Viewing Kananaskis larches at their peak fall colors is a sight everyone should see.
Without insider knowledge, you can be left searching 100’s of websites, trying to piece together a trip. Hoping and praying that you’ve picked the best time and the best spots to view larches in the fall.
We ventured out from Vancouver Island in late September and headed east to Alberta for a 10 day larch viewing mission.
The best larch viewing hikes in Kananaskis Country all in one, easy to access Quick Guide below. I promise, you won’t be disappointed (with MAP).
The mountains are calling….(again)
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Fall Color Photography in Kananaskis Country
All of the Larches!
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
Pocaterra Ridge
This trail is BUSY! Everyone and their dog and grandma 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.
Arethusa Cirque
This hike is much shorter and easier than Pocaterra Ridge. If you have limited time, and need a larch fix, this is the hike for you.
The parking lot is also on the smaller side for this hike, so get there super early, especially if you’re hiking on the weekend.
Arethusa Cirque is also a busy hike, but you at least have some space between yourself and other folks. The trail gets busier as it gets later in the morning, with families and kids starting the trail.
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
Must See Scenic Spots Around Kananaskis During Fall
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
Easy, level walking around a small but beautiful glacial pond. The water is quite blue and you get great reflections of the mountains in the distance. This “trail” is paved and about 1 kms round trip if that. There are many beautiful day use picnic tables and fire pits here for everyone to enjoy.
Wedge Pond
Wedge Pond is a quick easy walk around the Pond. Reflections galore here of the surrounding mountains. Early morning is best for reflections in the pond because the wind tends to pick up at around 10am.
Smith Dorrien Trail (HWY 762)
The scenery along the Smith Dorrien is magnificent! Smith Dorrien is a gravel road that you travel North to South or vice versa. You don’t need a 4 wheel drive to drive this road. Some areas feel like you’re driving on a washboard (bottom left) but otherwise, this road is no problem to drive.
You can see so many mountains just from the side of the road. You can see the dusting of snow on top of these mountains as the season shifted from fall to winter towards the end of our trip.
Barrier Lake/Dam
Barrier Lake is along Highway 40, a quick stop with a glacial blue lake and day area. There is plenty of parking, washrooms, and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Heart Creek Canyon Trail
This trail is close to Canmore. The trailhead marker says there is a waterfall at the end of the canyon, and there is….the geography of the canyon meant that we couldn’t get any shots of the waterfall.
Half of the hike is the journey from the trailhead to the actual start of the canyon at Heart Creek. Throughout the first part of the hike were so many fall colors. The light breeze inspired me to go for a slightly longer exposure to create an almost impressionist feel with the movement of the leaves in the breeze.
Buller Mountain Day Use Area
We didn’t spend much time exploring this small area along Smith Dorrien. I bet sunrise and sunset are pretty amazing here. Super easy access with a very short walk to the lake. When we got there the wind had already picked up, so no chance at catching a reflection image. Beautiful nonetheless.
Upper Kananaskis Lake
Upper Kananaskis Lake is a large area to explore. There are a few trailheads here, the most popular being Rawson Lake. The thin air kept us from hiking up to the lake, so we explored down by the shore. At sunset, we cooked dinner at a day use area and then waited for the alpine glow. We ended up getting skunked, but the sunset was beautiful nonetheless.
The lakeside trail was absolutely stunning, I recommend it!
From the shore, you could see one lonely larch standing out on the mountain side which I captured here.
Policeman Creek
The Policeman Creek Trail is approximately 4kms long and winds its’ way through the center of Canmore. The City is on either side of the trail, so you can hear and see other people, the traffic, etc. Such a beautiful example of Rocky Mountain terrain, including a creek, meadows, marshlands, and beautiful mountain backdrop. The perfect place to bring your a coffee and stroll along the trail, taking it all in.
Tips for Photographing Larches in Kananaskis Country
Best Time of Day for Photos:
The best time to photograph the larches is early morning when the golden hues of the trees are highlighted by the low sun, casting long shadows and creating dynamic textures. Golden hour, just before sunset, is also spectacular, offering rich warm tones.
In fall, the golden hour bathes the mountains in warm, amber light. This is when the balance between day and night, light and shadow, is most profound.
Ideal Equipment:
I always bring my polarizer for fall photography, as it cuts through the glare on leaves, enhancing the vibrant colors. If you want to take long exposure shots of the surrounding lakes or rivers, an ND filter is essential to smooth out the water and give your images that ethereal quality.
Framing and Composition:
Framing the golden larches with the towering Rockies in the background creates a powerful contrast. Experiment with wide angles to capture the grandeur of the landscape or focus on close-ups to show the delicate details of the larch needles.
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
We camped for 7 days in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, named after a historic Premier. We started to notice a ton of things named after him, including a hospital and a mountain.
We camped at the Elkwood and the Boulton Creek Campgrounds, which were both mostly deserted. The camp sites are enormous and very private; there is a large amount of space (fully treed) on all sides of your campsites. Between the two, we preferred the Elkwood Campground.
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.
- Fall Color Photography in Kananaskis Country
- All of the Larches!
- Best Larch Viewing Quick List
- Best Hikes for Larch Viewing in Kananaskis
- Pocaterra Ridge
- Arethusa Cirque
- Map of Recommended Larch & Other Hikes/Walks
- Must See Scenic Spots Around Kananaskis During Fall
- Easier Hikes to Take in Fall Colors around Kananaskis
- Tips for Photographing Larches in Kananaskis Country
- Photography Gear to Bring to Kananaskis
- Practical Tips for Visitors to Kananaskis
- Kananaskis Country: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
- Fall Gallery
- Easy Mountain Photography in Canmore
- Conclusion