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Fall Hikes in Banff and Yoho

September 3, 2024 by Chelsea Findling Leave a Comment

Have you done any fall hikes in Banff and Yoho? There are so many hikes to do including Consolation Lakes and Larch Valley near Moraine Lake, Little Beehive and Fairview Lookout from Lake Louise. Johnston Canyon is in between Banff and Lake Louise. Walk around and see Takkakaw Falls and take spectacular pictures of Emerald Lake. Fall is a gorgeous time of year to see the leaves changing colours and the larch trees turn a golden yellow. It’s an amazing opportunity to head out hiking and spend time in Alberta and British Columbia.

Table of Contents

  • Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Discovery Tour
    • Lake Louise
    • Moraine Lake
    • Consolation Lakes
      • Steady Incline
      • Gorgeous Lakes
  • Lake Agnes Teahouse and Little Beehive
    • Lake Agnes Tea House
  • Fairview Lookout
    • Get in Shape
    • Appropriate Footwear
    • Short, Steep and Beautiful
  • Guided Larch Valley Hike
  • Autumn sightseeing Tour of Banff and Yoho National Parks
  • Guided Sightseeing Tour in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks
  • Final Thoughts
  • Additional Links
  • Trip Resources

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Discovery Tour

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Discovery Tour is awesome! You’ll get to experience two breathtaking lakes in the Lake Louise area and go hiking to Consolation Lakes with an experienced local guide. Get picked up at your Banff hotel at 8 A.M. for $150 per adult and transported to Lake Louise and back.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Ask your guide to take a picture in front of Lake Louise. You don’t want to miss out on getting your picture taken!

Tip #1: Make sure to wear contrasting colours to stand out against the background.

Tip #2: You’ll be surrounded by many people in this popular spot. Try to get a camera angle that doesn’t include other tourists by stepping down below on a rock or walking a bit further away from the crowds.

You’ll get one hour at this spot to explore and walk around the area.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake

The best pictures of Moraine Lake are taken on the rock pile on the left side as you approach the lake. This area will also be busy. You might need to wait a few minutes to capture a few shots without other people.

Consolation Lakes

This is a popular area for bear sightings. Hike in a group of four or more hikers to create noise to scare bears away.

Our amazing guide Pablo with White Mountain Adventures led us to Consolation Lakes. He did an awesome job checking in on us making sure everyone was comfortable with the hiking pace and ensuring we got enough breaks throughout the trip. He also broke down the trail into four different parts explaining what to expect at each stage. This helped us stay motivated.

Steady Incline

Trail towards Consolation Lakes

It starts as a slow incline and and progressively gets steeper.

Gorgeous Lakes

Fall hikes near Banff shows Consolation Lakes.

We were encouraged to stay close and not venture on the rocks to prevent injury and the possibility of rolling an ankle. Stepping on a higher rock, I was able to capture a picture of the lake.

Consolation Lakes is mostly an easy six-kilometre hike with some moderate difficulty as you hike through the initial rock section. Once you reach the lake, you’ll get to eat your delicious lunch provided by White Mountain Adventures. It was conveniently transported in my Osprey Tempest 24 Pack. I was able to carry additional snacks in case I became hungry along the way.

It was a pleasant hike that I hadn’t done before with amazing views. It was wonderful to meet new people travelling from the United States and spend time with them and our fantastic knowledgeable guide in nature. The Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Discovery Tour must be included in your fall hikes near Banff.

book here

Lake Agnes Teahouse and Little Beehive

Location: Lake Agnes & Little Beehive trail are located to the right of Lake Louise in front of the Chateau.

Parking: Parking is limited so be sure to arrive early to secure yourself a paid spot.

Washrooms: Flushable toilets can be found in a few buildings near the parking lot.

Walking up to Lake Agnes Teahouse

This is the steep trail to reach Lake Agnes Tea House. It will likely be busy in the fall as you walk behind each other to reach your destination.

Tip: Horses share part of this trail; beware of horse poop on the trail.

Lake Agnes Tea House

Lake Agnes Tea House

Hiking to Lake Agnes Tea House is a 7.4-kilometre trail with a 384 metre elevation gain.

Tip: It will probably be busy once you arrive. Line up to get a taste of the delious food for lunch.

Inside Lake Agnes Tea House

Here is a sneak peak of the inside of Lake Agnes Tea House.

Outhouses

On the trail to the Little Beehive, two outhouses can be found, just past Lake Agnes Tea House. The staff need to bring toilet paper up with them every shift so please use it sparingly.

Lake Agnes

Beautiful view of the lake with larch trees just near Lake Agnes Tea House. A wonderful place to capture pictures.

Big Beehive

Looking back at the Big Beehive, a steeper hike with switchbacks but providing spectacular views from the top.

View from the top of the Little Beehive

Arriving at Little Beehive totalled 9.2 kilometres and 535 metre elevation gain. The Little Beehive is a great addition to see the golden larches at their peak. With the turquoise down below, it made for spectacular pictures.

Fairview Lookout

Location: Hike from the Lake Louise parking lot.

Parking: There is paid parking in the Lake Louise parking lot as long as you arrive early.

Washrooms: There are washrooms at the west end of the Lake Louise parking lot.

Hike: It’s a 9.2-kilometre steep and short out and back hike.

Get in Shape

Lake Louise ski hill in the background with larches to the right side of the picture.

This is a short but steep trail. You’ll want to get in shape with other gorgeous hikes near Banff before going up this trail. You’ll be able to see the Lake Louise ski hill across the valley as you climb.

Showing golden larches as we make our way up a steep and narrow trail.

The larches will start to make an appearance the higher up the mountain you hike.

Showing golden larches in a valley.

More and more larches will continue to thrive the higher up you go.

