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Without a doubt, Mount Robson and its Berg Lake offer some of the very best of the Canadian Rockies, with dramatic vistas hard to find elsewhere. Mount Robson is the most prominent mountain of the North American Rockies. Camping on the mountain on the shores of Berg Lake, and watching a glacier calve off into the lake, is nothing short of magical.
Even if one has seen the Colorado Rockies, everyone should still visit the Canadian Rockies (they are both dramatic and surprisingly different from each other). Not all the best parts of the Canadian Rockies are in national parks - some of the most dramatic landscapes are protected in provincial parks (like Mount Robson Provincial Park).
What Makes Berg Lake One Of The World's Most Stunning Alpine Lakes
Berg Lake is one of the most stunning locations in the Canadian Rockies. It is on the doorstep of the north face of Mount Robson in the Mount Robson Provincial Park. One runs out of superlatives to describe the prominent Mount Robson and the alpine Berg Lake.
Berg Lake is partly fed by the dramatic Berg Glacier. The glacial waters mean that Berg Lake is dotted with icebergs - even in the middle of summer. In the summer, people can see lush meadows with wildlife and wildflowers on the mountainsides.
The view of the area is dominated by Mount Robson, and at Berg Lake, people see glaciers and icefields up close and personal.
There are two main ways of reaching Berg lake - by hiking or by helicopter.
Once at Berg Lake, there are hikes to Mumm Basin-Hargreaves Glacier, Toboggan Falls, Emperor Falls, and Snowbird Pass.
The Berg Lake Trail - Currently Closed
The Berg Lake Trail is one of the most stunning hiking trails in Canada and runs from the trailhead 19 kilometers or 12 miles up to the lake (one way).
The trail climbs up along the Robson River for around 2.6 miles until it reaches Kinney Lake. It then crosses a steel bridge at the end of the lake, and then it's another 1.7 miles to the Kinney Lake campground.
- Type: Out And Back
- Elevation Gain: 1,397 meters, 4,600 feet
- Length: 37 kilometers or 24 miles
The trail then continues one and climbs up to the Valley of a Thousand Falls, and further along the trail is the Whitehorn campground at the 6.8-mile mark. The trail has numerous switchbacks and passes the spectacular White Falls, Falls-of-the-Pool, and Emperor Falls. There are more campgrounds further along the trail.
While this trail is a must for nature lovers, it is currently closed, and much of it will remain closed for a while. Most of it will remain closed for the 2023 hiking season (except for 14 sites at the Kinney Lake campground).
The rest of the trail has been heavily damaged by extreme weather in 2021. Repairs to the full trail are not going to be complete until 2024.
Still, there are plenty of other excellent trails to hike in Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Take A Helicopter Tour Or Drop-Off To Berg Lake Instead
There are a few companies offering scenic helicopter flights and drop-offs at Berg Lake. With the closing of the Berg Lake Trail, they offer a way to bypass the trail and visit the lake anyway. The nice thing about helicopters is that they can go anywhere.
One of the helicopter tour companies is Robson HeliMagic. They offer custom adventure packages - no matter if it's for wedding photography or to spend a day padding on Berg Lake. Visitors get to skirt across the tops of mighty Canadian glaciers and fly in and above the clouds. Hug the mountainside and see breathtaking valleys and waterfalls as one heads up Mount Robson.
Once at Berg Lake, guests are free to hike to one's heart's content or spend a day or two camping in splendid alpine isolation.
Landings on Mount Robson at Berg Lake are limited to Mondays and Fridays and Tuesdays after long weekends. There are restrictions from the May long weekend to mid-fall. After mid-fall, one can schedule a helicopter landing on any day of the week.
- Landing Hours: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Morning Safety Briefing: 8.00 am
- Cost: $265 Per Person, One-Way, Plus Tax
It is cold up here at the glacial lake - bring plenty of warm clothes.