Hiking in Banff

One of the best ways to experience the mountains in Banff is to get out on foot and go for a hike. It’s really rewarding to get away from paved roads
and become surrounded by beautiful forests, lakes and mountains. Here at Discover Banff Tours, we offer a guided hike to a different area every day
of the week. My favourite Classic Hike to guide is definitely Larch Valley at Moraine Lake. There’s something about Moraine Lake and the Valley of
Ten Peaks that I absolutely love.

This hike starts right at the shore of Moraine Lake and continues on for another 4 kilometres to Larch Valley. For some, the first 2 ½ kilometres of the hike can be pretty gruelling. The first part of the hike you are completely immersed in subalpine forest as you make your way up a series of switchbacks towards the valley. But don’t worry, all of our guides go at a pace that is comfortable for everyone in the group and as you do make your way up, you will constantly be rewarded with views of the stunning blue waters of Moraine Lake.

Once you do come up to the valley, you will start to get glimpses of all of the Ten Peaks surrounding Moraine Lake, Mt. Pinnacle and Temple Mountain (the third highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies). You will also start to see beautiful flowers such as the Globeflower, Indian Paintbrush and Alpine Buttercup. The most rewarding part of your day will be sitting down with your group enjoying a nice packed lunch amongst some of the most amazing scenery you can imagine.

So whether you’re in the Rockies for a few days or a couple of weeks, I recommend lacing up your hiking boots and covering some ground by foot.
These will be experiences you will cherish for a lifetime.

Although the larch is a conifer it is also deciduous, and its' soft pine needle changes to a brilliant yellow in the fall, before finally falling off.  September is a perfect time to see the change of colour and the Larch Valley Hike in Banff National Park is even more spectacular.