Stop me if I’m wrong. The moment September hits, hikers jump in their cars and head down Hwy for larch hunting. And this Saturday proved it as Hwy 1 was particularly busy with car loads of people hoping to get their first glimpse of the season’s colour.
I don’t blame them. Larches do make a striking backdrop for photos and reels. Unlike typical conifers, larches turn bright gold before shedding their needles. Once you first identify them, they are easy to spot.
I was headed to Rockbound Lake on Saturday to move my legs and take in the mountain views on what turned out be a lovely fall day. As I approached the lake, I encountered my first larches of the season. The stands weren’t completely transformed, but enough for the needles to create a contrast against the still green needles.
Seeing those first golden needles reminded me of a couple of quieter spots I recommend during larch season: Lipalian Mountain and Purple Peak loop and Taylor Lake.
I stumbled on this stunning Larch forest when Laurent and I were on Purple Mountain. We could see down into the valley were the forest shone brightly against the mountains. It was part of our route finding loop that day but did not expect to see such a vivid and vast display of larches.
Taylor Lake is a straightforward trail with no route-finding required. The hike winds through the forest with some gradual incline.
With early colour already showing at Rockbound Lake, larch season is clearly underway across the region. Sure you can go to all the regular hotspots and fight the masses for the parking and the best spot. But why would you want to do that when some of the best larches are far from the maddening crowds?
Where is your favourite larch spot? How early in the morning do you set out on the highway to snag a parking spot? I would love to hear from you in the comments.