A Smoky Hike to the Mount Bourgeau Summit in Banff
The Mount Bourgeau summit is one of the biggest, baddest hikes in Banff. This mountain peak stands at a height of 2,931m (9,620ft) and takes around 9 hours to complete. Fear not though, the Mount Bourgeau hike also features beautiful golden Larch trees and multiple lakes at a lower elevation for hikers looking to avoid the big summit.
The day I completed the Mount Bourgeau hike, I wasn’t even planning on hiking. The entire Banff area was coated in a pretty gnarly layer of wildlife smoke which was, undoubtedly, not great for the lungs. My plan to preserve my lungs and avoid hiking that day was quickly squashed though by a good friend who somehow convinced me that hiking a 26km trail over 1,700m of gain in a whole-lotta smoke was a good idea.
One of my downfalls is that I can never turn down an opportunity for adventure. So, obviously, I packed up my hiking bag and we set off to conquer the Mount Bourgeau summit hike.
Without further ado, let’s go hiking!
Skip Ahead:
- How to get to the Mount Bourgeau trailhead
- Where to stay in Banff
- About the Mount Bourgeau hike
- Summiting Mount Bourgeau
- Recommended hiking gear for the Rockies
- What to wear hiking in the Rockies
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Mount Bourgeau summit hike
How to get to the Mount Bourgeau Trailhead
The Mount Bourgeau trailhead is located on the Trans Canada Highway about 15 minutes from the town of Banff. The trailhead is actually located on the left side of the Highway though, so if you’re driving from the direction of Banff keep an eye out for the turnoff.
The parking lot has a decent amount of spots; you’ll be able to find parking if you arrive before noon, however its recommended you arrive early because there are multiple trailheads leading from this lot.
There are no shuttles or buses that will take you to the trailhead, so if you plan on hiking you’ll need to drive or rent a car to access the Mount Bourgeau trailhead.
Where to Stay in Banff
From hostels to camping to luxury hotels – Banff has accommodations for everyone. Here are my top recommendations for where to lodge in Banff based on budget.
I recommend giving this post a read as I’ve listed every Banff hotel worth staying at and organized them by category.
- Hostels – Samesun Banff (best location + bar/restaurant on-site), Banff International Hostel (second best), and HI Banff.
- Budget hotels – Bow View Lodge and High Country Inn.
- Mid-range stays – Banff Park Lodge, Mount Royal, Elk & Avenue, and the Banff Caribou & spa.
- Luxury stays – Fairmont Banff Springs and the Rimrock Resort.
- Cabin retreats: Johnston Canyon Bungalows, Baker Creek, and Castle Mountain Chalets.
- Camp – reservation information can be found here. Ensure you book campsites far in advance as they’re full during summer.
- For those on ski trips: lodge on-mountain at Sunshine Village, stay near Norquay, and see my Lake Louise suggestions below.
Lodging Options Near Banff
Enjoy that nature and activities of Banff National Park, but lodge away from the busy tourist town centre at any of the following:
- Lake Louise – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (luxury), Paradise Lodge & Bungalows (500m from the lake), Lake Louise Inn (value stay), HI Lake Louise (hostel).
- Canmore – Malcolm Hotel (luxury), Stoneridge Mountain Resort (condo suites with fully equipped kitchens), Mountain View Inn (budget), Canmore Downtown Hostel & the Canmore Hostel (party hostel).
- Johnston Canyon – Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows, Castle Mountain Chalets, and HI Castle Mountain Hostel.
- Yoho National Park – Emerald Lake Lodge and Cathedral Mountain Lodge.
- Kootenay National Park – Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins.
- Kananaskis Country – Mount Engadine Lodge and Kananaskis Mountain Lodge (luxury), Crosswaters Resort (mid-range), and HI Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel (budget).
Mount Bourgeau summit hike
About the Mount Bourgeau Trail
- Distance: 22.4km (potentially 26km)
- Elevation gain: 1,751m
- Rated: hard
- Type of trail: out & back
- Estimated time: 9.5 hours
The Mount Bourgeau hike is very diverse and offers something for everyone. The trail starts out in a wooded area which then turns into a forested basin containing the famous Bourgeau Lake. After this point hikers can continue on to Harvey Pass where they’ll find a few more unnamed lakes and a magnificent view overlooking Healy Pass and Sunshine Meadows. After this, the trail becomes a bit rocky and there’s a decently steep ascent to the peak.
Since the Mount Bourgeau summit is so high, hikers will find incredible and unimpeded 360 degree views from the peak. However, the entire hike offers beautiful views and you definitely don’t need to summit Mount Bourgeau to find them. In fact, it’s recommended that beginner and/or intermediate hikers only complete the Bourgeau Lake/Harvey Pass sections.
*Alltrails reports the Mount Bourgeau hike is 22km in length, however I’ve heard many reports of the trail actually being 26km from people who have tracked it themselves.
Tips for the Mount Bourgeau Hike
- If you’re chasing Banff’s golden Larch trees, hike to Bourgeau Lake mid September.
- If you plan to summit, hike late August. The snow will have melted and trail conditions will be best. Of course use judgement and pay attention to recent weather patterns before you start this hike.
