This post includes affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my website.<\/em><\/p>\n This topographical map shows the route to Hidden Lake Campground and Hidden Lake from the Fish Creek trailhead, as well as the trails into the Skoki Valley and surrounding area. Packer’s Pass Peak<\/strong> (not labled) is the highpoint southeast of Zigadenus Lake near the junction of the Deception Pass and Skoki Valley trails.<\/p>\n Hidden Lake, situated below Mount Richardson, Pika Peak and Ptarmigan Peak, is simply stunning in mid to late September when the larches turn golden yellow. Visit late in the afternoon to catch them glowing in the sun.<\/p>\n If I wasn’t camping in the backcountry, chances are high I would miss the magical late afternoon light in a race to get back to my car and home. By staying at Hidden Lake Campground, just a 20-minute hike from Hidden Lake, we were able to leisurely explore the area around the lake. And even though the Hidden Lake campground was almost full, we only saw one other person at the lake. It was a quiet, verging on magical experience.<\/p>\n From the Fish Creek trailhead it’s a slog up the fire road to reach the Skoki Valley Trail. Over 3.6 km you climb around 311 metres. Grin and bear it, appreciating it will take you about an hour to get up and 45 minutes to descend. Chances are you will also end up covered in dust, as numerous vehicles from the Lake Louise Ski Resort use the road. Fortunately, the scenery rapidly gets better once you’re on route to Hidden Lake, Boulder Pass, and the Skoki Valley.<\/p>\n Head uphill to your right at a signed junction, a short distance past a picnic table with information boards about bear safety. Emerge from the trees, about 2.6 km up. Then the scenery gets interesting with more larches making an appearance along with some big mountain views including Ptarmigan Peak and Mount Redoubt.<\/p>\n At an intersection you can go right to visit historic Halfway House, and just up from that take the signed turnoff to Hidden Lake campground (called SK5 by Parks Canada). Arrive at the eating area and bear lockers in roughly 400 metres. Continue just past that to find 10 tent pads – some more uneven than others, spread around a couple of areas.<\/p>\n It’s a quick 20-25 minute hike from the Hidden Lake Campground to Hidden Lake. The well-used trail climbs through the woods, crossing a stream a couple of times. <\/p>\n When you arrive at Hidden Lake the turquoise colour contrasted with the golden larch trees will take your breath away. The lake was bigger than I expected, and the setting was far more spectacular. You’ll be able to see Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak, and Mount Richardson poking out behind.<\/p>\n It’s a very pretty lake – but there is stiff competition in the Skoki area. Other standout lakes include Ptarmigan Lake, Baker Lake, Zigadenus and Myosotis Lakes, Merlin Lake, and Redoubt Lake. Visit in the morning for the best chance of capturing reflections on the water.<\/p>\n From the Hidden Lake Campground it\u2019s about a one-hour, 3.1 km hike to Packer\u2019s Pass, gaining 375 m. From the saddle you can continue down to Zigadenus and Myosotis Lakes or climb Packer’s Pass Peak, which is what we did. From the pass, allow another 25 minutes and 140 m of elevation gain to reach Packer\u2019s Pass Peak. <\/p>\n The hike to Baker Lake from Hidden Lake Campground is a beautiful one. It climbs first to Boulder Pass, followed by an easy hike along the shores of Ptarmigan and Baker Lakes. Most of the elevation occurs on the climb to Boulder Pass. I love this area, although I think the Baker Lake Campground could use a little TLC. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve done the hike to Baker Lake<\/a><\/strong> as part of a multi-day backpacking trip, staying two nights and doing the Skoki Loop<\/a><\/strong> before heading out on the last day.<\/p>\n The hike to Skoki Lodge takes you first to Boulder Pass, then up and over Deception Pass, followed by a long descent on a hillside thick with larch trees to arrive at Skoki Lodge<\/a><\/strong>. It’s a stunning area with the pretty turquoise Skoki Lakes visible from just below Deception Pass.<\/p>\n On the hike to Hidden Lake you’ll find the occasional larch appearing shortly after you get out of the forest. From there to the turnoff to the Hidden Lake Campground you’ll find the occasional larch. You really need to hike to Hidden Lake to see them in large numbers. <\/p>\n I’d also highly recommend ascending Boulder Pass, as there is a large stand of larches in the area. <\/p>\n I think it’s well worth an overnight trip to the Hidden Lake Campground. That way you can explore the surrounding area at leisure with only a day pack. Hidden Lake exceeded all expectations for me. I had expected a nondescript small lake – and not the turquoise beauty I saw situated beneath high mountain peaks<\/p>\n It’s possible to hike to Hidden Lake and stay at Hidden Lake Campground starting sometime in early July, depending on snow levels. In my experience though, the biting insects are particularly nasty in wet areas until around mid-August. I would suggest a trip from mid-August to late September. If larches are your focus then plan to go the last two weeks of September – and at that point it’s usually easy to snag a campsite. I’d even suggest grabbing a campsite cancellation, so you can time your visit with a good weather window. <\/p>\n The Hidden Lake hike is easy to moderate depending on how fit you are. The steepest part of the hike is on the fire road between the parking lot and the Skoki Valley Trail. After that there are some short steeper sections, but most of it is a gradual grade. <\/p>\n A backcountry camping reservation is a must.