Burstall Pass Hike in Kananaskis Country

Burstall Pass hike in Kananaskis Country

The Burstall Pass hike happened by accident. On a summer Sunday our extended family of four made the two-hour drive to Kananaskis Country with the specific intent of hiking up to Chester Lake. But once we got to the parking lot we saw a trail closed sign because of bear activity. Rather than drive any further we made the decision to hike to Burstall Pass as the trailhead is directly across the road – and it was open. Even better, there were no warning signs of recent bear activity.

Burstall Pass is the first hike I’ve ever done where I had no clue about what we were getting into. I hadn’t brought a map (as I knew the trail to Chester Lake quite well) and didn’t even know how many kilometres we were about to hike.

It turned out to be very straightforward, but it was also a lesson to pack a map or have a hiking app on your fully charged phone like Organic Maps – so you have options if you can’t do the hike you planned.

This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you very much for your support. 

Burstall Pass trail details and difficulty

Length of trail: 15 km (9.3 miles) round-trip

Elevation gain: 480 m (1,575 feet) elevation gain

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Time needed: 4.5 – 6 hours. Kids who hike regularly are are 8 years or older should be able to handle it.

Dogs: Yes, allowed on a leash

Don’t forget: Hiking poles and the hiking essentials.

Map:Gem Trek Kananaskis Lakes

Nearest lodge:Mount Engadine

Camping info: A Complete Guide to Camping in Kananaskis

Permits: You will need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to do the hike. You can purchase a day pass for $15 or a yearly pass for $90, good for two vehicles registered at the same address.

Before you go: Check Alberta Parks trail reports.

Bikes: Allowed on the first 2.7 km of the Burstall Pass trail. You’ll need to lock them up if you plan to hike to Burstall Pass.

Other hiking options: From Burstall Pass, there are several options to continue hiking including the scramble up Snow Peak.

Sandals: There is a very wet section shortly after you finish a hike up the logging road. Consider bringing a pair ofwater sandalsfor this section – though the water is very cold! 

Lots of mountain peaks to be seen on this hike
Lots of mountain peaks to be seen on the Burstall Pass hike

When can you hike Burstall Pass?

Hike to Burstall Pass from late spring until the snow flies, sometime in October. One of the best times to hike the Burstall Pass trail would be in September because of the larch display. It is to be avoided when there is snow pack – because of the risk of avalanche danger. 

Wildlife on the Burstall Pass hike

When we did the hike we saw golden-mantled ground squirrels at Burstall Pass. They’d obviously been fed a lot, so they were quite aggressive. Keep your daypacks closed and shoo them off.

We didn’t so much as see bear scat, which always makes me happy. You should always carry bear spray that is easy to access. I like to carry it in abear spray holster– so you don’t set it off accidentally.

Golden-mantled ground squirrels were the only wildlife we saw
Golden-mantled ground squirrels were the only wildlife we saw

Scenic highlights on the Burstall Pass hike

  • Grand mountain views from the pass including Mount Assiniboine.
  • Beautiful wildflower-filled sub-alpine meadows in summer.
  • A fun hike through the water section with distant views of the French and Robertson Glaciers.
From Burstall Pass you can see Mount Assiniboine
From Burstall Pass you can see Mount Assiniboine

Burstall Pass hike description

The Burstall Pass hike starts on a berm beside Mud Lake. Walk across the berm (dam) looking for the hiker sign. You end up on an old road for around 2.5 km – at which point it tapers to a trail.

If you’ve biked the first few kilometres, you’ll see a place to lock up your bikes just as it narrows. Before that look for several side trails down to all three of the Burstall Lakes, though it’s hard to get to the shore of at least two of them because it’s so wet.

The first few kilometres of forest according to Graeme Pole, author of Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, is supposed to be good for birding. When he did the hike he heard “warbling vireos, hermit thrush, boreal chickadees and the drumming of three-toed woodpeckers.”

When you come to the end of the forest section, you’ll reach the wet area – the alluvial fan of the Robertson Glacier. Those of you with route-finding skills could come back and hike up the glacier another day.

This is where you might want to slip on a pair of sandals and pull out your hiking poles so you can check water depth. If you look carefully, you will see hiker signs leading the way across the floodplain. On a hot summer day, this section of the Burstall Pass hike feels very cooling.

The hike starts off easily on what seems like an old road
The hike starts off easily on what seems like an old road

The wet section on the hike

We used the hiking signs as a reference, but went considerably off-course trying to find narrow sections of stream to jump on the wet section of the Burstall Pass hike.

