snow on ice

Get Out and Play

I remember just one other month since the COVID-19 pandemic started that it's been so essential to get out and play, for our physical and emotional wellbeing. So it's a lucky coincidence that October is a great time to get out and play in the Bow Valley and surrounding Canadian Rocky Mountains. It's possible to enjoy summer, fall or winter activities, depending on the day - or sometimes all on the same day!

Sunshine-Meadows-Larch

Hiking Banff National Park – Sunshine Meadows

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.