How to Hike the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park

Of all the hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies, the Berg Lake trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is probably the most astounding. Along the route are cascading waterfalls, turquoise blue lakes, a multitude of glaciers, and the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Mount Robson is an icon of the mountain range and a source of inspiration for many famed mountaineers.

The trip to the Berg Lake, which sits at the mountain’s NW flanks, is staggering as the Berg Glacier tumbles down a huge mountain face into the lake below. It’s less than an hour from the town of Jasper, so it makes for a great day trip out from the town or an addition to a trip to the region.

It’s a 42 km hike to the lake, and the trail offers some amazing views along the way. As it’s a fairly demanding journey and the scenery is so astounding, most hikers choose to enjoy it as a multiday backpacking adventure. Whether you choose to enjoy the trail as a 3-5 day backcountry adventure or a trail run, the Berg Lake trail is sure to offer an epic adventure in the Rockies.

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Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park

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Trail Key Facts and Intro

• Length: 41.5 km
• Duration: 8-14 hours as a day hike. 2-5 days as a multi-day hike
• Elevation Gain: 1,000 meters
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Best Time To Go: July – September
• Parking: Kinney Lake Road

Any journey up the Berg Lake Trail starts at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre. The information centre is around a one hour drive from Jasper and 25 minutes from Valemount. It’s a mandatory stop for all backcountry campers to collect their permit, and the centre is in an incredible spot to take in the first view of Mount Robson. We’ve tackled the trail both as a backcountry trip in 2020 and as a one-day hiking trip in 2025. Photos in this article are from both adventures.

Hiking the trail in one day is definitely doable, and if you’re short on time, we would encourage any experienced hiker or trail runner to go for it. However, the vast majority of hikers will enjoy the experience more as a backcountry camping adventure. The campsites along the way and getting to experience Berg Lake in the morning and late evening is magical.

I highly recommend booking your Berg Lake campsites as soon as they open for the year. You can do so at the BC Parks Discover Camping Reservation Centre. The campsites sell out every season, but it is possible to catch a cancellation with the monitoring app Outdoor Status. This is how we scored a last minute camping reservations at Berg Lake in July!

We’ll talk more about the trail below and the campsites. However, for those hiking the trail in one day, we completed the round trip in about 8 hours of moving time, with a 1-hour stop at Berg Lake and 30 minutes at Emperor Falls. We ran the Kinney Lake section and maintained a swift pace until we reached Berg Lake. When we hiked in as a multi day trek, we hiked from the trailhead to the Berg Lake Campground in one day in about 7 hours.

The beginning of the Berg Lake Trailhead is only a short drive away from the Mount Robson Welcome Centre. There is a large parking lot that can fill up on busy days, but parking is permitted along the roadside for now.

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Berg Lake Trail Overview

Kinney Lake

Making it to Kinney Lake from the trailhead is the first milestone on the trail. The route to the lake is a large forest service road to the lake and it’s relatively flat. This makes for an extraordinary day hike for visitors coming from Jasper or the Robson Valley.

Kinney Lake is a gorgeous blue alpine lake about 4 km from the trailhead. With an elevation gain of fewer than 300 meters, it’s easy to make it quickly. There are a few picnic tables immediately after arriving at the lakeshore for day trippers.

From there the trail begins to circumnavigate the lake for another 3 kms where the trail switches to a single track. There is a campsite here if you want to break up your trek, but we don’t think it’s really far enough to put a dent in your day. Plus, as pretty as it is, the views get much better the further you go in.

It would make for a great campsite for those looking to have an easier exit from the trail or their first backcountry camping experience. It would work well for smaller children, older hikers, or anyone who wants to spend as much time as possible on the trail.

It is possible to bike the first section of the trail to just past the Kinney Lake Campground. There are bike stands where you can lock your bikes in the forest past the campground. It’s a good way to reduce hiking time and could be a great option for those hoping to hike the trail in one day. The bike stands are a little over 7 km from the trailhead.

