SummaryBackground  Puberty is characterized by increases in growth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and the pubertal growth spurt. Bone formation and resorption also increase, consistent with increased bone metabolism.Objective  To determine the relationship between pubertal bone metabolism, GH and IGF‐1. We hypothesized that bone turnover peaks at the time of greatest pubertal GH secretion.Design and Subjects  Subjects included 86 girls and boys, 9–17 years‐old (BMI 10th–90th percentiles). Because higher endogenous GH secretion is associated with a higher nadir following oral glucose, we used the GH nadir following a 2‐h OGTT as indicative of GH status. Fasting serum IGF‐1, aminoterminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) and carboxy‐terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) were obtained. Subjects were grouped per expected timing of peak growth. Group 1: Tanner 1 girls and Tanner 1–2 boys (period preceding peak growth), Group 2: Tanner 2–3 girls and Tanner 3–4 boys (period of peak growth) and Group 3: Tanner 4–5 girls and Tanner 5 boys (period following peak growth).Results  GH peaked at mid‐puberty (Group 2) and IGF‐1 in late puberty (Group 3). P1NP and CTX were highest in mid‐puberty compared with early and late puberty (P = 0·0009 and 0·006 in girls and P = 0·005 and 0·04 in boys). GH, but not IGF‐1, correlated with P1NP (r = 0·46 in both genders, P ≤ 0·008) and CTX (r = 0·37 and 0·38, P = 0·04 and 0·02 in girls and boys, respectively). Similarly, on regression modelling, GH (but not IGF‐1) predicted both bone turnover markers in both genders.Conclusion  GH is strongly associated with pubertal bone metabolism, independent of systemic IGF‐1 in girls and boys.