- At the summit you’ll experience high winds and cold weather. I always recommend wearing a waterproof jacket (men’s version) and a puffer jacket (men’s version) for both warmth and wind protection on big Rocky Mountain summits. You may also want to pack a toque and gloves.
- Wear sturdy hiking boots. My favourite are the Scarpa Kailash (men’s version).
- Bring lots of food! This is a massive day-hike – you’ll need at least one full meal and snacks.
- Bring lots of water or bring a filtration system. I always bring 2L of water in my Hydrapak as well as water tablets and cheese cloth to filter more water on long hikes.
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Mount Bourgeau summit hike
Summiting Mount Bourgeau
The Mount Bourgeau hike starts just beyond the metal gate at the parking lot – make sure you close the gate behind you, this is to ensure wildlife stays off the highway.
Trailhead to Bourgeau Lake
From the Mount Bourgeau trailhead to Bourgeau Lake, you can expect a 7.4km/750m (one-way) trek. The beginning of the trail is through a wooded, switchback section complete with a floor full of pine needles.
Along the way you can also expect to find multiple creeks and waterfalls, the most impressive being the one pictured below. There is a well built bridge over the Wolverine Creek, however the other creeks are a little more technical to cross. I always recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots in the Rockies to ensure your feet stay dry during hikes like these – I never hit the trail without my Scarpa Kailash boots (men’s version).
Right before you arrive at Bourgeau Lake you’ll notice the terrain levels out and you’ll enter an area full of golden Larch trees (in the fall). Shortly after you hit this flat area, you’ll find Bourgeau Lake.
Bourgeau Lake is the perfect place to end your hike if you’re a new hiker or if you’re not looking to have a massive day. If you do decided to continue, take a rest here and have lunch before continuing on.
Bourgeau Lake to Harvey Pass
After Bourgeau Lake, you can expect more switchbacks up a beautiful mountain pass. Along the way you’ll cross a few unnamed lakes/ponds; aka alpine tarn.
After the final tarn, you’ll quickly arrive to Harvey Pass which overlooks Sunshine Village/Sunshine Meadows as well as Healy Pass; another great hike in Banff.
Harvey Pass to Mount Bourgeau Summit
The final “decision” hikers must make is if they want to complete the actual Bourgeau summit or not. By Harvey Pass I can assure you that your legs will be feeling it. This is a long day hike with lots of elevation.
The final ascent is about 2.7km in length, 400m in gain, and about 1 hour in time. Luckily, this summit route is actually much easier than other summit hikes in Banff. There’s no real “scramble” section or loose scree. The trail is relatively easy to follow and it isn’t one of those “holy shit I’m gonna die” steep hikes.
At the top you’ll find a massive summit, which you can hike around and explore. My friend Greg (Greg from Banff Buzz) and I actually spent ample time and many more kilometres exploring the different views and ledges from the top.
Highlights From the Mount Bourgeau Summit
Like I previously mentioned (and as you can clearly see from my photos) the day I summited Mount Bourgeau was smokyyyy. This was super unfortunate because it took away a lot of the wicked summit views, however Mount Bourgeau’s views still didn’t disappoint.
Here are the top 3 things to look for from the Mount Bourgeau summit:
- The overhead view of Bourgeau Lake
- The distant view of Mt. Assiniboine (The Canadian version of the Matterhorn)
- Mount Temple – the ULTIMATE hike in Banff
Return Hike
I won’t lie, the return hike is absolutely gruelling. After trekking 12km+ over 1700m of gain to the summit, the last thing you’ll want to do is hike another 12km+ back to the trailhead. But, this is what you sign up for when you decide to summit Mount Bourgeau.
So, buckle up because the return hike will murder your feet. Not even being dramatic, by the end of the day I could barely walk my feet hurt so bad. I was essentially running back to the trailhead hahaha.
All things considered this is an incredible hike, and if you have a good level of fitness I would 100% recommend (although maybe don’t hike this trail in the midst of thick wildfire smoke).
Happy hiking!
Looking for More Banff Adventures?
Banff is an adventurer’s & view seeker’s paradise. If you’re planning a trip to this gorgeous Canadian Park, you can start with this step-by-step guide designed to help you plan the perfect Banff itinerary.
Alternatively, check out this page with all my Banff resources.
Banff Hiking Resources
On this page you can find all my Banff trail guides. A few signature hikes in Banff are these easy trails, Tunnel Mountain, Sulphur Mountain, Lake Louise, and Johnston Canyon. If you’re only in Banff for a few days, start with those!
A few of my personal favourite hikes in Banff are Mount Bourgeau, Sentinel Pass, Tower of Babel, the Banff Skoki Loop, and the Sulphur Mountain Traverse Route.
More Banff Resources you Might Find Interesting:
Want to continue your Canadian Rockies expedition outside of Banff? Check out my trail guides & travel resources for British Columbia and Kananaskis Country as well as Jasper, Waterton, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks 🙂
Mount Bourgeau hike Banff
Mount Bourgeau summit hi
MOUNT BOURGEAU HIKE SUMMIT
Mount Bourgeau summit hike
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
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About the Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
