The Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is widely considered one of the finest backcountry routes in Canada. A 22 km trail through old-growth rainforest, past thundering waterfalls, and into a high alpine valley where icebergs calve from an active glacier into a turquoise lake beneath the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
It's also one of the most difficult backcountry permits to obtain in British Columbia. Campsites sell out within minutes of opening. But there are strategies that work — here's everything you need to know.
About the Berg Lake Trail
The Berg Lake Trail begins at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre on Highway 16, 8 km west of Valemount and 85 km west of Jasper. The trail is 22 km one-way (44 km return), though most hikers do it as a multi-day trip with camps along the route rather than returning the same way.
Elevation gain: Approximately 800 metres over the full trail Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous Best season: Mid-June to early October Recommended trip length: 3–5 days
The trail passes through several dramatically different landscapes:
Lower section (0–7 km): Old-growth cedar and hemlock forest along the Robson River. Relatively flat, with good views of Mount Robson above. Kinney Lake at 7 km is the first major destination.
Valley of a Thousand Falls (7–17 km): The dramatic middle section where the trail steepens and waterfalls cascade from every direction. Emperor Falls at 14 km is one of the most powerful falls in BC — a highlight of the entire route.
Berg Lake (17–22 km): The upper valley opens into a stunning alpine landscape. Berg Lake sits at the base of the Mist Glacier, which calves icebergs into the lake year-round. Mount Robson towers above — when visible. The "Cloud Cap Mountain" earns its nickname; the summit is clear perhaps 30% of the time.
Campgrounds on the Berg Lake Trail
There are six designated camping areas along the trail, all requiring advance reservations through Discover Camping.
Kinney Lake Campground (7 km)
The first campground on the trail, on the shores of Kinney Lake. A beautiful destination in its own right — even accessible as a day hike from the trailhead. Good for those who want to split the trail over more days or for families doing a shorter version of the trip.
Sites: Approximately 10 tent pads Facilities: Bear poles, pit toilets Setting: Forested lakeside with views across the lake to the surrounding peaks
Whitehorn Campground (11 km)
A midpoint campground above the Kinney Lake section but before the Valley of a Thousand Falls. Good for spreading the trip over 4+ days.
Sites: Small number of tent pads Facilities: Bear poles, pit toilets
Emperor Falls Campground (14 km)
Named for the spectacular Emperor Falls visible from the trail. A popular stopping point for 3-day itineraries (camp here on night 2).
Sites: Approximately 10 tent pads Facilities: Bear poles, pit toilets Note: The roar of Emperor Falls is audible from camp — both magnificent and persistent
Berg Lake Campground (17 km)
The main destination. Right on the shores of Berg Lake with direct views of the Mist Glacier and Mount Robson. Multiple camping zones around the lake.
Sites: The largest campground on the trail, with multiple zones — Marmot, Hargreaves, and Berg Lake itself Facilities: Bear poles, pit toilets, food storage area Setting: Open alpine terrain with extraordinary views. Exposed to weather — a good tent is essential.
Robson Pass Campground (22 km)
At the far end of the trail at the British Columbia / Alberta border. The most remote campground, for those doing a full traverse or extending into Jasper National Park.
Sites: Small number of tent pads Facilities: Basic — bear poles, pit toilets
How to Book Berg Lake Trail Permits
The Booking System
Berg Lake Trail camping permits are reserved through discovercamping.ca — BC Parks' reservation system. You book specific campgrounds for specific nights.
Important: You must book each night's campground separately. Plan your full itinerary before attempting to book — knowing exactly which campground you need each night makes the process much faster.
When Does the Booking Window Open?
BC Parks releases Berg Lake Trail permits on a rolling basis, 90 days before each arrival date, at 7 AM Pacific Time.
Check the BC Parks website each year for the exact season opening — some years there is a specific date when the entire season opens at once rather than rolling 90 days.
Opening Day Strategy
Berg Lake Trail permits are among the most competitive in all of BC Parks. On opening day for popular summer dates:
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Prepare your account in advance: Create your Discover Camping account at discovercamping.ca days or weeks before you need to book. Verify it, save your payment information, and test logging in.
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Plan your full itinerary: Know exactly which campgrounds you need for each night before 7 AM. Decide: will you do 3 nights, 4 nights, or 5 nights? Which campgrounds on which nights? Having this decided in advance saves critical seconds.
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Be logged in before 7 AM: Have discovercamping.ca open, logged in, and with your search ready.
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Book each night simultaneously if possible: Open multiple browser tabs and search for each night's campground at the same time. Berg Lake is so competitive that losing 30 seconds between bookings can mean missing a night.
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Have backup dates ready: If your first-choice dates are gone, immediately try the following week.
Catching Cancellations
If you miss the opening window — or if your dates appear fully booked — cancellations are your best alternative.
People who booked Berg Lake months in advance cancel regularly as plans change: injuries, schedule conflicts, weather aversion, changing finances. When someone cancels, their site immediately returns to Discover Camping's available inventory.
Campgetter monitors BC Parks availability every 5 minutes, around the clock. When a Berg Lake cancellation appears for your target dates, you get an instant email notification. Many campers have gotten into "impossible" Berg Lake slots this way.
