As fall approaches, many hikers are eager to get their last snow-free trails in. There is also a sense of Larch Madness as people flock towards the mountains in hopes of a glimpse of these beautiful trees in their golden glory. My fall hikes include easy and moderate trails, some which include larch trees and others that show off their fall foliage on deciduous plants instead. If you’re purely interested in larch hikes, check out my 5 favourite larch hikes in Alberta.
Each of these hikes is less than 2 hours away from Calgary and under 10 km. I highly encourage you to get out before the snow flies and take advantage of our beautiful backyard here in Alberta. Happy hiking!
Easy Fall Hikes
Tiger Lily Loop in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Tiger Lily Loop is an easy trail just 30 minutes from Downtown Calgary, or 20 minutes from the northwest. You can also access the park from Cochrane; it’s only 10 minutes away! Tiger Lily is a 2 km loop with 81 metres of elevation in the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park area. Hiking the loop takes around 1 hour. The hike travels through forests and prairie. It also connects with other nearby trails through the Glenbow Ranch park.
If you’re looking for a place to go walking with beautiful views of the Bow River and surrounding hills to enjoy the fall foliage, the Glenbow Ranch area should be on your list!
Fullerton Loop in Elbow Valley
The Fullerton Loop hike is a well-loved trail in the Elbow Valley region of Kananaskis. It is a 6.8 km loop with 213 metres of elevation gained. I’d recommend hiking this loop in a counter-clockwise direction, as it saves the best views for last and allows for a more gradual incline on the way up.
Fullerton Loop is a 45-minute drive from Calgary, or just 12 minutes from Bragg Creek. The trail itself takes around 2 hours and gives hikers a gorgeous view of the Elbow Valley area.
Easy-Moderate Fall Hikes
Arethusa Cirque in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
One of my favourite fall hikes is Arethusa Cirque, a short 4.5 km loop of Highway 40 in the Peter Lougheed region of Kananaskis. It has been gaining popularity in recent years because its a good spot to see larch trees in the fall. The total loop includes 378 metres of elevation gain, with some steep sections, so I’d recommend wearing good hiking shoes and consider bringing poles.
The hike is about an hour and 40 minutes from Calgary. It’s near other popular larch trails such as Pocaterra Cirque and Ptarmigan Cirque.
Vents Ridge (White Buddha) in Elbow Valley
The Vents Ridge hike in Kananaskis became one of my new favourite short hikes this year. It is a 6 km loop with 331 metres of elevation gain, but the trail brings you to the top of Vents Ridge where you get wonderful views of the nearby ridges and the Elbow River.
The hike begins at Powderface Creek Trailhead and takes you between Powderface Ridge and Prairie Mountain. It is about 55 minutes from Calgary or an 18-minute drive from Bragg Creek.
Moderate Fall Hikes
Pocaterra Cirque in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
The Pocaterra Cirque trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is 6.7 km out-and-back with 419 metres of elevation. Located amongst the intersecting trails with Pocaterra Ridge and Mount Pocaterra, the trail to Pocaterra Cirque can be confusing. I highly recommend downloading a map for this hike so you can make your way through the forested section without issues.
The meadows on the way to the cirque are beautiful, with fireweed leaves turning bright red and golden larches standing over them. If you’re looking for a somewhat more strenuous hike, I’d certainly recommend this one. The trailhead is about an hour and 40 minutes from Calgary.
Elbow Lake and Edworthy Falls in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
The hike to Edworthy Falls is peaceful and beautiful. The out-and-back trail totals 9.7 km with 383 metres of elevation gain. It starts from the Elbow Lake trailhead and the majority of the elevation is gained on the way to Elbow Lake. Once you pass the lake, you’ll enjoy a flat, easy trail to the falls.
The trailhead for Edworthy Falls is about an hour and a half from Calgary. The total time to hike the trail is around 3 hours.
Mount Hoffman in Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park
The hike to Mount Hoffman is a pleasant trail on the edge of the foothills of Sheep River and Bluerock Wildland. The trail is a 9.3 km out-and-back with 532 metres of elevation gained throughout the hike. The majority of the hike is a steady, moderate incline.
The trail is an hour and 20 minutes from Calgary (although it’s much closer if you live in the south!). The summit gives fantastic views over Sheep River and the neighbouring mountains to the west. The trailhead is also within walking distance from Sheep River falls.
For those new to hiking, check out these posts for information to keep you safe on the trail:
Remember to purchase your park pass before heading out to the mountains.
Kananaskis Conservation Pass can be found on the Government of Alberta Website.