Mount Robson Provincial Park

Berg Lake Trail

One of the best known trails in the Rocky Mountains, the Berg Lake Trail has played host to school age children that have returned as parents with their own kids to experience the simple joy of backcountry hiking. This trail will equally please the beginner to advanced hiker. Gaining just under 800 meters in 23 kilometers, the trail traverses three biogeoclimatic zones. The interesting changes in vegetation, as the elevation changes, are most apparent on this trail.

Reservations by phone only are accepted for the Berg Lake Trail. Internet bookings for the trail cannot be accepted at this time. First-come, first-served sites for the trail are also available. Only the reservation fee is collected at time of booking; the trail fee (pdf format) must be paid upon registration at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre. You must specify approximately what time you will be checking in at the Visitor Centre in order for the staff to estimate how far you will hike on the first day.

General Information:

• Any trail updates will be posted under the "Attention Visitor - Important Notice" alert on the main page for Mount Robson.
• The Berg Lake Trail is a backcountry hiking trail.
• There is no charge to day hike on the trail but there is a trail fee charged for those that hike/camp overnight.
• Children 12 and under camp for FREE but must be accompanied by an adult (16 years of age or older).
• For overnight trips, dogs are not permitted on the trail. Dogs are permitted on the trail for day hikes only but must be a leash.
• Bicycles are allowed on the trail but only as far as the Kinney Lake campground (7 km).
• There are seven campgrounds along the trail. Each campground has a cluster of tent pads; each tent pad will hold a single tent up to 10' x 10' and 1 to 6 people (all ages) per pad. The seven campgrounds along the trail are (in order):
  • Kinney Lake
  • Whitehorn
  • Emperor Falls
  • Marmot
  • Berg Lake
  • Rearguard
  • Robson Pass
• Please note: There are basically no facilities along the trail. All campsites have bear poles, pit toilets (paper not provided), washbasins and grey-water pits. There are no showers, no flush toilets and no fire allowed. Camp stoves are mandatory for cooking.
• For hikers that wish to hike over Robson Pass from Jasper National Park, ending at the Berg Lake trailhead, you will need to register at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre prior to commencing your hike if you plan to camp.
• Helicopter landings are permitted at Robson Pass on Mondays and Fridays. Hikers who wish to fly in must obtain a permit prior to commencing their hike if you plan to camp.
• You may register and obtain your camping permit for the Berg Lake Trail from noon to closing time one day prior at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre.
• When hikers register at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre, the staff will explain details (including a video) about the park, trail, etc.
• All hikers much check in at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre during the following normal operating hours:
  • May 10 - June 17 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • June 18 - Sept 5 from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Sept 6 - Sept 30 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Routes along or from Berg Lake Trail:

• Kinney Lake Trail (2.5 hours, return): From the Berg Lake Trail parking lot, the trail winds through old-growth cedar/hemlock forest as it follows the Robson River to Kinney Lake. This gentle 4.5 km (one way) hike offers incredible scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.
• Berg Lake Trail (2 days): This world-renowned trail takes hikers to some of the best scenery in the province. Beyond Kinney Lake, the trail enters the Valley of a Thousand Falls. Fed by the massive Mist, Berg and Robson glaciers, visitors often see huge sections of ice break off or "calve" into the blue/green, silt-laden waters of Berg Lake. Berg Lake campsite is 21 km from the trailhead parking lot. Use one of the campgrounds as a base and take in some day hiking or continue past Robson Pass campground for a challenging excursion.
• Hargreaves Lake Route (1/2 day): From Marmot campsite near Berg Lake, this route climbs to Hargreaves Lake and Glacier. From the viewpoint, the trail continues and crosses the Toboggan Falls Route on course to the Mumm Basin.
• Toboggan Falls Route (2 hours, return): From the trailhead at the Toboggan Creek bridge near Berg Lake campsite, the trail climbs to Toboggan Falls and the surrounding alpine basin. This route intersects the Hargreaves Lake and Mumm Basin routes. Continue up beyond this junction for an extra 45 minutes and you will reach a small cave.
• Mumm Basin Route (1/2 day): A steep alpine trail leads to views of the alpine lakes, mountains and glaciers. The trail can start or end in Robson Pass or Berg Lake campsites.
• Snowbird Pass Route (1 day): Snowbird Pass is closed May and June due to caribou calving. A challenging route marked by rock cairns (caution required), it provides spectacular views of the back of Mount Robson. From berg Lake campsite the trip is 22 km, return. Start north of Rearguard campsite, follow Robson River then travel up to Robson Glacier's moraine. Hike up to an alpine meadow, beyond which is Snowbird Pass.
• Moose River Route (7 days): This route should be attempted only by well-equipped, experienced hikers as river crossings and route finding are required. This 105 km route can be accessed via Berg Lake, through Robson Pass onto Adolphus Lake continuing on the Jasper National Park trail system. The route takes you over Moose Pass back into Mount Robson Park and down the Moose River to Hwy 16 near its confluence with the Fraser River. For day hikers, trips along this trail offer view of Adolphus Lake (7 km return, to Berg Lake) or Coleman Valley (26 km, return, to Berg Lake).
• There are other extensive hiking routes throughout Mount Robson Provincial Park.

First attempted in 1907, it was not until 1913 that humans finally stood on the summit of Mount Robson. On that clear, cold day guide Conrad Kain, W.W. Foster and A.H. McCarthy beheld a view no person had ever seen before. 

Climbers from around the world come to the park to tackle this most imposing peak. At 3,954 m (12,972 ft) Mount Robson is by no means the highest peak in Canada or the USA, it does however have other attributes. Few mountains anywhere in the world can claim to offer almost 3,000m (10,000 ft) of pure ascent.

This is a big mountain with big hazards. Only the very experienced should consider climbing Mount Robson. Unexpected changes in weather and snow conditions, heavy snowfalls, avalanches, icefall and rockfall can persist throughout the climbing season. Only properly equipped climbers, prepared and skilled in all facets of alpine mountaineering should attempt climbing Mount Robson. We encourage all climbers to use the voluntary self-registration shelter located at the Berg Lake Trailhead.

Return to Mount Robson Provincial Park.