It’s about half a kilometre across but it takes a lot longer than normal hiking unless you’re wearing water shoes. This section is particularly wet in early summer and during glacial melt in August.

Once you emerge from the floodplain you start climbing towards Burstall Pass, though it’s never overly strenuous. After about 30 minutes you arrive at a sub-alpine meadow, with a little snow still around. From there the hiking gets more interesting as you climb over limestone benches, lined with wildflowers.

You’ll be stopped in your tracks by the views but continue on to reach the pass at 2,380 metres. On the other side of the pass is Banff National Park and a trail that continues around a sinkhole to Leman Lake.

Before reaching Leman Lake you’ll cross the Palliser Pass Trail. There are loads of options if you want to continue for up to several days. (See more hikes below at the end of the post.)

There's about 500 metres of stream hopping to do with the outflow from the Robertson Glacier
There’s about 500 m of stream hopping to do with the outflow from the Robertson Glacier
 Everyone looking for a dry route
Everyone looking for a dry route; water shoes would make the going faster
Look for logs to get across the streams
Look for logs to get across the streams on the way up to Burstall Pass
The last bit of water before you're on a dry trail and climbing again
The last bit of water before you’re on a dry trail and climbing again
After about an hour of hiking you get into the high alpine
After about an hour of hiking you get into the high alpine

Peaks you can see on the Burstall Pass hike

From the pass you can see Mt. Assiniboine – the sixth highest mountain in the Rockies. Looking north are three peaks – Commonwealth Peak, Pig’s Tail (Shark’s Tooth) and Mt. Birdwood while looking south and west of the Robertson Glacier, sits Mt. Sir Douglas.

Allow five to seven hours to do this trip – and a bit more if you want to climb the “Burstall Bump” or head down to Leman Lake.

The Burstall Pass hike delivers great views
The Burstall Pass hike delivers great views
The boundary to Banff National Park is at the pass
Burstall Pass marks the boundary with Banff National Park
My brother and sister-in-law enjoying the view
My brother and sister-in-law enjoying the view
I felt like we were hiking high in Colorado on this hike
I felt like we were hiking high in Colorado on the Burstall Pass hike
Notice the Robertson Glacier as a backdrop on the Burstall Pass hike
Notice the Robertson Glacier as a backdrop – another hike that can be done from the trailhead
 Rosie the 7.5 month old Bernese Mountain dog does her first mountain hike
Rosie the 7.5 month old Bernese Mountain dog does her first mountain hike

Getting to the Burstall Pass trailhead

The trailhead is at Mud Lake, across from the Chester Lake trailhead in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

To get there drive 44 km south on the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Lakes Trail from Canmore. The trailhead is on the west side of the highway at Mud Lake. You can also drive Highway 40 to the Smith-Dorrien Trail and continue for 22 km. Be prepared to have a VERY DUSTY car by the time you get to the trailhead.

Burstall Pass location map

                                                           

Options for more hiking from Burstall Pass

From Burstall Pass you can continue to the top of Snow Peak. To do this requires that you hike another 2 km one way with an added elevation gain of 409 m. Some easy scrambling is required. You need 7 – 8 hours to do the return hike – and that includes the pass. I have yet to do this but would like to.

From Burstall Pass you can also do the Birdwood Traverse, an epic sounding day that ideally requires a shuttle as it’s 19.6 km one way with a reasonable 665 m of elevation gain.

The third option is to descend from Burstall Pass to the Palliser Trail though I’m not sure what sort of shape the trail is in.

There is a fourth option that takes off from just before the bike rack – before you’ve even got to the wet part of the hike. It takes you to the French and Robertson Glaciers but some basic route-finding is required.

5 things I’d take with me on the hike

I like something comfortable to sit on at lunch time and swear by my almost weightlessinflatable seat cushion

I like usinghiking poles– especially so when a stream crossing is involved. On the Burstall Pass hike in particular, hiking poles are very worthwhile. Invest in a good pair that are collapsible, preferably made of carbon because of their weightless quality. 

No matter how the day starts, I always carry rain gear. And I find abrim hat with a chin strapinvaluable in the rain or on a hot, in your face sunny day.

Ipack a buff as it’s great for soaking and then wrapping around your neck on hot days, or keeping the hair out of your face.

In summerhalf gaitersare ideal for keeping pebbles, sand and even some rain out of your shoes.

Other Kananaskis area hikes you might enjoy

You won't tire of the views on the Windtower hike
You won’t tire of the views on the Windtower hike

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The 15 km return moderate hike to Burstall Pass in Kananaskis Country

My Cart Close (×)

Your cart is empty
Browse Shop