Banff, Canada is an incredible destination to visit in fall because of the area’s abundance of beautiful golden larches! These unique deciduous conifers turn a brilliant shade of yellow and drop their needles in fall, and people often reference the “larch madness” that takes hold out west when the trees turn color. It’s worth seeing at least once in your life! Below you’ll find 5 underrated larch hikes near Banff that you need to add to your fall bucket list.

These hikes are “underrated” in the sense that they aren’t as popular for larch-viewing as some of the other destinations in the area (such as the famous larch valley), which means you can still enjoy some solitude on the trail.

Larch season in Banff is short, and hard to time right if you’re not local. It typically occurs in mid-September, but this year (2024) larches started turning in late September.

Packing essentials for visiting Banff in fall

Before we dive in to larch hikes near Banff let’s walk about gear!

In fall the weather near Banff can skew hot OR cold, so it’s best to be prepared for a wide range of conditions. You should be prepared for the possibility of rain, snow, and/or wind on your hikes. See below for a few essentials you should pack with you for your fall trip to Banff.

Winter hiking essentials

Not sure what to pack to stay warm and comfortable on winter hikes? Below are some of our most-used winter hiking essentials!

• Our REI XeroCloud Rain Jackets and rain pants keep us warm and dry.
• My go-to midweight puffer jacket is the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket (for women and men).
• For super cool weather I rely on a heavyweight puffer jacket. My top pick is the REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie (for women and men).
• Lowa Renegade waterpoof hiking boots (for women and men) are year-round staples!
• Lightweight hiking poles help us keep our balance on slick trails.
• Navigating ice and snow? Microspikes / hiking crampons are key to staying safe on icy trails and parking lots!
• Thinking of exploring the backcountry in winter? The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is a great option for ensuring you can call for help in an emergency.

best larch hikes near Banff

Now, let’s dive into the hikes! Below are 5 underrated larch hikes near Banff that you need to add to your fall hiking bucket list.

Note: each of these trails featured below are relatively challenging, mostly due to the elevation gain and mileage. I would consider Smutwood Peak to be the most advanced due to the rock scramble at the end. Many of the hikes can be cut short if you’re not up for the full route.

Smutwood Peak

Hike length (round trip): 11.1 miles
Hike elevation gain: 3,047 feet

Don’t let the relatively flat start to this trail fool you — you’re in for a big climb at the end! This hike takes you up to Smutwood Peak. At the start of the hike you’ll traverse through an evergreen forest and through a boggy meadow and boulder field before the trail starts to climb steadily through fields of larches and scree. You’ll then follow the trail along a steep slope with views of two beautiful lakes that sit in the shadow of Smutwood Peak and Mount Smuts (pictured far left). You’ll also get great views of Mt. Birdwood (an especially pointy peak!) and Snow Peak, which are both pictured above (far right).

Note that the final half mile or so to the peak requires semi-technical scrambling and should be attempted only by experienced hikers. While pets are permitted, the more technical terrain at the end is likely not a good fit for them.

Pictured in the photo gallery above: Skye and Garrett of @theadventurearnolds

Burstall Pass and Snow Peak

Hike length (round trip): 10.1 miles without Snow Peak / 11.8 miles with Snow Peak summit
Hike elevation gain: 2,145 feet without Snow Peak / 3,484 feet with Snow Peak

The hike to Burstall Pass takes you through a forest before crossing a meadow with an abundance of braided streams, thus requiring several shallow water crossings in fall. You then climb through the forest again before being greeted by stunning views of the surrounding mountains once you break through the tree line. This is where you’ll find larches! If you choose to embark on the final ascent to the Snow Peak summit, you’ll encounter a steady climb up scree followed by a final scramble up rock. The views are worth it!

This area has beautiful larches, but the colors were only just starting to turn when we did this hike.

Read’s Tower

Hike length (round trip): 3.9 miles
Hike elevation gain: 2,795 feet

The ratio of hike length to elevation gain should tell you everything you need to know about how much you will suffer on this hike, but I promise it’s worth it! The Read’s Tower hike takes you up a very steep ascent with views of Spray Lakes Reservoir. Once you clear the trees you’ll find yourself on a plateau with lots of stunning larches, and an excellent view of Read’s Tower (pictured above far right). The final climb up the tower requires navigating rocks and scree. You’ll also encounter some cool fossils along the way! I think the fossils pictured (center) are barnacle fossils?

Pictured in the photo gallery above: Alec of @alecoutside

Lake O’Hara and Lake Oesa via Alpine Loop Trail

Hike length (round trip): 5.6 miles* (see note below)
Hike elevation gain: 1,541 feet

This hike is a STUNNER, and I think it’s one of the best larch hikes near Banff, Canada. Along the route you’ll see lots of lakes, larches, and mountains! It honestly reminded me a lot of hiking in the ‘core’ of the Enchantments in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State (another bucket list hike!). The scenery is truly spectacular.

My favorite section of larches was located near Hungabee Lake towards the end of the hike, but you’ll see the golden trees throughout your journey.

*Note that most people who visit Lake O’Hara take a shuttle bus, which costs money and requires a reservation. If you don’t want to pay or can’t get a reservation you can do what I did: hike nearly 7 miles each way along the road to get to the lake. This mean you’re in for a LONG hiking day if you do the full alpine loop trail (total: about 21 miles round trip without the shuttle). My feet sure hurt at the end, but I think it was worth it!

Tent Ridge

Hike length (end to end): 6.3 miles
Hike elevation gain: 2,657 feet

The route of Tent Ridge is shaped like a horseshoe and takes hikers on a steep but epic climb up to an exposed ridge, where you are treated to beautiful 360 views of the surrounding lakes, mountains, valley and, of course, tons of larches. Hikers will need to do some scrambling and navigate exposed cliff-sides, and windy conditions can make this hike feel a bit treacherous. Be prepared to be cold on the ridge!

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About the authors: we’re Gwyn and Ami, a couple of LGBTQ+ travel and outdoor adventure enthusiasts, content creators, and photographers. We share our adventures on our blog, and on social media (@gwynandami on Instagram and TikTok). Follow along for more epic adventure content, or click here to learn more about working with us.