10/04/2025
When we think larches, we think Pocaterra Ridge! This is the larchiest hike in Kananaskis—an autumn showpiece that rolls across ridge after ridge of golden brilliance. Most call it four distinct ridges, but depending how you break the terrain, it can feel like five. After the first climb through a valley of larches, you crest a shoulder that some hikers count as its own “mini-ridge.” From there, the trail carries you over open meadows, ridgelines with constant views of Elbow Lake, Mount Rae, and Mist Mountain, and groves that glow at their peak.
South to north saves about 300 m of climbing and flows more naturally, while an out-and-back, better known as South Pocaterra Ridge, doubles the distance. That option gives you more time in the larches but less variety, since you’re retracing the same path instead of experiencing the full ridge traverse.
📍 Pocaterra Ridge
⛰️ 10–11 km one way | about 900 m gain | 5–7 hrs
🍂 Peak larch season: mid to late September
