Buller Pass Hike in Kananaskis Country

Pretty hiking to Buller Pass in larch season

The stunning Buller Pass hike in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country takes only four – five hours round-trip. It’s one of the best moderate hikes in the area. From your perch at Buller Pass you can see down to the Ribbon Lake (where you can camp with a permit) and over to Guinn Pass.

From Guinn Pass you can hike down to the Galatea Lakes and out to Highway 40. Look in the other direction and you’ll see snow covered Mount Assiniboine. Now that’s a payoff for a 2 – 2.5 hour ascent!

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There is a parking lot and day use picnic area at Buller Pond – across from the trailhead
There is a parking lot and day use picnic area at Buller Pond – across from the trailhead

Buller Pass hike summary

Round trip distance: 14.8 km (9.2 miles) and if you have more time, there is the option to hike to North Buller Pass.

Elevation gain: 670 m (2,198 feet)

Difficulty: Moderate

Time needed: 4 – 6 hours

Buller Pass elevation: 2470 m (8104 feet)

Best time to go: Plan to do the Buller Pass hike from late June until the snow flies in late September or early October. This is a decent larch hike – though there are better ones like Pocaterra Ridge.

Map: Gem Trek – Kananaskis Lakes

Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash.

Bears: Don’t forget to carry a can of easy to access bear spray that is at most three years old. 

Good to know: For intrepid hikers, you can hike to Buller Pass and then descend to the Ribbon Lake Backcountry Campground but reserve 90 days out with Alberta Parks.

Permit: Before you go, be sure you have purchased a Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Don’t forget: Carry the hiking essentials. Let someone know where you’re going and when you’re due out.

Looking down at the Rainbow Lakes from the pass (you can camp here with a permit)
Looking down at beautiful Ribbon Lake from the pass 

Close to Mount Engadine Lodge

John and I chose the hike to Buller Pass as the trailhead was a mere five minutes away from where we were staying at Mount Engadine Lodge.

From Calgary, it would typically be a two hour drive to get to the trailhead, so this was a treat – yet it wouldn’t take up our entire day – a good thing as we’d left John’s elderly Mom at the lodge.

Buller Pass hike trailhead location

The Buller Pass trailhead is directly across from the Buller Mountain day use area. If you’re coming from Canmore it’s about 31 km from the Canmore Nordic Centre.

If you see Buller Pond, you’ve gone a hundred metres to far. From the junction of Highway 40 and the Smith-Dorrien/ Spray Lakes Trail it’s roughly 32 km.

                                                               

Buller Pass hike description

The Buller Pass hike climbs 670 m (2,198 feet) over 6.6 km to reach Buller Pass. The ascent is generally moderate with a couple of lovely flat sections. For the first hour you’re in the woods and thanks to a forest fire there are some decent views.

Great, green mossy sections add a blast of colour to the charred landscape. Stop and listen through here as you might hear and see a three-toed woodpecker.

The woods early on in the hike have an open feel about them
The woods early on in the hike have an open feel about them

Reach the small waterfall at about the one hour mark on the Buller Pass hike. In summer, it would be a refreshing place to cool off.

Shortly after the falls there’s a faint trail that takes you northeast towards North Buller Pass. You would need an extra two to three hours to include North Buller Pass on the hike.

Turquoise pool about an hour from the trailhead
Turquoise pool about an hour from the trailhead

Look for larches on the Buller Pass hike in fall

Climb through swaths of golden-coloured larches to a viewpoint over a gorge. From there you can see the trail as it gently curves towards Buller Pass.

It will take another 30 minutes of climbing from here to reach Buller Pass.

John climbing out of the trees on the way to Buller Pass
John climbing out of the trees on the Buller Pass hike
Pretty hiking with the blast of colour from the larches
Pretty hiking with the blast of colour from the larches
It's a rocky world above treeline on the hike to Buller Pass
It’s a rocky world above tree line on route to Buller Pass
Admiring the mountain landscape and wishing we had time for more exploration
Admiring the mountain landscape and wishing we had time for more exploration on the Buller Pass hike
That's Mt. Assiniboine covered in snow in the background
That’s Mt. Assiniboine covered in snow in the background
So glad we were hiking when the larches were ablaze with yellow
So glad we were doing the Buller Pass hike when the larches were ablaze with yellow
Even among the dead trees there is beauty with all the texture
Even among the dead trees there is beauty with all the texture

An option to hike to North Buller Pass

If you’re heading to Kananaskis Country to hike, you would do well to choose the Buller Pass hike. And if you don’t mind a little route-finding and a lot more climbing then make a loop and include North Buller Pass. Just don’t forget a topo map. 

Look for moose

On the way to the Buller Pass trailhead keep a sharp eye out for moose. I have almost always seen them in the fall near the turn-off for Mount Engadine Lodge. This fellow was around on both mornings we were at the lodge.

Bull moose seen near Mount Engadine Lodge on the way to the trailhead
Bull moose seen near Mount Engadine Lodge on the way to the trailhead

Where to stay near the trailhead

The closest place to stay – Mount Engadine Lodge is also one of my all time favourite spots to stay in no matter what time of the year it is. It’s about a 10 minute drive from the trailhead.

Otherwise Canmore is your nest closest option. You’ll find the full range of accommodation choices there. Basecamp Resorts is a great place if you want to do some of your own cooking. They also have a lovely onsite hot tub with a view. 

The Alpine Club of Canada runs a hostel in Canmore that would be a great choice for the budget conscious. The Malcolm Hotel is the most recent 4 star addition to what is available.

If you’re into camping read A Complete Guide to Camping in Kananaskis.

The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore has a wonderful pool and hot tub with a mountain view
The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore has a wonderful pool and hot tub with a mountain view

More Kananaskis hikes you might enjoy

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The fabulous Buller Pass hike in Alberta's Kananaskis Country

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