We stopped briefly to eat our packed lunches by a still lake before setting off again to tackle the last section of the Sentinel Pass hike. Out of the protection of the forest and into a windy afternoon that was rapidly clouding over, we were freezing. Once we peeled ourselves away from the magical Larch Valley we continued further through a forest of larch and evergreens till we emerged out of the forest and into rocky terrain.Ī steep exposed mountainside was before us with a faint trail through the rocks up to Sentinel Pass.
The trees were alight with gold and a sparkling river shone in the sunlight in a lush green meadow.
The impossibly scenic Larch Valley backed by ten snow-covered peaks stretched out before us. Slowly we started to see the brilliant yellow larches amongst the deep green forest beside the trail as we got closer to Larch Valley. There were no magical larch trees yet in sight but it was beautiful to be out in the clean mountain air surrounded by green. We got to know each other as we hiked the lazy switchbacks through the pine-scented forest on the Larch Valley hike. Luckily I had the spray and we didn’t have to wait long at the trailhead before a couple of German backpackers wandered up and agreed to join us. The area around Moraine Lake is a high-risk grizzly bear area and you aren’t allowed to hike the trails with less than four people and without bear spray. Try to show me a more beautiful lake in the world than Moraine, I dare ya. It was my brother Robbie’s first time in the Rockies so we took the time to climb the rock pile for the iconic view of gorgeous Moraine Lake first, passing cute pikas and fat ground squirrels along the way. The best place to really experience the true beauty of the Banff fall colors. I never even realized that there were any conifers (trees with needles instead of leaves) that were deciduous.īacked by the snow-dusted and spectacular Ten Peaks, it looked like exactly the spell-binding scenery I was after. The Best Travel Health Insurance For Your Trip The Best Moraine Lake Hike in Fallĭuring the short mountain fall, the needles of the larch trees in Larch Valley above Moraine Lake turn a gorgeous golden color, something I have never seen before. There are a number of hikes that start at Moraine Lake but the best one to do in fall is absolutely the Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass hike. The perfect time to embark on some fall hikes in nearby Banff National Park.Īnd the best fall hike in Banff National Park? The Sentinel Pass Hike and Larch Valley Trail in the Moraine Lake/Lake Louise area of the park. My brother was scheduled to visit me in the tiny village of Field in Yoho National Park, where I was living for six weeks, in the middle of September. There are so many things to do in Banff National Park in the fall. I had always visited in summer in the past which is a fantastic time of year for hiking and camping, but I was very much looking forward to discovering the mountains when the air was cooler and the trees were beautiful and bright in their golden coats.Īnd as I would come to find out, the best time to visit Yoho and Banff National Parks in the Canadian Rockies is during fall.
It was during my third visit to the Canadian Rockies that I finally got to experience fall in the mountains. Make sure you don’t miss this Moraine Lake hike in fall! Wondering what fall hike in Banff National Park is the best? In my opinion, it is the Larch Valley hike including Sentinel Pass in the Moraine Lake area of the park.
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