Appropriate Footwear

Lady with purple jacket and white toque on at the Fairview Lookout summit as it's starting to snow.

The scree slope isn’t too bad as long as you are wearing hiking footwear with grip on the bottom of your hiking boots. Otherwise, it could be difficult, especially since you might encounter snow once you reach the peak of Fairview Lookout on your fall hikes near Banff.

Short, Steep and Beautiful

Looking down at Lake Louise from Fairview Lookout while it's snowing.

This is a short and steep hike but will showcase gorgeous larches and provide you with a good workout. You’ll be able to see Lake Louise if you’re brave enough to look down.

Tip: Make sure to have warm layers such as Merino 250 Top Base Layer 1/4 Zip Long Sleeve and Olang Parigi 2.0 Spike Boot as it can get cold and snowy at the summit. The weather changes quickly in the mountains. Always be prepared with a fleece or down jacket and a windbreaker.

Guided Larch Valley Hike

Location: The hike starts along the right shore of Moraine Lake.

Parking: The shuttle will take you there.

Washrooms: There are outhouses near the parking lot.

Hike: It’s a one-way nine-kilometre hike to Larch Valley. This tour company guides hikers at this location on Mondays.

Fall hikes near Banff includes Larch Valley.

Fall hikes near Banff must include Larch Valley. The trail starts with a steep ascent on long switchbacks. Once you reach Larch Valley you’ll see the awesome views around you with the stunning golden larches. You might also see a sprinkling of snow on the trees, creating an even more breathtaking backdrop. It’s a perfect place to capture yourself in our special mountains and take some videos of the beautiful scenery. It’s a sight you don’t want to miss!

If you have time and want an extra challenge, as long as the weather cooperates, hike up to Sentinel Pass! You’ll get 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys.

Tip #1: Dress for the weather. It might be warm at the parking lot but once at the top, the breeze will be much cooler. Near Minnestimma Lake, wearing a hat will help protect your head from the falling temperatures.

book here

Autumn sightseeing Tour of Banff and Yoho National Parks

Fall hikes near Banff includes hiking in Johnston Canyon.

The first location you’ll explore is Johnston Canyon, pictured above. You’ll get to hike and explore the canyon for two hours. It’s a beautiful trail to walk along and see the water flow down.

You’ll continue towards Lower Falls (2.5-km round trip) or a five-kilometre round trip to Upper Falls. The drive will carry on to Lake Louise forty minutes later. You’ll get thirty minutes to eat lunch in Lake Louise Village.

Fall hikes near Banff include hiking around Lake Louise.

Visit Lake Louise for an hour and a half after lunch on your fall hikes near Banff. Walk near the river for beautiful views of the mountains.

Fall hikes near Banff include walking around Emerald Lake.

Next, the drive to Emerald Lake will take forty minutes. As you can see from the picture above, it’s a gorgeous place to take pictures. You’ll have forty minutes to explore this area. After your beautiful day of exploration, the trip will conclude by heading back to Banff with your hotel drop-offs. It’s a day you won’t forget discovering fall hikes in Banff and Yoho National Park.

book here

Guided Sightseeing Tour in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks

Walk around Emerald Lake on your fall hikes near Banff.

This guided sightseeing tour in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks is an awesome way to see two different parks in a short amount of time. It costs $262.50 per adult. The shuttle will pick you up at your chosen hotel in either Banff or Lake Louise at 8:30 A.M. This eight-hour tour encompasses Emerald Lake (pictured above). It’s a popular place for kayaking, canoeing, and hiking around the lake and up in the alpine meadows. There are many cabins along the lake if you wish to stay for a few nights.

Fall hikes near Banff include walking around Takkakaw Falls.

Takkakaw Falls, as you can see in the picture is big and majestic even from far away. The fall hikes near Banff included walking around these wonderful trails for one hour.

Spiral Tunnels and the Natural Bridge will be stops included in the Yoho National Park tour. These landmarks are top picks for tourists to see in Alberta and British Columbia. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to take pictures and see the area without rushing. You’ll enjoy a prepared lunch for an additional $19 or bring your own lunch if you prefer.

You’ll continue to Kootenay National Park where you’ll see Marble Canyon before heading back. It will be a tour of a lifetime that you won’t regret. Book now!

book here

Final Thoughts

Have an amazing time at Consolation Lakes, Little Beehive, Fairview Lookout, Johnston Canyon, Takkakaw Falls and Larch Valley Fall Hikes in Banff and Yoho. There are so many different hikes to do with your partner depending on your interests in Alberta and British Columbia. Just know that you’ll be able to see gorgeous golden larch trees and yellow leaves when going for hikes in nature in the fall. Make sure to bring your camera or phone with you to capture beautiful pictures. These places will be the perfect to have a picnic and enjoy the stunning scenery in the mountains. Time to plan! Where will you go this fall to have a fun adventurous hike?

Additional Links

  • 4 Best Larch Hikes
  • Guide to Banff National Park Larch Hikes
  • 7 Gorgeous Hikes Near Banff
  • Guide to Four Seasons in Banff National Park
  • 9 Extraordinary Winter Wonderland Banff National Park Activities

Trip Resources

  • Book your flights with ​Expedia​
  • Book your hostel through Hostelworld.com
  • Book your hotel with ​Booking.com​ or ​Hotels.com​
  • Book your vacation rental with ​Vrbo​
  • Book your experiences through ​TripAdvisor​, Viator or ​Manawa​

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I might receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend companies and products that I’ve used and tested myself. If you’d like to support me, I’d greatly appreciate it! It will help pay for the costs to run my website.

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Hello! I'm Chelsea Findling. I grew up in an outdoorsy family and love spending time in the outdoors near and far from home. I created this blog to help you plan your next couple adventure in Alberta and British Columbia with camping recipes, reviews, tips and new adventures.

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