Burstall Pass Trail

Near Fortress Mountain Resort · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

Mud Lake near the trailhead. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 80 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Burstall Pass Trail is a 25.0 km out and back trail near Fortress Mountain Resort in Banff National Park. It runs 12.5 km each way. The route gains 1,036 m in total and tops out at 2,348 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 9 hours of moving time. It meets Hogarth Lakes Loop at 0.1 km, Mount Burstall Route at 2.8 km and Piggy Plus Route at 3.3 km, and passes seven other mapped junctions. At 7.6 km the trail forks. This route keeps left; the right fork is a 0.2 km side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Mud Lake. Much of the route follows Burstall Creek. Also used for backpacking.

Length: 25.0km; 12.5 km each way
Elevation gain: 1,036m
Estimated time: 9h; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 2,348m
Lowest point: 1,858m

Elevation profile

1,858 m to 2,348 m

Highest point 2,348 m, lowest 1,858 m, 1,036 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 34% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap: 12.5 km
Model: 2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

0.0 kmMud LakeLake
7.7 kmBurstall PassPass or saddle

Good for

Hiking, Backpacking
Dog friendly (on leash)
Lake, Views, River or creek, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.7910° N, 115.3034° W.

Driving directions

Banff National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy day or annual pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 588 trails in Banff National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30