Larch Hikes in Alberta, Canada
Find a larch hike for larch season in the Canadian Rockies.
Picking a larch hike during larch madness is stressful! These are some of my favourite larch hikes in Larch Season in Kananaskis Country and Canmore Alberta.
Top tips:
- GO EARLY – I cannot stress this enough as larch season is shortlived and people are out and about. This is especially true for Ptarmigan Cirque/Pocaterra Cirque parking lot. As this area has many hikes in larch season, the parking lot is small and fills up fast. During this season (2023), we saw lines of cars on the side of the highway, all with tickets in their windshield.
- Bring layers – fall is a tricky time in the mountains, you may see snow, rain and sunshine all in the same hike! Pack accordingly.
The best larch hikes to do in larch season:
- Pocaterra Trail – we did not find a cirque, but rather did an out-and-back just before the trail turns into the ridge walk
2. Arethusa Cirque – this was a great low effort high reward hike, we accidently cut it short by taking a trail down the middle of the cirque.
3. Larch Valley – this hike you can no longer drive to Moraine Lake. I did it in 2020 before the driving restrictions were in place, so plan accordingly.
4. Tent Ridge – lovely fall hike with views of larches along the mountainside
5. Arnica Lake – lesser known larch hike in Kananaskis!
6. Ptarmigan Cirque – this one is a busy parking lot, go mid-week, early (or late!)
7. Chester Lake – this is one of my favourite hikes at anytime of the year!
