Banff N.P., Alberta
Banff Larch Valley & Lakes
Glacier-fed lakes with teeth of rock above them.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Moderate
Difficulty
11 mi
Distance
2,400 ft
Elevation
24 h
Drive time
Jul – Sep
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Banff Larch Valley & Lakes — 11 mi · Moderate
The map loads automatically. Open Trailforks below for trail names and difficulty ratings.
Overview
Base out of Banff, paddle Moraine in the morning, hike Larch Valley to Sentinel Pass in the afternoon, soak in the hot springs after.
Permits: Park pass required. Moraine Lake accessible by shuttle only.
Where to get your permit
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Sentinel Pass
Moraine Lake at dawn
Lake Agnes teahouse
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Arrive and paddle
Canoe on Moraine, easy shoreline walk, early dinner in Banff.
Day 2
Larch Valley
Shuttle in early, climb through larches to Sentinel Pass.
Day 3
Lake Louise teahouses
Agnes and Plain of Six Glaciers, hot springs at night.
Day 4
Icefields Parkway
Slow drive north with stops at Peyto and Bow.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 4 items to sort out.
- Rain shell
- Bear spray
- Warm layers
- Passport
- Daypack
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
2 L
Per person, per day
2 L
Heaviest carry
4.4 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
4.4 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- Town breakfasts
- Trail lunches
- One splurge dinner
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
National Park Service · Banff National Park (Parks Canada)
- • Wildlife closures and group-of-four travel restrictions are posted seasonally.
- • Avalanche terrain outside summer months — check Parks Canada bulletins.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.