Mount Robson & The Berg Lake Trail

Day 1: Pre-Trip Briefing at Robson Meadows Campground
At 7:00 pm, we’ll meet at the Mt Robson Welcome Centre before heading over to the Robson Meadows Campground for a relaxed evening get-together to prepare for the adventure ahead. We’ll review equipment, distribute group food, talk through potential hazards and weather, and walk through the itinerary for the week so everyone feels confident and ready before heading to Mount Robson.

Overnight at Robson Meadows Campground.

Day 2: Fly to Robson Pass and Berg Lake
From the nearby helipad, we fly 15 minutes to the northern side of Mount Robson, landing near Robson Pass (1600m). While mere minutes separate us from the road we couldn’t feel further away. Across Berg Lake, the icefalls cloaking Mount Robson keep up a cacophony of falling ice. Sitting above treeline and framed by expansive, tundra-like meadows, this area offers a truly spectacular alpine experience.

After setting up camp, which will be home for the next two nights, we can walk over to Berg Lake and soak up views for the rest of the day.

Day 3: Alpine Day Hike from Berg Lake
Today we enjoy a full day of hiking in the heart of Mount Robson Provincial Park, with our objective chosen based on weather, conditions, and group energy. Options may include a hike to Snowbird Pass, one of the finest routes in the area, traveling through alpine meadows and expansive moraines to reach the pass and take in superb views of the Reef and Robson Glaciers and the eastern flanks of Mount Robson (21.6 km | 780 m elevation gain).

Alternatively, we may hike to Mumm Basin, heading north of Berg Lake for outstanding views of Berg Lake and the dramatic North Face of Mount Robson. Conditions permitting, the route may continue with a high traverse toward the Hargreaves Glacier, creating a scenic loop back to Berg Lake (14.8 km | 500 m elevation gain).

Day 4: Berg Lake – Whitehorn
Well, we can’t put off the backpacking forever, and now it’s time to head down the valley. Carrying our personal gear and a share of group camping gear, we hike down the valley past three major waterfalls: White Falls, Falls of the Pool, and the magnificent Emperor Falls to arrive at Whitehorn Camp where we spend the night. Distance 11.5km. Elevation loss 525m.

Day 5: Whitehorn to the road, return to Canmore
After a leisurely start, we descend into the lower valley, skirting the tranquil waters of Kinney Lake and hiking through the shade of lush British Columbian rainforest. Four hours later, we arrive at the trailhead, marking the end of our journey.  Distance 10.9km. Elevation loss 265m.

Itinerary Disclaimer: Please note that the itinerary listed above may be subject to change based on mountain conditions and/or campsite availability. Every effort will be made to operate tours as planned, but changes may occur. We do our very best to follow the same trails as listed in the itinerary, with only minor changes to the daily distances and/or campsites. Your confirmed itinerary will be provided in your pre-trip email, 1 week prior to departure. In the rare case of  a significant change to the itinerary, you will be notified immediately. Please feel to contact us with any questions.

Meeting Place and Time

We will meet you at the Mt Robson Welcome Centre at 7:00 pm on the evening of Day 1.

See this map for location.

Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.

Accommodation and Meals

On the trail you will be sharing modern, lightweight 2- and 3-person weather-proof tents.

Accommodation is included at all campgrounds.

We supply all meals and trail snacks from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 5.

Trail cuisine is constructed from lightweight ingredients including our Yamnuska custom-made dehydrated dinners.

For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, there is a surcharge.  Our kitchen staff will assess your restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.

Please let us know the details by filling out a Food Questionnaire when you sign up for the program.

Guides and Group Size

Yamnuska Mountain Adventure guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Our professional guides have extensive experience in the Canadian Rockies. Guides also have advanced wilderness first aid training and heritage interpretation accreditation. Guides carry emergency equipment including a first aid kit, bear spray, and radio.

There will be a maximum of eight guests and a minimum of three.

Yamnuska is licensed to operate in Mount Robson Provincial Park by B.C. Parks.

Getting to Mt Robson and Transportation

Transportation is not included.

Mount Robson Park is in east-central British Columbia, just west of the Alberta border and Jasper National Park. The park is approximately:

• Four hours north of Kamloops on Highway 5
• Three-and-a-half hours east of Prince George on Highway 16
• Five hours west of Edmonton on Highway 16

The closest communities are Jasper, Valemount, and McBride. There are commercial airports in Prince George, Kamloops, and Edmonton. Rental vehicles are available at the airports.