<\/strong> Hidden Lake Campground is a Parks Canada backcountry campground, so you need a reservation and backcountry permit to spend the night. If you’re having trouble getting the dates you want, set up an alert with Schnerp<\/a><\/strong>, so you can quickly nab a cancellation should it become available. <\/p>\n The first 3.6 km of the hike is the least enjoyable part.<\/strong> The hike up the fire road is a soulless experience. It’s steep in places and often dusty thanks to Lake Louise Ski Resort traffic. Fortunately, you can knock it off in about an hour.<\/p>\n Larch season can mean wintry conditions.<\/strong> By mid to late September, there is a strong likelihood that you will encounter freezing temperatures, snow, ice and rapidly changing weather. Go prepared – and know that larches are also very beautiful covered with snow.<\/p>\n The campground is primitive.<\/strong> You’ll find the basics – tent pads, bear lockers, an outhouse, cooking\/eating area, and stream water. What you won’t find is potable water, showers, or a shelter. <\/p>\n Bring a water filtration system.<\/strong> Get your water from the stream, a minute’s walk away from the cooking area. You will need to filter, treat, or boil all water.<\/p>\n This is bear country.<\/strong> Both black and grizzly bears are regularly seen in this area. Bear spray should be quick to access rather than buried in your pack. Use bear lockers for all food and scented items. <\/p>\n Don’t count on cell service.<\/strong> Download maps before leaving and let someone know where you are going. Consider carrying a Garmin inReach Mini 2<\/a><\/strong> in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.<\/strong> <\/p>\n The campground is a great choice if you want to do day hikes in the Skoki area.<\/strong> Camping at Hidden Lake Campground allows you to use it as a base to explore more of the Skoki area including Packer’s Pass Peak, Boulder Pass, Ptarmigan Lake, the Skoki Lakes, Skoki Lodge, and Baker Lake. <\/p>\n Skoki Lodge is open seasonally.<\/strong> If afternoon tea at Skoki Lodge is a must for you, check their website before booking the Hidden Lake Campground to ensure they are open. <\/p>\n Choose your campsite with drainage in mind.<\/strong> Not all tent pads are level. We met a woman who had camped here before in a terrible storm and had water running under her tent.<\/p>\n Expect more people on the trail than at Hidden Lake.<\/strong> Lots of people hike into the Skoki area but only a fraction of those people visit Hidden Lake.<\/p>\n Check trail and road conditions before leaving.<\/strong> If a bad storm is forecast, consider canceling your trip – and at the very least I would suggest you check the Parks Canada website for advisories. <\/p>\n If you plan to overnight at the Hidden Lake Campground in September, I highly recommend you bring multiple layers of warm clothing including a down coat with a hood<\/a><\/strong>, a warm hat, mitts, merino wool long underwear<\/a><\/strong> (tops and bottoms) and a few pairs of warm socks.<\/p>\n Also, pack a warm down sleeping bag<\/a><\/strong>. Consider making a hot water bottle using a Nalgene bottle<\/a><\/strong> so you can get toasty warm once you get in the tent. Pack a lightweight Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT<\/a><\/strong> that reflects your body heat. As for a tent, I love my MSR Elixir 3-person tent <\/a><\/strong>that we use for two people.<\/p>\n If it’s cold, tea, soup, and hot chocolate will warm you up. I love leave these lightweight backpacker mugs<\/a><\/strong>. You’ll also need a water filter <\/a><\/strong>or water purification tablets<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Yes. Hidden Lake Campground is a Parks Canada backcountry campground with 10 tent pads. Make a reservation<\/a><\/strong> to camp overnight. Staying here makes it much easier to explore Hidden Lake and the surrounding Skoki area without having to hike all the way back to the trailhead the same day.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n From the Fish Creek trailhead off Whitehorn Road on the way up to the Lake Louise Ski Area, you hike 7.2 km one way to reach the Hidden Lake Campground. Hidden Lake is a further 1.2 km away. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It took us just over two hours to hike to Hidden Lake, with an hour of that hiking up the soulless fire road.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Yes you can. It’s 7.3 km one way with 271 m of elevation gain and 333 m of elevation loss. Allow a minimum of two hours each way in addition to some time around Skoki Lodge.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Yes you can and the views are phenomenal. It’s approximately 3.6 km one way with an elevation gain of 375 m. Allow about 75 minutes to reach the peak from the Hidden Lake Campground.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Yes you can, but it would be a longish day. The return hike is about 16.8 km with approximately 607 m of elevation gain. You need at least six hours for the return hike along with some time to enjoy and explore the area around Hidden Lake.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Plan to visit Hidden Lake sometime over the last two weeks of September. The last week of September is likely your best bet for prime colours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.