Larch Season in Banff National Park, Canada
We have had the pleasure of visiting Banff National Park in various seasons, but nothing compares to Banff its colorful autumn transition. We booked a trip for late September 2026 in hopes that the timing would align with peak larch color. Larch trees are deciduous conifers that shed their needles after turning yellow each fall.
Our timing was perfect, and Mother Nature delivered a spectacular display!
As its name suggests, Larch Valley is one of the most popular hikes during the fall. It begins from Moraine Lake and is about 5.5 miles with just under 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Weather conditions were not the most favorable, but the first half of the day was significantly clearer than the second half, so we were grateful to enjoy the mountain view before it disappeared!
While the Larch Valley hike was beautiful, we enjoyed hiking Saddleback Pass at Lake Louise even more. The crowds were nonexistent - we maybe passed 20 people? The hike was about 4.5 miles, just under 2000 feet of elevation gain, and provided exceptional larch viewing!
Autumn in Banff is a treasure, and we feel lucky to have witnessed our favorite place in all its golden glory!