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Fall Color Photography in Kananaskis Country

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Fall in Kananaskis Country is pure magic. As the larches turn golden, they transform the rugged mountain landscapes into a glowing paradise.

Each year, photographers and hikers alike are drawn to the breathtaking contrast between the vibrant fall foliage and the looming Rockies. If you’re a lover of fall colors like me, then Kananaskis during larch season is an experience you’ll never forget.

Best Larch Viewing Quick List

Larches everywhere! The colder weather throughout September leads to this beautiful contrast of green and gold as the seasons change from fall to winter. Peak color can shift a week or two either into Sept or Oct, but typically, peak color is the last week of Sept. You get perfect hiking conditions, with cooler weather and decently challenging terrain.

First thing to note is that you have to buy a pass to enjoy the Kananaskis Area Parks. You buy that pass online and then your license plate is registered in the system: no need for a paper pass.

To get the best larch viewing opportunities, you have to hike up and up! The thinner air at even this meager altitude of 1800-2500m was tough. We hiked slower, drank much more water, and were exhausted after hiking a simple 10kms. What can I say, Albertans just breathe better than us Coastal folks.

Best Hikes for Larch Viewing in Kananaskis

Here is my quick list of my 2 favorites and maybe the best larch hikes in Kananaskis Country. *You can find these hikes on the AllTrails App*

• Pocaterra Ridge
• Arethusa Cirque

Map of Recommended Larch & Other Hikes/Walks

Here is a quick list of the other hikes that we found that are definitely worth exploring.

• Chester Lake, 9.3km
• Rawson Lake, 8.7km
• Grassi Lakes, 1.4km
• Ptarmigan Cirque, 3.5km
• Tent Ridge, 11km
• Mount Smutwood (to the Ridge), 16km

Pocaterra Ridge

This trail is BUSY! Everyone and their dog and grandma (yes, we saw some 80 yr olds killing it on the trail) love to do these fall larch hikes in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. I’m talking like people are walking on each other heels! Paired with the fact that the parking lot is kind of small for the volume of people enjoying larch madness, you need to get to the trailheads EARLY.

We arrived at 7am and the lot was almost full (and we thought we were early!). Within a few minutes, the lot was full and folks were parking on the road. GET THERE EARLY! The air in late Sept is perfect, with just a slight chill; enough to keep you cool while hiking up some of the alpine terrain.

Pocaterra Ridge Fall Photography Tips

Catch the First Light from the Ridge

As the sun starts to rise, the ridgeline comes alive. The eastern light spills over the Rockies, illuminating the golden larches below in that classic, honey-toned glow. If you time it right, you can photograph the valleys still cloaked in shadow while the ridge lights up—this contrast creates incredible depth and mood.

Make sure to bring a telephoto lens here. With so many layers of peaks and trees, a tighter focal length helps you compress the landscape, isolating patterns of color and light across the mountains. Don’t be afraid to zoom in and focus on intimate scenes—clumps of golden needles catching backlight, ridgelines glowing in morning mist, or a hiker silhouetted on the crest.

Composition Tips for a Busy Trail

Because the trail is packed, it’s a great opportunity to get creative with people in your frame. Use hikers for scale—let them lead the eye into a vast mountain scene, or silhouette them against a backlit patch of larches. Just be mindful of your shutter speed if you’re trying to capture movement.

For wide shots, look for sweeping ridgelines lined with golden larch trees, especially if you can include layers of distant peaks in the background. Use a polarizer to enhance sky contrast and deepen those yellows without blowing them out. And don’t forget about the midday light, especially on overcast days—cloud cover can act like a giant softbox, giving you even light across the whole landscape.

Foregrounds, Layers, and Weather Drama

Early fall mornings on Pocaterra can bring low fog or frost, both of which photograph beautifully. Look for frosted grass, ice crystals on pine needles, or mist pooling in valleys—these little touches bring seasonal atmosphere into your frame.

Use foreground elements like alpine shrubs or textured rock outcrops to anchor your compositions. The trail itself can also serve as a natural leading line, guiding your viewer’s gaze up toward the peaks and beyond.

