Autumn

In Banff Like A Local

Banff in the fall is a magical time. Larch needles turn golden the last few weeks of September, and the aspen trees’ fall colors last well into October. It’s a time when flannels, sweaters, and hot chocolate are all the rage. The Canadian winter is right around the corner and it’s the last hurrah for hiking and wandering and enjoying the outdoors. While for the rest of North America, fall officially cracks open on September 22nd, it arrives much earlier in the Canadian Rockies. The fall feeling lasts until about October 15th. Banff is slightly less busy than the summer. People from across the world arrive to see the larches, so don’t expect Banff to be quiet. But how do locals experience the beauty of Banff in the fall?

If you want to experience Banff like a local, prepare to spend a lot of time with the larches. What’s a larch, you ask? Larches are conifers that are native to cooler temperatures. They are deciduous and lose their needles in the autumn. Before dropping, the needles turn a golden color for a few short weeks, creating a fantastic scenic landscape. During this period, everyone is trying to get out on as many larch hikes as they can. Natives of Banff call this the “larch march,” “larch madness,” or “larch mania.” There are many larch hikes with the most popular being in Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass, Pocaterra Ridge, Ptarmigan Cirque, and Taylor Lake. Tie up your hiking shoes and join the “madness.”

Once finishing your larch march, have a walk around Banff’s Cascade Ponds. These are a popular place for Banff families, close to Downtown but also a beautiful natural spot for a bonfire. Numerous picnic benches and bonfire pits are scattered around the Ponds, which also makes them a perfect place to enjoy the fall scenery with a thermos of hot tea (or chocolate)!

Speaking of hot drinks and relaxation … Vermilion Lakes is the perfect place to loll about. The fall colors are beautiful around the lake, and many plop down on one of the canoe docks there. Amazing views of Mount Rundle are in front and the gentle lapping of the lake surrounds while locals may be next to you sipping hot coffee from their thermoses. When fall arrives, crowds of visitors leave, and natives reclaim Banff. The overall atmosphere is relaxed as the pace slows down. Locals grab morning coffees and stroll through the Cascades of Time Garden. They head over to Bow Falls in the afternoon. They may soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs trying to steal that last bit of rest and relaxation before the winter kicks in and Banff becomes crowded again.

In the evening, denizens of Banff head to Banff Brewery, called the Brewpub by the town’s dedicated, which offers several taps all of which are brewed in-house. And if luck is abounding on that night, you may have the opportunity to enjoy what residents are all privy to – the Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis makes an appearance several times throughout the year in Banff, but locals and visitors alike have the best chance of spotting the Lights from October to May. Witnessing the Aurora Borealis is always an extraordinary experience, and only more so over the craggy peaks of the Canadian Rockies.

The Province of Alberta is home to some of the world’s largest dark sky preserves. Strict laws and regulations minimize any form of light pollution. This ensures amazing night sky viewing experiences, even more so when the Northern Lights appear. If you steal a slice of fall and head up to Banff, you’ll not regret it. Year round, Banff is special. But in the fall, it shines.