Alberta's larches remain a premier travel destination despite snowfall, author says

The snow is melting and you can still hike to see the famous Alberta larches for at least a couple of weeks.

In fact, according to a local author, should the area get more snow, the larches will just become more beautiful.

"The needles will stay on [the larches] usually until about mid-October, even after a snowfall," said Andrew Nugara, a seasoned hiker and author of Family Walks and Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, during an interview with The Homestretch. 

"Hopefully, this weekend most of the snow will have melted and I still think it will be an excellent time to see the larches."

For many in the province, the sight of these pine trees — with needles that turn orange or a bright yellow — never grows old.

Nugara said it's fairly common to get at least one heavy snowfall this time of year, but it doesn't mean you should stow your hiking boots just yet.

Viewing the larches

There's a few ways you can take in this quintessential fall sight, Nugara said.

Nugara's personal favourite hike is Pocaterra Ridge, located off Highway 40, which has a 727-metre elevation gain. 

He estimated the round trip hike of 10.3 kilometres will take average hikers about 2½ hours to complete.

For those trying to stay away from areas with lots of snow, a trip to Lake Louise could be in the cards, considering the area was largely spared from significant snowfall.

"Saddleback Pass is a great larch hike. It's fantastic. It starts right from Lake Louise and gets you up into the alpine, and there's probably very little snow, if any, up there right now," Nugara said. "And it's not going to be terribly busy at this time of year."

In the same area, Larch Valley at Moraine Lake will provide a different experience.

"That's the big one, that's going to be incredibly busy," Nugara said. "You won't be disappointed, but expect a lot of crowds, expect to take the shuttle to Moraine Lake or to Lake Louise, for that matter."

Of course, once these areas are again blanketed by snow, the logistics of hiking will change.

"If you're hiking during what we call the shoulder season, it's a tricky time because the temperatures go down and winds are often quite extreme," he said.

"You're not going to get any snow until well into November or December in the Bragg Creek area and Elbow Valley area. There's lots of great hiking you can do to stay active until enough snow comes to put the snowshoes or the skis on."