Arethusa Cirque

Arethusa Cirque Fall Photography Tips

Chasing Light and Color in the Cirque

Sunrise light here is more diffused than on exposed ridges, especially if there’s cloud cover hugging the peaks. Use that to your advantage—soft, filtered light is perfect for capturing the texture and subtle color of the larch needles without harsh contrast.

Bring a wide-angle lens to showcase the full drama of the cirque: golden trees framed by jagged peaks, with rocky slopes and winding trails drawing your eye into the scene. If you’re lucky, you might catch a low fog layer drifting through the trees, adding mystery and mood.

Later in the morning, side lighting helps carve out the shape of the cirque, giving definition to the rocks, cliffs, and trees. And because this hike draws more families and casual hikers, you’ll see more people on the trail as the day goes on. That’s not a bad thing—consider including them for scale or capturing candid moments of kids marveling at the fall colors. It adds a storytelling layer to your images.

Tips for Capturing Detail and Intimacy

Don’t just shoot wide. Fall is all about the little things—the fiery oranges mixed with evergreen greens, the crunch of frost on leaves, or sunlight hitting a single golden branch. A macro or telephoto lens lets you zoom in on those intimate fall details that often get overlooked.

Look down as well as up. The trail is lined with alpine flora turning vivid shades of red and rust, contrasting beautifully with the yellow larches above. These ground textures make for fantastic foreground elements—especially if you’re shooting low and wide for added depth.

Bonus Tip: If it rained the night before or you’re hiking just after a frost, those larch needles will glisten in the light—an effect that looks absolutely magical with backlighting or a polarizer to cut glare and deepen color.

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More Must See Scenic Spots Around Kananaskis During Fall

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Easier Hikes to Take in Fall Colors around Kananaskis

I can’t be hiking a bunch of KMS at elevation everyday so here are some trails to take in the fall larch madness and autumn colors for visitors from lower elevations!

Mount Lorette Ponds

Wedge Pond

Smith Dorrien Trail (HWY 762)

Barrier Lake/Dam

Heart Creek Canyon Trail

Buller Mountain Day Use Area

Upper Kananaskis Lake

Policeman Creek

Tips for Photographing Larches in Kananaskis Country

Best Time of Day for Photos

Fall is a fleeting season in the Rockies, and timing is everything when photographing the golden larch trees in Kananaskis Country. Early morning is my favorite—when the sun is still low and the air has that crisp bite that wakes you up in the best way.

The angled sunlight brushes the treetops with gold, casting long shadows that add drama and depth to your shots. It’s the perfect time to capture the quiet magic of these high alpine forests.

Golden hour, just before sunset, is also spectacular, offering rich warm tones.

In fall, as the sun dips toward the horizon, the entire landscape glows with warm amber light, bringing out the contrast between the golden larches, deep blue skies, and snow-dusted peaks. There’s a softness to the light at this hour that speaks to the transitional energy of autumn—a time when the natural world pauses between abundance and rest.

Ideal Equipment

When I’m out photographing fall colors in the Canadian Rockies, I always pack a polarizing filter—it deepens blue skies, cuts through the glare on leaves and water, and makes those golden larches pop with intensity.

If I’m near a lake or a stream (and Kananaskis has plenty), I’ll use a neutral density (ND) filter to shoot long exposures. Slowing the shutter speed softens water movement into a dreamy blur, creating contrast with the crisp textures of the trees. A sturdy tripod is a must, especially when you’re shooting in low light or working with longer exposures.

And don’t forget to bring a telephoto lens. While wide angles help you capture sweeping vistas, a longer lens lets you isolate patterns of color and detail—tight compositions of golden needles backlit by morning light, or wildlife moving through the forest in peak color.

Framing and Composition

Photographing fall in Kananaskis is about honoring both the grandeur and intimacy of the season. Frame the golden larch trees against the rugged Rocky Mountain peaks to highlight the contrast between fragile seasonal beauty and ancient stone. Play with leading lines—a trail winding into the forest, a river reflecting gold and blue—to guide your viewer’s eye through the frame.

