Berg Lake Trail

Statistics

Directions

From the Mount Robson Viewpoint juntion, follow the road running north beyond the service station/ general store for 2km to the Berg Lake trail parking area. The hike begins at the Robson River bridge at the north end of the parking area.

Details

Although you can do this trail in 2 days why would you want to?

You have to check in at the visitor’s center to register and pay for your camping. They will provide you with a pass, give you trail updates, and give you a map. The cost is $10 per night, per person.

Day 1 -From the Robson River Bridge at the trailhead parking area, you make your way up a broad, road wide track that climbs gradually along the Robson River through a micro-rainforest to Kinney Lake. Just past the outflow on the lake is a picnic area off to your left. This is a great place to take in the view and stop for a snack break. The trail continues along the eastern shoreline to Kinney lake Campground at 7 km. Here you will find a shelter, outhouse, and several places to get fresh water. There are 14 tent pads here. Please remember to filter from the streams. If you use the water from the lake you’ll find it will plug up your filter quickly from the glacial flour found in the water. After a short rest the trail branches off and rolls up and down shapely for the next 1.5 km. If the water level is low you can bypass this by walking on the alluvial flats to the end of the lake. Should you go this route remember you have to cut back into the bush to rejoin the trail as you have to cross a bridge at the north end of the lake.

At the far side of the outwash flats there is a nice treed area at the base of Whitehorn Hill for your next rest stop. A moderate to steep grade over the next 1km takes you to the suspension bridge and Whitehorn campground at the 10.9km mark. Whitehorn campground has 22 tent pads, a shelter, outhouse, trail map and fresh water is available from the Robson River. The views of the mountains only give you a taste of what is to come.

As the visitor center does not open until 10 am by the time you get here it will be close to dinner hour and time to set up your tent. You will need a good rest for the next 3.5 km that lies ahead of you.

Day 2 – Today is the day that you will gain most of the elevation on this trail. You leave Whitehorn and follow along the river. Just up ahead is another bridge crossing the Robson River. Once across the bridge the trail climbs steeply (450m) along the valley of a Thousand Falls for the next 3.5km. Thankfully there are a few viewpoints that will take your breath away if you are not having trouble breathing by now.

At 12.3 km is the White Falls viewpoint, followed by Falls of the Pool at 13.4 km.

At 14.8 is the junction, to the right, to Emperor Falls. This is just .2km down a side trail and a good place to stop and rest. The photo opportunities here are remarkable as you can walk right up to the falls, or if you are hot enough, stand in the spray for a refreshing shower.

Emperor Falls campground (at 16 km) is just up the trail from here and this is the end of most the elevation gain for the day. The elevation here is at 1630m. If you are well rested the final push to Berg Lake will be most enjoyable. With Whitehorn Mt. at your back you track along the valley along a footpath through a slide area. It’s here that you get your first look at the north face of Robson and glaciers on the south side of the valley. There are 8 tent pads at Emperor Falls Campground.

The trail rambles along until you come to the shores of Berg Lake. Mist and Berg glacier come into view, Mt Robson looms above them. To give one a sense of the size of the mountain, at this point its summit at 3954m is more than 2 vertical kilometers above the lakeshore.

After passing Marmot Campground (at 19km, 7 tent pads) at the southwest end of the lake, the tail continues around the lakeshore to Berg lake campground, Rearguard, and Robson pass campground. At Berg Lake Campground (the most popular) (21 km, 26 tent pads) you’ll find a restored heritage cabin called the Hargreaves Shelter. This is a good place to meet fellow hikers at dinner time and a melting pot of sorts of people from all over the world. You’ll find here that if you are low on something someone is always will to barter or trade. There is a ranger station nearby should you require any assistance or information. Berg Lake makes a good spot to be based out of for exploring the surrounding area and trails.

Beyond the Berg Lake Campground the trail continues to Rearguard Camp (22 km, 5 tent pads) and Robson Pass Camp (23 km, 15 tent pads). Beyond this point the trail continues until Jasper National Park and the Moose River Route.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

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