For Berg Lake specifically:
- Start monitoring as early as possible — the sooner you set it up, the more cancellations you'll have a chance to catch
- Monitor all Berg Lake campgrounds if you're flexible on which section of the lake to stay at
- Have your complete itinerary planned so you can book all nights quickly when a cancellation appears
- Act immediately when the alert arrives — Berg Lake permits don't last long once they reappear
Planning Your Berg Lake Itinerary
3-Night Itinerary (Most Common)
- Night 1: Emperor Falls or Whitehorn
- Night 2: Berg Lake or Marmot
- Night 3: Berg Lake or Hargreaves
- Hike out on day 4
4-Night Itinerary (Recommended)
- Night 1: Kinney Lake
- Night 2: Emperor Falls
- Night 3: Berg Lake
- Night 4: Berg Lake or Marmot (rest day at the lake)
- Hike out on day 5
5-Night Itinerary (For Those Who Want to Linger)
- Night 1: Kinney Lake
- Night 2: Whitehorn
- Night 3–4: Berg Lake (two nights to fully explore the upper valley)
- Night 5: Emperor Falls (on the way out)
- Hike out on day 6
What to Pack for Berg Lake
The Berg Lake Trail passes through several climate zones and weather can change rapidly, even in summer.
Shelter:
- A four-season tent or a robust three-season tent with good rain fly coverage
- Sleeping bag rated to 0°C or colder — nights at Berg Lake can be cold even in August
- Sleeping pad with good insulation rating
Rain gear:
- Waterproof jacket and pants — the Valley of a Thousand Falls earns its name
- Waterproof pack cover or dry bags for all gear
Food and cooking:
- Camp stove and sufficient fuel for your full trip
- All food must be stored in provided bear poles — not in your tent
- Water filter or purification tablets
- Bear spray — mandatory in this area
Footwear:
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support
- Camp shoes or sandals for around camp
Navigation:
- Download offline maps (AllTrails, Gaia GPS) before leaving — no cell service
- Paper map as backup
Optional but recommended:
- Trekking poles — very helpful on the steeper sections
- Gaiters for the snowfields that may persist into July
- Binoculars for watching the glacier and wildlife
Wildlife on the Berg Lake Trail
Grizzly bears: Present throughout the trail. Bear spray is mandatory, not optional. Follow all food storage protocols.
Black bears: Also common, especially in the lower forested sections.
Moose: Frequently seen along the Robson River and near Kinney Lake.
Mountain caribou: Occasionally spotted in the upper valley near Berg Lake — a rare and special sighting.
Hoary marmots: Common at higher elevations near Berg Lake.
Steller's jays and Clark's nutcrackers: Will visit your camp looking for food — keep food properly stored.
Weather and Conditions
Mount Robson creates its own weather. The mountain intercepts moisture-laden air from the Pacific, resulting in a climate that is wetter and cloudier than many other areas of the Rockies.
What this means:
- Rain is possible on any day, including otherwise sunny forecast days
- The summit of Mount Robson is clear perhaps 30% of the time — don't base your trip on seeing the peak
- Snow can fall at Berg Lake elevation even in July and August
- The Valley of a Thousand Falls section can have significant spray from waterfalls even on dry days
Best weather windows: Late July through early September generally offers the most stable weather, but there are no guarantees. Pack for rain regardless of the forecast.
Getting to Mount Robson Provincial Park
The Mount Robson Visitor Centre and Berg Lake trailhead are located on Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway):
- From Jasper, Alberta: 85 km west on Highway 16. Approximately 1 hour.
- From Valemount, BC: 8 km east on Highway 16. Approximately 10 minutes.
- From Prince George, BC: 290 km east on Highway 16. Approximately 3 hours.
- From Vancouver: Approximately 11–12 hours via Highway 1 and Highway 5 to Highway 16.
Most hikers doing the Berg Lake Trail overnight in Jasper or Valemount the night before their start day.
Trailhead parking: The visitor centre has a reasonably sized parking lot. Arrive by 8 AM on summer days to ensure a spot.
Mandatory Orientation
All Berg Lake Trail hikers must attend a mandatory orientation session at the visitor centre before beginning the trail. This typically takes 15–20 minutes and covers bear safety, food storage requirements, and Leave No Trace practices.
The visitor centre is open daily during the summer season. Check BC Parks for current hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do Berg Lake as a day hike? Technically possible but not recommended. The round trip is 44 km with 800 m elevation gain — an extremely long and demanding day. Almost everyone who visits Berg Lake camps overnight.
Is there cell service on the trail? No. Download offline maps before you leave and inform someone of your itinerary and expected return date.
Are campfires allowed? No. Campfires are not permitted on the Berg Lake Trail. Bring a camp stove.
What if it's raining when I arrive? Go anyway (within reason). Rain in the Valley of a Thousand Falls is spectacular. The falls are dramatically more powerful in wet conditions. Pack waterproof gear and embrace it.
Can I extend into Jasper National Park? Yes, from Robson Pass Campground you can continue into Jasper. This requires a separate backcountry permit from Parks Canada for the Jasper portion. Plan well in advance.
Bottom Line
Berg Lake Trail is one of the bucket-list hikes of Canada. The combination of old-growth forest, dramatic waterfalls, and the extraordinary setting of Berg Lake makes it worth every effort.
Book the moment the window opens. If you miss it, set up cancellation monitoring immediately. Flexibility on dates — especially mid-week arrivals — dramatically improves your chances.