Bourgeau Lake Trail
A long forest ascent to a subalpine lake beneath western Banff peaks.
Route overview
Climb through forest to Bourgeau Lake and return; extensions are excluded.
A sustained forest trail reaches Bourgeau Lake after a substantial climb. Wet ground, snow, wildlife and limited communications make it a full mountain day even though no scrambling is required to the lake.
Trail facts
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- Banff National Park, Alberta
- Distance
- 13.4 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 6 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- 725 m
- Best season
- Mid-summer to early autumn
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No day-hiking permit; park entry required
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Long day, mud, snow, bears, storms and poor cell coverage
Highlights
Bourgeau Lake, subalpine basin, mountain views
Why find a buddy
High value for endurance matching, remote communication and turnaround discipline.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.