Tag: larch trees

Sunshine-Meadows-Larch

Hiking Banff National Park – Sunshine Meadows

On By GeoKsIn Banff NP, Hiking4 Comments

While Sunshine is most well-known for skiing, the summer gondola and shuttle bus service make Sunshine Meadows one of the most accessible alpine hiking areas in the Canadian Rockies from late June through late September. For some, its a starting point for backpacking adventures to Mt. Assiniboine or the Egypt/Pharoah Lakes area. For dayhikers like us, prime times to visit Sunshine Meadows are during peak wildflower season (usually towards the end of July) and peak larch viewing season (usually towards the end of September). Our most recent larch season visit was timed just about perfectly and reaffirmed that it's well worth the effort to do at least one golden larch hike each fall.

Arethusa-Cirque

Hiking Kananaskis Country – Arethusa Cirque

On By GeoKsIn Hiking, Kananaskis6 Comments

Up near Highwood Pass in Kananaskis Country, Arethusa Cirque is an easy hike with a couple of options to make it shorter or longer as your fitness or schedule permits. It's a good choice for wildflower season, since the trail crosses an expansive meadow that erupts into bloom at just the right time of year. It's also a decent option for larch season. We've hiked here 8 or 9 times and are still discovering new aspects of the landscape, which includes small waterfalls and a rock field with plenty of fossils.

Larch-Valley

Hiking Banff National Park – Larch Valley / Sentinel Pass

On By GeoKsIn Banff NP, Hiking8 Comments

Last weekend we suffered a serious case of gold fever! The result? We joined hundreds and hundreds of people hoping to find Larix lyallii (aka alpine larch). Our search area was Larch Valley, so of course we found them - in all their golden glory! A few weeks ago we accepted an invitation from one …

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