Chasing Golden Larches: The Ultimate Long Weekend Road Trip from Vancouver

Final Thoughts

Five days. Countless kilometers. Early mornings, frozen fingers, and tired legs. But also: endless larches glowing gold, sunsets over alpine lakes, waterfalls thundering into empty valleys, and one final soak in natural hot springs.

This trip proved to us that you don’t need endless vacation days to have big adventures. With one extra day off, even a regular 9-to-5 hiker can fit in some of BC’s best fall hikes and bucket-list stops.

Fall in British Columbia means one thing for hikers: golden larches. These glowing alpine trees turn the mountains into a dreamscape for just a few short weeks each year, and we wanted to make the most of it. With only a long weekend (and one extra day off work), we hit the road from Vancouver and packed in alpine hikes, waterfalls, and hot springs.

Here’s how you can do it too.

Day 1: Vancouver → Merritt

We left Vancouver in the afternoon and drove to Merritt, our first overnight stop. Just outside of town, there’s a big gravel lot where overnight camping is allowed - see the map at the end of this blog post for exact location. It’s surprisingly scenic, with wide valley views and just a short drive into town if you need supplies.

We fell asleep under the stars, ready to chase larches the next day.

Day 2: Jumbo Pass – Camping Among the Larches

The next morning, we continued toward Invermere and the Purcell Mountains. Our goal was Jumbo Pass, one of the most famous larch hikes in the region.

We hit the trail in the late afternoon, climbing steadily through forest before breaking into wide-open meadows glowing gold. Reaching the pass felt like stepping into another world. We set up camp near the cozy backcountry cabin (first-come, first-serve, and already full when we arrived).

That night, temperatures dipped below zero, and the wind whipped across the pass. But waking up to sunrise over fields of golden larches? Absolutely worth it.

Jumbo Pass Trail Stats

• Distance: 8–10 km one way

• Elevation gain: ~760–800 m

• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous

• Cabin: First-come, first-serve; camping only at designated sites

Day 3: Sunrise at Jumbo Pass → Floe Lake

We crawled out of our tent before dawn to watch the larches light up with sunrise. It was painfully cold — but the views made us forget the frozen fingers and stiff boots. After packing up camp, we hiked back to the trailhead and continued our journey toward Kootenay National Park.

We stopped by Kootenay River in a day use recreation area and had some lunch with the most amazing view on the Kootenay river.

That afternoon, we set out for Floe Lake. To be honest, the hike itself isn’t the most exciting. The first 7 km are fairly uneventful, with most of the elevation gain crammed into the final stretch of switchbacks. But the reward at the end? Stunning.

Floe Lake sits beneath towering cliffs, surrounded by larches that glow in the evening light. We caught it at sunset, cameras clicking nonstop. While some hikers rave about Floe Lake, we’d call it beautiful but slightly overrated compared to other larch hikes in BC.

We hiked out by headlamp and camped in the overflow lot, where plenty of other vans and trailers had parked for the night.

Floe Lake Trail Stats

• Distance: 21 km round-trip

• Elevation gain: ~950–1,100 m

• Difficulty: Hard

• Campground: At the lake (reservation required), plus overflow parking lot camping nearby

Day 4: Yoho’s Takakkaw Falls & the Bugaboos

Early the next morning, we drove into Yoho National Park to see Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls. Arriving at sunrise meant we had it completely to ourselves — a rare gift considering how popular it is later in the day.

Takakkaw Falls Trail Stats

• Distance: 1.4 km round-trip

• Elevation gain: ~36 m

• Difficulty: Easy

• Fun fact: Fed by the Daly Glacier, part of the Waputik Icefield

From there, we grabbed lunch in Golden and headed into the Bugaboos. Even the drive in is memorable, not least because you’ll need to protect your car with chicken wire (porcupines have a thing for chewing tires and brake lines).

We hiked up toward Cobalt Ridge, skipping the lake to push into the alpine. The landscape up here is like nothing else in BC — jagged granite spires that look straight out of Patagonia. A snow squall swept through while we were on the ridge, reminding us just how wild this area can be.

Cobalt Ridge Trail Stats

• Distance: ~12–14 km round-trip

• Elevation gain: ~900 m

• Difficulty: Moderate to hard

Practical Info – Trip Summary

Here’s everything in one place if you want to replicate this trip:

Best Time to Go

• Might be different each year but around late September (peak larch season)

• Nights are cold — expect freezing temperatures at higher elevations
  

Driving Distances

• Vancouver → Merritt: ~3 hrs (270 km)

• Merritt → Jumbo Pass trailhead: ~6.5 hrs (500 km)

• Jumbo Pass → Floe Lake: ~3 hrs (200 km)

• Floe Lake → Takakkaw Falls: ~1.5 hrs (115 km)

• Takakkaw Falls → Bugaboos: ~2 hrs (120 km)

• Bugaboos → Lussier Hot Springs: ~2.5 hrs (180 km)

• Lussier → Vancouver: ~9.5 hrs (800 km)

Overnight Stops

• Night 1: Merritt (gravel lot / car camping)

• Night 2: Jumbo Pass campsite (backcountry)

• Night 3: Floe Lake overflow lot (or Floe Lake campground with permit)

• Night 4: Near Radium Hot Springs (Black Sheep campground or wild camping)

Permits & Logistics

• Jumbo Pass: Free, no permit needed (camp only in designated spots)

• Floe Lake: Backcountry permit required if camping at the lake (Parks Canada)

• Yoho & Kootenay: National Park entry pass required

• Bugaboos: No permit needed, but bring chicken wire for your car

• Lussier Hot Springs: Free, but parking is limited

Day 5: Hot Springs & the Drive Home

After three full days of hiking, our legs were shot. Luckily, the final morning of the trip was about recovery. We woke up early and drove to Lussier Hot Springs, a series of natural pools beside a rushing river. Even at 6 AM, a few other early birds had already claimed spots, but we still managed to slide into the steaming water.

Soaking in the springs while the mountains woke around us was the perfect way to wrap up the adventure before the long drive back to Vancouver.