10 EASY Larch Hikes in Kananaskis & Banff

There is no better way to experience the Canadian Rockies in the fall than by going on a larch hike. You don’t have to hike far and long to see the beautiful larch trees turn golden, as there are some truly easy hikes you can enjoy without putting in too much effort.

If you want some more ideas for hikes where you can see the larches, see our full Alberta larch guide!

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Easy Larch Hikes in Banff & Kananaskis

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Mount Lorette Ponds

Mount Lorette Ponds is a popular day-use area in Kananaskis. During the larch season, the whole area is teeming with gold. Head here to walk around the gentle ponds, without any elevation gain or notable distance.

The area surrounding Mount Lorette Ponds is well-maintained and provides a nice, easy stroll for everyone in the family—young and old. There are plenty of picnic tables around the ponds for those who want to enjoy lunch among the larches in a peaceful setting. Alternatively, you can bring a few chairs, a blanket, and a book and chill out for the entire day. This is less of a hike and more of a chill spot to enjoy.

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Tryst Lake

With less than 400 meters of gain and less than 10 km of distance, the hike to Tryst Lake is an easy one. The first hour is flat on the Smutwood Trail, another popular but more difficult larch hike. At approx 1.7 km in, you’ll follow the trail to the right and continue to Tryst Lake. Once at the lake, enjoy all the beautiful larches and have a packed lunch on the lakeshore.

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Ptarmigan Cirque

Ptarmigan Cirque is a short and sweet larch hike on Highwood Pass that everyone can enjoy. Located just across Highway 40 from the more difficult Pocaterra Ridge Trail, this hike is only 4.2 km round trip and has an elevation gain of less than 300 meters. Like I said – short and sweet.

It’s important to know that Ptarmigan Cirque is one of the busiest hikes during the larch season, and is exceptionally popular with Calgarians. Due to its ease and accessibility, you’ll likely see many families on the trail. During peak larch season, parking and crowding issues have been here, especially on weekends.

If you arrive and find cars lined up down HWY 40, have a backup hike in your back pocket, as it’s best not to add to the congestion. Alternatively, aim to arrive early or later in the evening to avoid prime-time crowds.

After doing Arethusa Cirque (mentioned below) and Ptarmigan Cirque, we found Arethusa much more enjoyable. However, don’t just take my word for it. I highly suggest combining Ptarmigan Cirque with Arethusa Cirque for a full day out. Highwood Pass takes a long time to get to anyway, so you might as well make a day out of it!

*Notice: Alberta Parks is asking hikers to avoid stopping around the Highwood Pass area of Kananaskis during the 2024 fall season. Ongoing construction there will result in very limited parking and intermittent closures. Roadside parking is not allowed. This includes the Highwoods Meadow Interpretive Trail, and the popular Pocaterra Cirque and Ridge Routes, Arethusa Cirque, and Ptarmigan Cirque.*

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Arethusa Cirque

Arethusa Cirque is a beautiful 4.5 km loop hike nestled beneath Little Arethusa and Mount Arethusa. The trail weaves through forests, meadows, and the rocky remains of ancient glaciers.

It’s not nearly as well-known as neighboring Ptarmigan or Pocaterra Cirque, so it sees fewer crowds. However, this doesn’t mean it’s not an amazing hike, as Arethusa Cirque offers an incredibly rewarding larch experience for relatively low effort.

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Rummel Lake

Rummel Lake is a great, easy hike starting across the Smith Dorrien from Mount Engadine Lodge. The trailhead is right off the road and immediately takes hikers on a peaceful and easy trail, gradually gaining elevation until the lake.

During the larch season, the lake is surrounded by yellow goodness, and you can hike further to a few vantage points to get a view from higher up. Enjoy the view of the lake sitting under Mount Galatea. The whole cirque, headwall, and Rummel Lake are all of particular beauty.

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Chester Lake

Chester Lake is a great hike for those who base themselves in Canmore over Banff, as it’s far up the Smith Dorrien Road, past Mount Engadine Lodge.

If you decide to make the trek and hike the 10km return to the lake, you’ll be in for a real treat. During the third week of September, Chester Lake is typically surrounded by golden larch trees.

At under 10km and 300 meters of elevation gain, the trail is short and mellow enough for most to enjoy. Although most of the trail to Chester Lake is fairly boring, eventually, you’ll hike into a wide-open meadow with fantastic views of Mount Chester and Fortress Mountain ahead. Pack a lunch, and make sure to enjoy a picnic on the lake shore (make sure to Leave No Trace).

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Burstall Pass

Burstall Pass is a classic hike in Kananaskis near the trail for Chester Lake. Just off Smith Dorrien Trail, the hike moves past several marshy lakes and streams before a steep ascent up to an alpine meadow. It then finishes on a high mountain pass with grand glaciated mountain views. Although the trail starts off pretty mundane, once you get into the alpine meadow, you’ll be met with lots of beautiful autumn colors.

Though Burstall Pass is a long hike, 16 to 18 km, depending on how far you go, it’s a long yet easy larch hike. Elevation is gradually gained throughout most of the hike except for a few sections. If you want to shave some time off, you can bike the first 4km of the road, which can cut off more than an hour of hiking between the in and out!

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Healy Pass

Healy Pass is a favorite hike in the Canadian Rockies. It’s the most popular wildflower hike in the summer, and bursting with golden larches in Banff in the fall. The trail begins at the Sunshine Village parking lot and gradually climbs through a lush-shaded forest until it opens up to an expansive alpine meadow with unparalleled views.

At 7.5 km one way, it’s a long approach to the woods. But it’s more than worth it when you reach the top of the pass. Here, you can stop and enjoy lunch, continue up to Healy Pass Peak, or consider continuing onto Egypt Lake for an extra long but epic day.

What’s great about Healy Pass is that Parks Canada maintains the whole trail, so it’s great for those who don’t want to deal with trail confusion, trail braiding, or scrambling.

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Taylor Lake

Taylor Lake in Banff sits at the base of Mt. Bell and offers spectacular views. The trailhead is located just off the Trans Canada before reaching Lake Louise when traveling from Banff to Lake Louise. It can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

It is a pretty boring hike until you reach the lake, but once you get there, you’ll be surrounded by so much yellow larchy goodness that you’ll probably forget about the uneventful uphill walk in the woods.

If you’re enjoying the views and after more larches, we highly recommend continuing on the trail past Taylor Lake through Panorama Meadows. This area has a well-defined hiking path and widely spaced trees, and, combined with the elevation, it provides some excellent views of the valley.

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Larch Valley

Of course, a valley called “Larch Valley” is sure to be one of the best larch hikes in the Rockies. The Larch Valley hike is THE quintessential Canadian Rockies hike that anyone in Banff who is after yellow larches in the fall has on their hit list.

The route starts at Moraine Lake, so make sure to research how you are getting there first. Once past the canoe docks, the trail climbs nearly 400 meters and follows neverending switchbacks. At the fork, you’ll follow the trail to the right towards Sentinel Pass, and you’ll quickly be surrounded by neverending yellow larches.

It’s easy to spend a lot of time exploring Larch Valley. We recommend heading to Minnestimma Lake for views of the Ten Peaks over the small pond. If you feel like you have a bit more in you, then continue up to the top of Sentinel Pass, which climbs another 200 meters from Minnestimma Lake. The views are spectacular in all directions.