Moraine lake / larch valley / sentinal pass vs plain of six glaciers
 

Hi all,

I'm hoping to do both hikes but if I only have time for one which would you suggest is the most beautiful / scenic

Also do you know of any companies that offer guided hikes as I've read larch valley / sentinal pass often requires travel in groups of four and I'm a single?

I'll be staying in canmore 7-13 sept (then Calgary to Vancouver tour 13-27 sept)

Also, am in too early for autumn colours (even some change)?

Thanks

Rachel

You can easily do the more popular hikes meeting other hikers at the start.

We did Plain of Six Glaciers earlier this month and it was very scenic.

We did not link it together with Lake Agnes as we felt this hike was long enough for us.

Thanks myer for the reply

I haven't been all the way to the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house (Lake Agnes one, yes), but here's a decent link you can check out, with lots of pictures and info:
http://www.banffandbeyond.com/plain-...at-lake-louise
The Moraine Lake area is also super spectacular, and the hike to Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass is great. I turned back, at Sentinel Pass, mind you. The time I went the second week of September, the larches were at their golden best.
The views around Moraine Lake are so good, that you might want to just hike around the lake - but especially, climb the rockpile at the end of the lake, for the best views. There is a good trail there, and it's close to the parking lot.

I think the Plain of Six Glaciers would probably the best - you can make it shorter or longer, depending on your interests, fitness, weather and energy level. You also don't need to worry about finding a group or parking at Moraine Lake.

Lake Agnes has a different beauty, but the glaciers are the real stunning sights and the better views of the lake are from the Beehives. I've always done the teahouses as a loop, but I tend to hike pretty quickly, especially when I'm not carrying a 30-40lb pack :o)

That said, while you will need to be in a tight group of 4 to hike anything beyond the lakeside or rockpile trails at Moraine Lake, I doubt you'd have any big issues finding a group to join. You'd just have to stay with them for the whole time or switch groups.

Your timing is likely to be earlierin the larch season, but it could be part of the peak time. Be aware that at peak larch season, Parks Canada will often ban personal vehicles from the Moraine Lake Road and run shuttles up to the lake. So you need to allow extra time and time your trip with one of the shuttle runs. Otherwise, it's still a good idea to hit Moraine Lake either very early or in the late afternoon because there is limited parking and it can be a jam both on the road and at the parking lot.

Also, when I was up at Lake Louise last weekend, there were already quite a few cars there at 9am and we had a delay getting down the road from the lake at around 4pm due to back ups at the four way stops at the 'village'. Hopefully the crowds should die down after Labour Day, but they could peak again at larch season. So arrive early and be prepared for a wait to get out of Lake Louise, especially on the weekends.

Thanks for much for your replies, leaving Sunday and can't wait!!!

Have a great trip, osteorach. I'll be following you there on 9/16 -- Lake Louise, Jasper, Canmore.

I can't wait either. :-)