One of my favorite compositional tricks for fall is to include a strong foreground element: think crimson underbrush, scattered pinecones, or frost-covered grasses. These anchor your image and create visual layers, drawing the viewer deeper into the scene. Autumn’s palette isn’t just gold—watch for burnt orange, dusky reds, and earthy browns that add complexity and richness to your shots.

Bonus Tip: If you’re shooting during peak larch season (usually late September to early October), try capturing the first light snowfall on the larches. The contrast between the soft white snow and the golden needles is pure magic—like the forest is dressed in gold and lace.

Incorporate a Foreground Element for Depth: Fall brings a tapestry of colors—golden leaves, crimson foliage, and rust-colored earth. Include these elements in the foreground to add layers of depth and a seasonal touch to your fall shots.

Photography Gear to Bring to Kananaskis

Here are the things I bring with me as a basic kit, yours may differ, and I add or remove things depending on what is available to shoot. I typically didn’t bring my tripod as we were hiking during good light and there weren’t any long exposure opportunities that I planned on.

• Tripod
• Lens Cloths
• ND Filters
• Polarizer
• Remote Trigger
• Wide Angle (Rokinon 14mm)
• Zoom (Canon 24-105mm)
• A knee pad or something to sit and kneel on

Practical Tips for Visitors to Kananaskis

Pro Tip: Dress in layers! The mornings can be quite chilly, but you’ll warm up as you hike. A moisture-wicking base layer, followed by a fleece and a windproof jacket, should do the trick.

And don’t forget to bring snacks rich in protein and carbs — a handful of nuts or energy bars are perfect for quick boosts of energy on the trail.

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Kananaskis Country: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

All of them had plenty of clean washrooms, (even though they were pit toilets), they were decently ventilated. Not that I’d willingly spend my spare time there, but I did come out relatively unscathed by the stench.

The whole check in/out was a breeze…you printed your site passes online through Alberta Parks Camping website. (On a side note, that website and the organization of camping services blew my mind, thanks for nothing Discover Camping B.C, step up your game).

There was a nice Visitor’s Centre with plenty of information about the area. Two things to note about the Visitors Centre: #1. They have Wifi! #2. There is a large meadow behind the building which is a viewing area for local Grizzlies that come into the meadow to feed on roots, etc. Bring a BIG telephoto; with my 650mm I didn’t have enough reach: the bears like to be close to the back of the meadow.

Fall Gallery

Here is a small sample of some of my images in my Fall Gallery, please head over to take a look. This gallery includes images from Alberta and Vancouver Island.

Easy Mountain Photography in Canmore

Depending on the time of year, you can take a quick 5 minute hike down a very easy trail in the middle of Canmore that leads you to the Bow River.

A lazy river, more of a pond here, created some fantastic sunrise reflections of both the 3 sisters mountains and Ha Ling Peak (far right). Parking is in a gravel parking lot (unmarked) along the main road at the south end of town. Follow the river bed all the way to this beautiful view.

While I had barely seen anyone on our 10 day trip taking images, this was the one spot where there were about a dozen other photographers waiting for the morning alpine glow.

The glow never appeared, but we were graced with this calm part of the Bow River and a few clouds for depth. Just look at those beautiful fall colors below 3 sisters!

One place we didn’t visit that is in Canmore is Quarry Lake, with it’s impressive views and reflections of Ha-Lin Peak it’s one you shouldn’t miss!

Conclusion

Hiking in the Rockies for the first time was something else. Viewing the larches in Kananaskis Country should be on everyone’s photography bucket list. After a week of exploring these majestic trails, I left Kananaskis with not just a memory card full of images, but a deep sense of connection to the land.

The larches, standing tall and golden in the cool autumn air, remind us of the fleeting beauty of the season. If you’re a lover of nature and photography, experiencing fall in Kananaskis Country is an adventure you’ll cherish forever.