Golden larch trees along Eiffel Lake trail in Banff National Park


This larch hike is the best one in Banff National Park

Every Autumn, pockets of Banff National Park come aglow with gold. It's that special time of year when larch trees sweeping across the Canadian Rockies bring the landscapes alive, as they begin to change coats for winter and turn a brilliant yellow hue. This natural phenomenon is a wonder to see, but it doesn't last long.


Autumn colours, Larch trees, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada Stock

Larch trees at Healy Pass in Banff. In this guide, we will share the best Banff larch hikes. While unfortunately, it will be harder to find solitude during the Banff larch season, walking through a stand of larch trees at the peak of the transformation will more than make up for it.


Larch Tree — Banff Moments

Larch Valley is located in Banff National Park near Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada. It's a stunning alpine meadow full of Larch trees and surrounded by the majestic Valley of the Ten Peaks. To get to the Larch Valley, you'll have to hike 4.3 kilometers from the shores of Moraine Lake along the well-marked and moderately Larch Valley Trail.


Golden larch trees along Eiffel Lake trail in Banff National Park

Build a Trip At certain elevations of the Rockies, the renowned larch tree grows in verdant patches. Those willing to hike up above Moraine Lake into Larch Valley will find an entire sweeping forest of them. The feeling of topping out after a rolling trail and attaining the treeline above the larches will fill…


Larch Trees — Banff Moments

Banff is the perfect place for larch hikes in Alberta. The National Park is home to tens of thousands of larch trees and their annual transformation from green to golden needles in fall. Conifers (evergreen trees) don't lose their needles, and though the larch is a conifer, it does lose its soft needles like a deciduous (leafy) tree does in fall.


Fall in Banff beautiful larch trees Banff national park, National

While there are many great places to see the larch trees in Banff National Park, the most well known is probably Larch Valley. We decided the Larch Valley hike would be best for us since it was not far from to the village of Lake Louise, where we were staying. We were starting our hike late in the day (around 4 pm), so we wanted something that.


Larch Trees in Fall after First Snow, Banff NP, Canada Stock Image

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!


Larch trees in fall after first snow, Banff NP, Canada Photograph by

During spring and summer, the larch is rather unremarkable, as to the untrained eye, the coniferous tree looks like most pine species growing throughout Banff National Park. However, come autumn, summer's unassuming larch begins its dazzling transformation, from verdant green to a mesmerizing burnished gold. Why do Banff's larches change colour?


Larch Trees in Banff NP stock photo. Image of alberta 45429480

Laryx Lake Why This Is a Great Hike for Families Rock Isle Lake Larch Hike If you want to do a larch hike in Banff National Park, you're spoiled for choice. But let's back up a little. For those of you unfamiliar with my neck of the woods, larch trees are a big deal.


Alpine Larch Trees The Beehive Is A Mountain Located In Banff National

The Larch Valley hike rises from the shores of Moraine Lake to an extensive forest of larch trees. From this forest of larch trees, Banff hikers will enjoy panoramic views of the mountains which make up the Valley of the Ten Peaks.


Larch trees in fall in Banff NP in Canada Photograph by Sara Winter

Situated in Banff National Park, the Larch Valley is easily accessible from Lake Louise Village. As you embark on your journey into the valley, you'll find yourself surrounded by a landscape that seems too perfect to be real.


Larch Valley, Banff national park [OC][4096x2304] r/EarthPorn

One of the best reasons to visit Banff and Lake Louise in the fall season are the truly spectacular larch trees. One of the most famous locations for viewing golden larch trees is Larch Valley near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. This is an incredible autumn hiking choice in the Canadian Rockies and a bucket-list must!


10 Best Larch Hikes to Enjoy Banff in the Fall The Banff Blog

Larches tend to grow in cold climates and mountainous areas and need a lot of moisture so the Canadian Rockies are perfect for them. I also found out that they tend to grow where they have been forest fires. Why do larches turn yellow? Larches turn yellow in the fall because they are saving nutrients to use later.


Banff Larch valley TierOne Travel

It's one of the biggest stands of larch trees anywhere in Banff, making the Larch Valley one of the best larch hikes you'll find in Alberta. The only downside is that everyone knows this is one of the best hikes in Banff, so it's typically very crowded.


Golden larch trees partially lit up by the sunlight. Valley of the Ten

The Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass is the quintessential Canadian Rockies hike and definitely one of the best larch hikes in Banff, although keep in mind, it's easily the most crowded too. Sentinel Pass is relatively challenging, hugely popular, and offers some of Canada's most stunning natural scenery.


Larch Trees in Lake Louise Alberta. Autumn Refocusing Photography

Build a Trip Embrace autumn and admire the fall colours in Banff and Lake Louise with these beautiful fall hikes in the Canadian Rockies.