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Valley of a Thousand Falls

After Kinney Lake, the views get better and better, and you’ll quickly find yourself in an expansive valley. The trail has two variations based on valley conditions. A new trail has been built that goes above the Kinney Flats, which are prone to flooding.

This is the advised trail by BC Parks, but if conditions are dry, it’s much easier and better to hike the trail along the Kinney Flats. You’ll have more views and less elevation gain for a huge win. That said, the new trail provides some great views over the flats and back towards Kinney Lake.

The new trail is well built, but it does have some elevation gain with ups and downs through the forest. Both end near the end of the flats and begin the ascent up to the Valley of Thousand Falls. A new trail now ascends the east side of the valley and gains around 200 meters.

It features plenty of switchbacks, but it’s still a push with a heavy backpack. As the trail levels off, it reaches the Whitehorn Campground at around 11 km. It’s a popular stop for those hoping to break the ascent to Berg Lake into two days. All surrounding you are lush waterfalls cascading down.

Up until this point, the hike is pretty easy and straightforward, but the hardest section of the trail is soon to follow. Whether you plan to continue or spend the night, it’s a great spot to stop and have a snack or lunch.

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Emperor Falls

From Whitehorn Campground, the trail follows the Robson River for about a kilometer before crossing a large bridge and climbing steeply into the forest. This section is a grind, with roughly 400 meters of switchbacks leading up toward Emperor Falls Campground.

This is the roughest section of the Berg Lake trail, with loose rock and sections where stopping is advised against due to rockfall risk. However, you catch some incredible waterfall views of White Falls, Falls of the Pool, and the highlight – Emperor Falls.

Once you reach the top of the seemingly never-ending switchbacks, you’ll have the option to detour about 200 meters to see Emperor Falls. Whether you take it on the ascent or on your way down, don’t skip it—the thundering waterfall is one of the most spectacular in Canada.

It’s easily the most incredible waterfall we’ve seen in the Canadian Rockies and a true highlight of the trail.

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Marmot Campground

Another kilometer past Emperor Falls and some 100 meters of elevation gain lies the Emperor Falls Campground along the Robson River. It’s a fairly small campground and has some lovely sites along the river.

Beyond the campground, the trail eases into a flatter stretch, and in just 2 kilometers you’ll arrive at Berg Lake. This section winds along varied terrain beside the river, offering stunning views of Mount Robson, which seems to grow larger with every step.

As you approach the lake, the trail crosses a wide floodplain featuring impressive new trail work. It may just be my favourite section of the trail, as the trail builders cleverly used large rocks to form steps across small glacial streams. It leads directly to the edge of Berg Lake, where the Marmot Campground lies.

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Berg Lake

The best views of Berg Lake are from the northern shore at the Berg Lake Campground. It’s another two kilometers of hiking along the lake, winding in and out of the forest, with magical glacial lake scenery around every bend.

There’s no significant elevation gain, but after a long day on the trail, those final two kilometers can feel absolutely endless. Many hikers end their journey at the campground, and it’s easy to see why—the lakeside views are simply sublime.

Mount Robson’s glaciated northwest face towers overhead and the Berg Glacier tumbles from the summit all the way into the lake. It’s a breathtaking sight, one of the most humbling and spectacular lake vistas we’ve experienced anywhere in the world.

A small beach along the lakeshore is perfect to take in the views, bathe in the sun, or go for a brisk swim. Those lucky enough to spend the night along the shore get to end their day here, while any day hiker should allow 3-6 hours for their return.

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Past Berg Lake

The Berg Lake Trail doesn’t end at the campground—it continues another three kilometers to Robson Pass. At the trail’s end, you’ll enter Jasper National Park and connect with an extensive network of trails, most notably the famed Great Divide Trail. Along this final stretch are two small campgrounds, Rearguard and Robson Pass, which offer quieter alternatives to Berg Lake Campground.

For those spending more than a night by the lake, exploring the surrounding trail network can be a rewarding extension of the hike. Most notable are Aldophus Lake, Mumm Basin, and Snowbird Pass. Snowbird Pass is known for being its own epic journey and provides some insane glacier views.