<\/strong><\/p>\n The post Hidden Lake Hike & Camping in Banff: A Larch-Season Backpacking Guide<\/a> appeared first on Hike Bike Travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A hike to Hidden Lake in Banff National Park is a fantastic way to experience larches. If you add a backcountry stay at the Hidden Lake Campground, you can catch the golden larches glowing in the late afternoon sunshine or enjoy early morning reflections in Hidden Lake. The area around Hidden Lake is at its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7075086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100532,11796,184421,101714],"tags":[9093,18821,70603,2504,2059,6320,8878,3931,235739],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7075085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alberta","category-camping","category-multi-day-hikes","category-national-parks","tag-amp","tag-backpacking","tag-banff","tag-camping","tag-guide","tag-hidden","tag-hike","tag-lake","tag-larchseason"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Larches-dot-the-shoreline-of-Hidden-Lake-1024x653.jpg\")
Hidden Lake Hike at a Glance<\/h2>\n
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![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Hidden-Lake-in-the-third-week-of-September-1024x692.jpg\")
Hidden Lake Hike and Skoki Area Map<\/h2>\n
![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Topograhical-map-showing-Hidden-Lake-Campground-Hidden-Lake-Skoki-Valley-1024x747.jpg\")
Why Hike to Hidden Lake in Larch Season?<\/h2>\n
Hidden Lake Hike Trail Description<\/h2>\n
Fish Creek Trailhead to the End of the Fire Road<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Mountain-views-from-the-Temple-Fire-Road-1024x704.jpg\")
Hiking from the Start of the Skoki Valley Trail to Hidden Lake Campground<\/h3>\n
![\"Starting](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Starting-on-the-trail-near-Temple-Lodge-1024x684.jpg\")
![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/The-hike-towards-the-Hidden-Lake-Campground-1024x568.jpg\")
![\"Ptarmigan](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ptarmigan-Peak-pops-into-view-on-the-right-1024x641.jpg\")
![\"At](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/At-the-sign-we-turn-left-for-Hidden-Lake-Campground-1024x600.jpg\")
![\"Halfway](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Halfway-Hut-in-Banff-National-Park-1024x643.jpg\")
![\"Just](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/400-metres-from-Hidden-Lake-Campground-1024x606.jpg\")
Hike to Hidden Lake<\/h3>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/An-easy-to-follow-trail-to-Hidden-Lake-1024x687.jpg\")
![\"Colourful](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Colourful-vegetation-along-the-shore-of-Hidden-Lake-1024x637.jpg\")
![\"There](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Explore-above-Hidden-Lake-1024x577.jpg\")
![\"View](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/View-of-Redoubt-Mountain-on-the-hike-back-to-the-Hidden-Lake-Campground-1024x597.jpg\")
Camping at Hidden Lake Campground<\/h2>\n
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![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Hidden-Lake-Campground-1024x587.jpg\")
Exploring the Skoki Area from Hidden Lake Campground<\/h2>\n
Packer’s Pass and Packer’s Pass Peak<\/h3>\n
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![\"Larches](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/The-Skoki-Lakes-area-in-larch-season-1024x617.jpg\")
![\"Zigadenus](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Zigadenus-Lake-from-Packers-Pass-Peak-1024x660.jpg\")
Baker Lake as a Day Hike<\/h3>\n
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![\"Hiking](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Hiking-beside-Ptarmigan-Lake-on-route-to-both-Packers-Pass-Peak-and-Baker-Lake-1024x579.jpg\")
![\"Baker](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Baker-Lake-1rs-1024x685.jpg\")
Skoki Lodge and the Skoki Lakes<\/h3>\n
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![\"Larches](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Larches-along-Ptarmigan-Lake-1024x608.jpg\")
![\"Masses](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Larches-en-masse-seen-on-the-way-towards-Skoki-Lodge-from-the-top-of-Packers-Peask-1024x666.jpg\")
Best Larch Views on the Hidden Lake Hike<\/h2>\n
Is Hidden Lake Worth an Overnight Trip?<\/h2>\n
![\"Larches](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Larches-everywhere-you-look-at-southeast-end-of-Hidden-Lake-1024x625.jpg\")
Best Time to Hike and Camp at Hidden Lake<\/h2>\n
![\"Larch](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Larch-heaven-around-Hidden-Lake-1024x629.jpg\")
How Hard Is the Hidden Lake Hike?<\/h2>\n
What to Know Before You Go<\/h2>\n
![\"Walking](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Walking-along-the-shore-of-Hidden-Lake-in-Banff-National-Park-942x1024.jpg\")
What to Pack for an Overnight at Hidden Lake<\/h2>\n
![\"One](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/One-of-the-tables-in-the-eating-area-within-sight-of-the-bear-lockers-1024x876.jpg\")
Hidden Lake Hike & Camping FAQs<\/h2>\n
More Larch Hikes You’ll Love<\/h2>\n
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![\"Hidden](\"https:\/\/hikebiketravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Hidden-Lake-Hike-Camping-in-Banff_-A-Larch-Season-Backpacking-Guide-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n