Hey Reader,

How are you?

I'm just coming back from a weekend of hiking in Invermere, British Columbia. I had a fantastic girls' trip with my mom! The end of September is still relatively warm in Invermere, making it the perfect time to get out and exercise. It's a 6-hour drive from Edmonton. We headed up Swansea Mountain Tower to get a view of the town. The hike is 6km long, with 355 meters of elevation gain, and is an out-and-back route, taking under three hours. The 180-degree views were spectacular. We could see the town of Invermere, Windermere Lake and where we had kayaked on the Columbia River the day before. We decided to head to Old Coach Trail in the afternoon to see some fall colours on the trees, as we hadn't seen any yellow leaves during this hike.

The Old Coach Recreational Trail begins near Radium and continues to the Dry Gulch Trailhead, located further south on Hwy 93. If you complete the entire route, you'll hike 15.8 km there and back over approximately 5 hours. There are different paths you can take. There's a primary path in the trees, and if you want to see the river like we did, you can take side paths that lead to a gravel trail along the side of the river. As you can see by the picture, you'll be able to see the leaves changing colour. The views along the water are beautiful. You'll be able to see quite a distance overlooking the valley. The trail is easy, and you don't have to go very far to see this view.

If you're looking for a nice place to stay, Invermere Inn & Suites was charming. It's located downtown near shops and restaurants that you can easily walk to. There are numerous parking spaces available on the side of the road or behind the hotel. You can easily walk to Windermere Lake and The Station Pub, where we had supper on our first night.

On the way back to Edmonton, we met up with my dad and extended family. We hiked Pocaterra Cirque. It was definitely larch madness! We found about a bazillion people on the trail! lol Cars were parked on the side of the parking lot and the road. At times, we were walking one behind each other and taking turns to let people descend. It really was crazy! But, all worth it to see the golden larches! I had never done this hike before. Maybe as a kid, but I don't remember it, so it doesn't count. It was a short there-and-back hike of 6.9 km, with 434 metres of elevation gain, and typically takes 3.5 hours, although we took the time to catch up and spent 4 hours together.

Tip: Arrive early to secure a parking spot. We got the last spots around 10 am.

RESOURCES FOR YOUR TRIP

• Book your flight with Expedia​
• Book your hotel with Booking.com or Hotels.com​
• Book your vacation rental with Vrbo​
• Book your guided trips with Manawa​
• Book your day trips with Get Your Guide​

If you have any questions about the trip, don't hesitate to email me. I'm happy to help!

Happy Adventuring!

Chelsea

Crazy Fun Outdoor Adventures

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