Parking
Use the designated Bourgeau Lake parking area, 13 km west of Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. Parks Canada lists limited paved parking and two gender-neutral outhouses. Roadside parking is prohibited; no drinking-water service is listed.
Overview
About Bourgeau Lake Trail
Why go
- A multi-tier waterfall breaks up the wooded climb.
- The lake sits beneath a dramatic ring of rock walls.
Heads up
- Most of the climb is a sustained forest ascent.
- The limited highway-side lot can constrain parking.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,434–2,153 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Bourgeau Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Bourgeau Lake and Harvey Pass0:00 / 0:29
“You're approaching Bourgeau Lake trailhead, where the hike to Harvey Pass takes six to seven hours round trip. A long forest climb reaches the lake's glacier-carved rock bowl.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Muleshoe: A Picnic and a Birdwatching Pause
- A Chick Riding on a Loon
- The Newspaper Argument Behind an Alpine Club
- Backswamp Viewpoint: River and Mount Bourgeau
- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
Trail guide
Hiking Bourgeau Lake Trail
The lake is the turnaroundBourgeau Lake Trail is a strenuous out-and-back from the Bourgeau Lake parking area to an…
Bourgeau Lake Trail is a strenuous out-and-back from the Bourgeau Lake parking area to an alpine lake beneath a glacial amphitheatre. Parks Canada lists 6.7 km each way, 13.4 km round trip, 730 m of climbing and about six hours. The route starts in forest, follows Wolverine Creek, climbs beside a waterfall and finishes in an open basin. It suits hikers ready for a long, steady ascent more than constant views. The lake is the usual turnaround; Harvey Pass continues farther beyond it and makes a much longer outing. Bring your own water, and plan around the limited parking.
Following Wolverine CreekThe first stretch is a sustained forest climb on a trail with roots, rocks and mountain-stream…
The first stretch is a sustained forest climb on a trail with roots, rocks and mountain-stream crossings. The trees screen most of the valley, though openings around the middle of the climb reveal Massive Mountain, Mount Cory and The Finger. Expect intermittent views rather than an open ridge walk.
The waterfall and basinAt roughly 5.5 km, Wolverine Creek drops through a multi-tier waterfall.
At roughly 5.5 km, Wolverine Creek drops through a multi-tier waterfall. The trail steepens into switchbacks beside the falls, then briefly eases before reaching the alpine meadow. That shift from enclosed forest to the open basin is part of the payoff; flagstone steps lead through the upper meadow toward the lake.
At Bourgeau LakeThe clear lake sits below steep rock walls at the foot of Mount Bourgeau, ringed by forest,…
The clear lake sits below steep rock walls at the foot of Mount Bourgeau, ringed by forest, scree and alpine slopes. Late September brings golden larch needles to the upper route. From the basin, frame the water with the cliff wall and a strip of foreground rock to show how small the lake feels beneath the amphitheatre.
A name from the Palliser ExpeditionJames Hector named Mount Bourgeau for Eugene Bourgeau, the botanist who joined the Palliser…
James Hector named Mount Bourgeau for Eugene Bourgeau, the botanist who joined the Palliser Expedition of 1857–1860; the lake took the mountain’s name. The surrounding bowl was carved by glacial ice, leaving the sheer rock walls that close around the water.
Start and trail rulesThe trailhead is at the designated Bourgeau Lake parking area, 13 km west of Banff on the…
The trailhead is at the designated Bourgeau Lake parking area, 13 km west of Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. Parks Canada lists limited paved parking and two gender-neutral outhouses; roadside parking is prohibited. No food service or drinking-water source is listed at the lot or along the route. Dogs are allowed on summer trails unless a restriction is posted; keep them under control on a leash no longer than 3 m.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
