to the trail.**
1. North Glenmore Park
You don’t even have to leave the city to take a short walk along the paved paths of North Glenmore Park, so if you don’t have the time to travel or private transport, this is the perfect place to see the golden fall colours of the larches.
The pathways wander their way around the 84-hectare park and give you several chances to see the trees. The largest stand is located in a mostly empty field, which is visible from the large parking lot in the southern part of the park, just southeast of the tennis courts. Details
Address: 7305 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary
2. Chester Lake
Access this hike from the Smith-Dorian Highway/Spray Lake Road, just a couple of hours outside of Calgary. This is quite a popular hike at any time of year and is great for all levels of fitness, with only 300 meters in elevation.
The route is an in-and-out hike, 4.3 kilometres each way to the shoreline, but if you want to, you can continue climbing up to Elephant Rocks to get a fantastic view of the lake surrounded by the beauty of the larches. Park at the Chester Lake Day Use Area and follow the well-marked trail. Details
Directions to Trail Head: ~150kms /2 hours drive from Downtown Calgary
3. Larch Valley
It seems pretty obvious that this is going to be a good hike, just from the name, and there is no doubt that it is one of the most popular hikes in the area to view the golden trees, so an early start is a must.
The trail starts begins at Moraine Lake and is well defined as it is travelled by many people during the summer season. The elevation gain will be about 535 meters in total up to Sentinel Pass for the incredible views. Round trip to the pass and back will be 8 to 12 kilometres, depending on how far you go. Be aware that there can be bears in this area.
All Moraine Lake trails, like Sentinel Pass, are great during fall and get extremely crowded. Take the shuttle from the Lake Louise Park and Ride (6 km east of Lake Louise village) to Moraine Lake and visit Moraine Lake trails as early as possible. The road to Moraine Lake is closed to private cars. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~ 200 km; 2 hours 15 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
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4. Pocaterra Ridge
This trail is one of the popular ones that allow you to have an incredible hike and spectacular views, not to mention the golden larches in this area. If you don’t have a lot of time or don’t want a long walk, you can stop at the first viewpoint, which is only 2.5 kilometres from the parking lot.
You can continue to finish the ridge, but you will want to make sure you have a car shuttle available to take you back. Otherwise, you will have to consider hiking both ways. There is a 650-meter elevation gain, and this hike should be considered a moderate-level walk. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~ 145 km; ~ 90 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
5. Arnica Lake
This is a little more off-the-beaten-track trail than some of the other hikes we have listed, which is great for those looking for some solitude. The one-way walking distance is just over 5 kilometres, with an elevation gain of 580 meters.
Rated as a challenging hike, if you have the ability, this is well worth the walk for the views in general and specifically for the golden larches. Start the trail at the Vista Lake Lookout parking lot. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~165 km; 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
6. Taylor Lake
Another slightly off-the-beaten-track trail, this is a lovely hike to be able to capture some photos of the reflections of the golden larches in the lake, along with the amazing scenery of the mountains.
The hike takes you 6.5 kilometres one way to where you can enjoy these lovely trees, so be prepared for a decent day of hiking. With an elevation gain of 595 meters, you won’t get many views as you head through the forest up to the lake, but the end destination is worth it.
If you have time, take the side route to O’Brian Lake, which is another beautiful lake. It adds 1.8 kilometres each way to your journey, but if you are inclined to do this, watch for the sign just 200 meters east of Taylor Lake. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~165 km; 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
7. Rockbound Lake
You need about 6 hours to complete this in-and-out trek of about 17 kilometres. Access the trailhead just east of Castle Village and head up the first part of the trail, which is an old road.
Don’t worry; things get more picturesque from here; the meadows and forests are dotted with golden larches to the lake. There is a 760-meter elevation gain, so this may not be for beginner hikers.
Make sure you allow extra time to get all the photos that you will possibly want! Details
Directions to Trails Head: 160 kms, ~ 1 hour 40 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
8. Arethusa Cirque
This is an excellent, easy trail that is good for all ages and abilities, so if you have more minor children in the family who want to see the larches, this is a good hike for them. Kananaskis has some of the best hikes to view these golden wonders, and this one is high on the list.
Just be aware that neither the trail nor the parking lot is well marked, but once you find the trailhead, it is easy to follow the trail itself.
