For the next few weeks, Alberta will be painted with hues of gold. And you won’t want to miss it!
Sure, we don’t get the reds and oranges of maple trees like they do in eastern Canada… but what we get is even better! Pure golden larch against azure blue skies with jaw-dropping mountain views as a backdrop.
Beat that!
As soon as a chill hits the air in the Rockies and the days get shorter, the Larch suddenly starts its annual glow. Their regular deep emerald-hued needles transform into a rich golden honey that warms our cooling mountain landscape like nothing else.
This year, larch colours have started earlier than usual but are also expected to last much longer. So the window for larch appreciation is bigger and better than ever.
We’ve already highlighted the hot spots in Alberta for golden larch viewing… but here we’ll share a secret, lesser-known locale that’ll get your heart pumping not only from the views but also from the hike to get there!
The hike is to Pocaterra Ridge, off Highway 40 in Kananaskis, starting at Highwood Pass Day Use Area – but don’t tell anyone…
The challenging 11.4 km point-to-point trail requires some planning to conquer, but nowhere else provides visual rewards quite like it.
The undesignated route is best done as a group or couple with access to two cars, and you want to bring some bear spray and warm layers on this one.
But if you choose to prepare appropriately, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most beautiful larch-covered scenery anywhere in the world.
Most people complete the hike as a one-way day trip, parking one car at the trail’s end before driving to its beginning to get started.
If you’re an especially avid hiker and fit, you could also try a solo mission, leaving a bike at the end to peddle back to your car at the end, but this would call for an early start and make for a very long day – so it’s not for the faint of heart.
Some people hike the trail as an out-and-back hike, going up the first Pocaterra Ridge and continuing as far as they want before retracing their steps back to the beginning (about 9.3 km if you choose this option).
The hike starts at the north end of the Highwood Pass Day Use Area parking lot on Highway 40. You then follow trail signs for Ptarmigan Cirque. In short order, you’ll go left on a not-very-well-maintained trail – before the Ptarmigan Cirque trail continues to the right.
Stick to the most obvious trail as you head into the trees. You’ll soon be out of the woods and enter an expansive valley. There, you’ll see Pocaterra Ridge off to the right or north. Once you’re out of the forest, the trail is better defined all the way up the ridge. Continue on the trail to exit at the Little Highwood Pass parking lot on Highway 40.Â
At the top of the ridge, you’ll be surrounded by views of gorgeous bright yellow larch-covered valleys. In total, you’ll descend four summit viewpoints for stunning views as you work your way down to the highway in Little Highwood Pass.
The entire hike is mesmerizing, and it’s the perfect way to soak up the last warm rays of the sun, along with the full majesty of the Rockies’ fall season.
You will need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to do the Pocaterra Ridge hike. It’s $15 for one car per day and $90 for an annual pass. It’s also best to download or bring a physical area map, like the Gem Trek Kananaskis Lakes map.
We also recommend you read about the hike on the Banff Blog to get more details on the route and be inspired by their stunning photos. They also have a guide to 22 Unreal Larch Hikes in Alberta if Pocaterra Ridge does fill you up with golden goodness!
Please remember this is an undesignated route that is not maintained. Always look over Alberta Parks advisories before you plan to go, and most of all, clean up after anything you bring so others can enjoy the route’s natural splendour as well!