Park Passes

Please note that to reach the program venue guests may travel through Jasper National Park. Guests are required to purchase their own park pass.

Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Equipment and Clothing

We supply group camping and cooking equipment, as well as an emergency communication device, trip food, bear spray, water purification equipment, and a full expedition emergency first-aid kit. You will need to bring personal backpacking equipment and clothing. When purchasing gear consider both functionality as well as weight. Lightweight packs, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, and clothing are readily available and will lighten your load substantially.

What you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience. Please take the time to read the information below. Make sure you have all your clothing and gear before you arrive, and reserve any rentals with us in advance. Your guide will go through your clothing and gear with you prior to the trip.

Clothing List

When hiking in the mountains, it is important to be able to adjust to the changing conditions. We recommend bringing clothing that can be layered to achieve comfort as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.

You will need to bring:

• Wool or fleece hat/toque 
• Sunhat – Wide brim or baseball style
• Long underwear top and bottoms – Lightweight synthetic or merino wool
• Socks – Preferably a synthetic/merino wool blend. Bring at least three pairs.
• Light Synthetic Shirt
• Jacket – A midweight synthetic
• Insulated Jacket – synthetic or down jacket
• Waterproof / Breathable Rain Jacket
• Rain Pants – Also waterproof/breathable. Ideally with side zips, so they can be put on without taking off your boots.
• Hiking Pants – Preferably windproof and quick drying. No blue jeans or cotton pants.
• Light Gloves / Mitts
• Light Footwear – Crocs, Tevas, or running shoes for the occasional creek crossing and use around camp.

Equipment List

You will need to bring:

• Boots – Spend some time walking around in your boots before you arrive for your trip and get used to how they feel. They should have good ankle support and tread, with sturdy soles. Your boots will make or break your holiday so some time getting used to them is time well spent. Ensure they have been waterproofed or have a good waterproof liner material.
• Gaiters – Recommended early & late season. Really help to keep feet dry, keep socks and pants clean from mud and keep debris out of your boots.
• Large Backpack – This should be between 55 and 75 Liter capacity depending on the bulk of your personal gear and length of the trip. In it, you will carry your clothing, sleeping bag, and mat, plus your share of group camping gear and food which is typically an extra 10 – 20 litres of space. Lightweight packs with good suspension are recommended. If bringing an additional day pack, this should be very light and compressible in order to fit inside the bigger pack on the approach hike.
• Pack Cover – This should be waterproof and large enough to cover the outside of your pack to keep the contents dry in a rainstorm. You can also line the inside of your stuff sacks with plastic bags to keep gear dry.
• Sleeping Bag – We recommend a ‘3 season’ bag rated 0ºC to –6ºC as temperatures can drop to below freezing at night. Make sure you bring a stuff sac lined with a plastic garbage bag that will reduce your bag to its minimum size (i.e. one with compression straps). This will provide enough space in your pack for everything else.  A down bag will be lighter and more compressible for the weight than a synthetic bag.
• Sleeping Mat – Lightweight “Therm-a-rest” mats are recommended (Not Required on Wapta Ice Hike and Lake O’Hara Hiking Tour).
• Pillow – A small, compressible pillow or a spare stuff sack into which you can stuff extra clothes to create a pillow.
• Trekking Poles – Must be collapsible.
• Sunglasses – With 100% UV protection and a hard case.
• Headlamp – With fresh batteries
• Water Bottle / Bladder – 1-2 litre capacity.
• Blister Kit – Moleskin, Second Skin, etc.
• Personal First Aid Kit – Our guide carries a group first aid kit so keep this small. Band-Aids, Tylenol/ibuprofen, etc.
• Camera
• Sun Block & Lip Balm – Extra strength with UV protection.
• Personal Toiletries including hand sanitizer– Keep to a minimum with no scented items.
• Insect repellent

Contact us if you have any questions or concerns or check out our latest video on how to pack your backpack.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A 35% deposit CDN (including GST) is required at the time of booking. The final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the trip.

For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.

Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for a waiver copy.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons, business, family, flight delays, injuries, and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.