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Camping On The Berg Lake Trail

There are seven campgrounds along the Berg Lake Trail. This presents a lot of options on ways to camp along the trail, but in general we’d say most hikers plan somewhere between 2-5 nights for their trip.

The most sought after campground is the Berg Lake Campground. It offers the best views of the lake from the most iconic location. We got our campsite reservations last minute so we tackled the trail with two nights at the Berg Lake Campground—this meant we hiked in and out in one day.

However, most choose to break up their hike with one night along the trail to reach the Berg Lake Campground or one of the campsites nearby. This allows for two days of hiking to reach one of the campgrounds along the Berg Lake. As there are some great day hikes in the areas it’s good to try and secure more. the

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Kinney Lake Campground

A lovely campground that’s the first stop along the trail, right along Kinney Lake. It’s a well-developed campground with plenty of space and nice facilities. It is 7 km along the trail.

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Whitehorn Campground

Whitehorn is the most popular choice for those who want to break their trip up. It’s in a scenic valley and right next to the Robson River. It’s also the last stop before the steep climb up to Emperor Falls. It is 11 km along the trail.

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Emperor Falls Campground

Sits just above the breathtaking Emperor Falls along a pleasant section of the river. One of the most serene campgrounds along the Berg Lake Trail. It is 16 km along the trail.

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Marmot Campground

The first campground along Berg Lake, but lacks the iconic view of the Berg Glacier. It’s still a nice, quiet alternative to the Berg Lake Campground. It is 19 km along the trail.

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Berg Lake Campground

The most desired campground along the trail and a must visit for anyone hiking the trail. It has an incredible location along Berg Lake, but it is the busiest and largest campground along the trail. It is 21 km along the trail.

Rearguard Campground

A small campground a little way past Berg Lake. It’s a much quieter experience and ideal for those seeking views of Rearguard Mountain. It is 22 km along the trail.

Robson Pass

A small forested campground that lies just along the border of Jasper National Park. It’s best used by those looking for longer adventures into or out of Jasper. It is 23 km along the trail.

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Day Hikes from Berg Lake

If I had a bit more time in the day, I would have enjoyed all the hiking the area offers. It was a shame to make it to Berg Lake and then almost immediately have to turn around at such a beautiful area to head back on our trail run. We quickly contemplated running up the Toboggan Falls viewpoint, but determined we didn’t want to hike out completely in the dark.

On our next adventure to Berg Lake we stayed overnight at Berg Lake Campsite, but were only able to stay one night there, meaning we didn’t have much time for additional hiking opportunities.

Some of the best hikes are listed below. All leave from the Berg Lake area.

• Toboggan Falls Route: This trail starts at the trailhead at the Toboggan Creek Bridge and climbs to Toboggan Falls. At under 2 hours, this is the shortest day hike you can do. It also provides amazing views of Mount Robson. If you are fast and leave early enough, you could tack this on to your day if you are doing Berg Lake in one day.
• Hargreaves Lake Route: This is a half-day hike that leaves from Marmot campsite and climbs to Hargreaves Lake and Glacier.
• Mumm Basin Route: Another 1/2 day trip that is steep but gives you amazing views of your surroundings. Leaves from Berg Lake.
• Snowbird Pass Route: A full-day hike that is challenging and requires route-finding skills, but provides amazing views of Mount Robson. From the Berg Lake Campsite, it’s 22 km return, so it’s for those prepared for long days.

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How Long Do You Need to Complete the Berg Lake Trail?

Well, that all depends on how much time you have and what kind of hiker you are. As mentioned, it’s definitely possible to do it in a day. If you’re a trail runner, you could make it to Berg Lake and back in under 5 hours, or faster if you’re ultra-intense. Our first time on the Berg Lake Trail, we ran some of the trail, but hiked at a fast pace for most of it and completed the full 40km+ trail in just about 8 hours of moving time, with an additional 2 hours of rest stops. However we only had a small running vest on so this was more doable.

