It’s easy to get stuck at the start, staring at the surreal blue of Moraine Lake backed by the Valley of Ten Peaks, about an hour’s drive west of Banff. It’s a scene so spectacular that it has graced the Canadian $20 bill twice in the past. Take another photo, a deep breath and pull yourself away – the rugged grandeur of hiking through Larch Valley and up to Sentinel Pass awaits.
Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass in Banff National Park are classic Canadian Rockies hikes – and personal favourites. These three-season treks – access road is closed during winter – are unparalleled in autumn when the larch trees turns golden. Hundreds of hikers and photographers flood the valley every fall to soak up snow-capped mountain peaks punctuated with patches of brilliant gold among the evergreens.