Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass

The trail leaves from Moraine Lake, and Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles all year. You need a Parks Canada shuttle seat, a licensed commercial operator, or a bicycle.

In larch season the shuttle sells out immediately. The seats released at 8 am Mountain Time two days before are the realistic chance.

Larch Valley is 4.5 kilometres one way with 570 metres of climbing, three and a half to four hours return. Sentinel Pass carries on to 5.6 kilometres and 750 metres, four and a half to five and a half hours return.

The climb out of Moraine Lake is a set of switchbacks through forest. The valley opens suddenly at the top of them, and that is where the larches are.

The colour usually arrives in the second week of September, peaks in the third, and is gone by the first week of October. Cold nights bring it on and a windy week takes it away early.

The window is short and it is the busiest fortnight of the year on this trail. Plan the shuttle before you plan anything else.

Parks Canada puts bear warnings, minimum group size requirements and closures in place on these trails through the season. In practice that often means a group of four in autumn, when the bears are feeding hard on buffaloberry.

The rule is enforced at the trailhead and it is not negotiable. Check the Parks Canada trail report on the morning you go, and be ready to join another party at the sign.

Sentinel Pass is the notch at the head of Larch Valley, another 1.1 kilometres and 180 metres above the valley floor, on loose scree.

From the pass the trail drops into Paradise Valley, which makes a long one-way traverse for anyone who has arranged a way back. Most people turn around at the pass.