Without a big backpack on, you certainly move faster and can do the full out and back trail in one full day. After looking at reviews, it seems the average day pace is between 10 and 12 hours. While you may not be carrying a huge load on your back, you are sacrificing your precious time at Berg Lake to make it back to the trailhead before dark.

In 2025, we returned to hike to Berg Lake Campsite in one day and camp overnight there. We were able to score a last minute cancellation, meaning we just had one precious night at Berg Lake. We hiked to Berg Lake, camped, and hiked out the next day. It took us about 6-7 hours to hike from the visitor centre to Berg Lake with our big packs on our back. We do move faster than average though. Ideally, we would have loved to stay two nights. I would suggest others book at least 2-3 nights if possible.

If camping, you’ll need a full day to hike to Berg Lake with a large backpack and a full day to hike out, leaving the in-between for exciting day hikes. Though many hikers camp at Kinney Lake, Emperor Falls, and the other campsites for a full 5-6 night adventure and to space out the long hike.

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What to Bring on the Berg Lake Trail?

If you are doing a one-day hike like we did the first time, you’ll need at least 2-3 liters of water or a filter to refill along the trail. As well as snacks and a substantial lunch to keep you going throughout the day. We hiked the Berg Lake Trail during a heatwave, so I knew I could get away with shorts, but I brought a packable down jacket and windbreaker, which came in especially handy after I got out of Berg Lake and was chilled for a minute.

If you’re doing a multi-day hike, you want to make sure you have lightweight gear. Everything you bring will be carried on your pack across 42 km and 1,000 meters or so of elevation.

Lightweight gear is almost always more expensive, but it lasts years, and I always find it worth it. My sleeping bag is a Vesper Therm-A-Rest Down Quilt, and , which is great for all seasons in the Rockies. Cameron and I use the MSR Hubba Hubba tent for our multi-day adventures, which is extremely lightweight and durable, which you will need while camping next to a glacier.

The most important item on your backpacking checklist is a hiking backpack. A proper hiking backpack should support the weight of your load and hold everything you need for a trip in the great outdoors.

A good hiking backpack should be comfortable, have a nice design, have proper material, and be the correct volume and weight for your trip. We both use Gregory backpacks. I have the Women’s Gregory Deva and Men’s Gregory Baltoro. As always, don’t forget about bear spray when hiking in the Rockies!

Of course you’ll need to pack in all your own food and a campstove, as well as anything you personally need for overnights.

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How Much Does Hiking the Berg Lake Trail Cost?

Day hiking the Berg Lake Trail is free, but camping is not, and all camping fees must be paid in full when you make your reservation. There are two types of fees – Camping fees, which pay for use of your tent pad and other amenities and Transaction fees, which maintain the reservation service

• Adults – $10 per night
• Kids 6-15 (kids under 6 are free) – $5 per night
• $6 per tent pad, per night with a maximum fee of $18 per tent pad

You can change or cancel your reservation via camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally) 

When booking your reservation, you must specify a named occupant’ who will be your official reservation holder. This can be you or another person, but they must be present when your party arrives and throughout your stay. Reservations cannot be transferred or sold to another party, and any attempt to do so will lead to cancellation without refund.

Remember that a reservation guarantees you a spot in the campground but does not reserve a specific tent pad. Hiking to Berg Lake Campground in one day we arrived very late in the evening and got one of the least desirable campsites in the area.

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When Can You Hike the Berg Lake Trail?

The best time to hike the Berg Lake Trail is between June and the beginning of October. All photos in this article were taken in July and August.

Where to Stay Nearby?

We personally based ourselves in Jasper for our entire Jasper itinerary, and thought it was great as we were only on the Berg Lake Trail for one day and the rest of the time was spent in Jasper.

If you would like to camp nearby, the Robson Meadows Campground and Robson River Campground are close to the trailhead. While you can find a few hotels along the Yellowhead Highway, like the Mount Robson Heritage Cabins and the Mountain River Lodge, there are more options located in Valemount and Tete Jaune Cache. And then of course there are plenty of nice hotels in Jasper to choose from, but they are pricey.

Can You Bring Your Pup?

Only day hikers can bring their dogs, and dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.