Approximately 1.25 kilometres south of the Highwood Pass parking lot on the east side of Highway 40 is where you will find a large informal dirt parking lot where the trailhead is located. Details
Directions to Trails Head: 145 km, ~ 1 hour 40 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
9. Buller Pass
This beautiful trail in Kananaskis is another great one if you want to be by yourself, especially towards the end of the season. This hike is just short of 15 kilometres round-trip, with an elevation gain of 670 meters.
After about 45 minutes from the start of the hike, you will see the beginnings of the colours that the larches provide the area, which will be with you until you reach the tree line. Details
Directions to Trails Head: 2 hours; ~140 km drive from Downtown Calgary
10. Saddleback Pass
While this hike is relatively short, the last bits can be challenging. It is only a 3.7-kilometre walk to the pass, but from there, you can choose to scramble about 100 meters up to the summit of Saddle Mountain or hike to the summit of Fairview Mountain.
The summit of Saddle Mountain will give you an elevation gain of about 700 meters, while Fairview will give you approximately 1000 meters. Either way, you can see phenomenal views of the mountains, valleys, and golden larches in every direction. Start from the west end of the Lake Louise Chateau parking lot; just look for the trailhead markers.
All Lake Louise trails are great during the fall and get extremely crowded. Take the Parks Canada Shuttle. Details
Directions to Trails Head: 2 hours; 190 km drive from Downtown Calgary
11. Ptarmigan Cirque
Taking you into a basin with a small larch forest, this 4.5-kilometre loop trail in Peter Lougheed Park will be an excellent getaway for all the family members. Less busy than some of the other trails in the area; you need to check the Parks Canada website for bear warnings before setting out. Although this is listed as a moderate hike, there is only an elevation gain of 210 meters. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~145 km, 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
12. Lake Agnes Trail
No matter what time of year, this is one of our favourite hikes in the Lake Louise area and for those who are willing to spend a bit of time going up in the cooler fall weather (which is much better than the hot of the summer months) can not only have the reward of visiting the beautiful Lake Agnes and having the spectacular views of the area. Still, it can also be a pleasure to see the golden larches.
Start from the Chateau and follow the well-worn path up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse. To get there, there will be an elevation gain of 400 meters, with a total of 7 kilometres on a round trip. If you like, continue to Little Beehive or Big Beehive trails for spectacular views. Details
All Lake Louise trails are great during the fall, but they get incredibly crowded. Visit Lake Louise as early as you can. Take the Parks Canada Shuttle. Details
Directions to Trails Head: 2 hours; 190 km drive from Downtown Calgary
13. Sunshine Meadows
Credit: Sunshine Meadows
There is something so special about being up in this area. The gondola will take you up to where you will start hiking, with a couple of options available to enjoy.
If the gondola is not running, or you don’t want the expense, you will have to hike up on your own – it’s 6 kilometres each way on the ski outrun. Once you are at the top, though, the hikes are pretty straightforward – not with a lot of ups or downs. There are 6 hikes to choose from, and each one has quite a few larches to enjoy. Details
Directions to Trails Head: 140 km; 1 hour and 40 minutes drive from Downtown Calgary
14. Burstall Pass
It is a great off-the-beaten-track hike that will leave you breathless, not necessarily from the hike (although the hike might leave you a bit out of breath as well), but from the stunning scenery.
The elevation gain of 470 meters will get you into alpine meadows and the pass itself. The 14.8-kilometre round-trip walk will wind through the forests and give you an incredible view of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Take a pair of sandals or an extra set of shoes in case your feet get wet in the marshy sections. The parking lot and trailhead are easy to find on the Smith-Dorian Trail. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~150 km; 2 hours drive from Downtown Calgary
15. Tryst Lake
Spray Valley Provincial Park is a good place to view the golden larches in the fall. Try out the Tryst Lake trail to enjoy the views of the trees around the pretty little lake. This is a good hike if there has already been snow, as it is not as steep an elevation as some of the other hikes, and you won’t need ice cleats to climb up. The gain is only 350 meters along the 6-kilometre round-trip route.
You start from an unmarked parking lot along Mount Shark Road – drive about 900 meters past Mount Engadine Lodge and cross the bridge before turning left into the unmarked parking lot. The trail begins at the south end of the parking lot; just be aware that there is no signage. Details
Directions to Trails Head: ~155 km; 2 hours drive from Downtown Calgary
Places to Go Hiking During Fall in Alberta
