Buller Mountain Hike

Where:

• Buller Pass

 

When:

• September 26, 2026

 

Who:

• Ed, Erin, Neil, Craig, Rod, Shonda, Dally, Janet, Dave

 

Trailhead:

• the trail starts at the Buller Mountain Day Use Area which is 30 km from Canmore on the Spray Lakes Road
• park on the entrance road to the day use area which is on the right (west) hand side of the road
• the trailhead is straight across the road on the east side

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

• 500 meters of elevation gain to the point where you exit the forest into the valley below Buller Pass
• 12 km distance return
• the trail is relatively easy to follow although you have to be careful where it intersects the High Rockies trail in two spots near the beginning to turn right
• 4 km up the valley (just across the fourth bridge), you take the fork to the right to go towards Buller Pass
• the hike took us three and a half hours

 

 

Interesting notes:

• partway up the forested valley, there are several unique trees that have multiple trunks (still a mystery to me how they are formed)
• we went in the prime of larch season and there is a decent amount although the snow and lack of sun muted their majestic appearance somewhat
• as well there are several burnt areas throughout the hike that offer a cool stark contrast to the forested areas
• the views are tremendous once you break out of the forested area with Buller Mountain to the north and east and Mt. Engadine to the south
• at the pass, you look across the valley to Mt. Kidd and Guinn Pass, down to Ribbon Lake and Mt. Bogart off to the left (north)
• Buller Mountain is named after Herbert Cecil Buller, a WW1 casualty and member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry