Quick Facts:

Drive time from Jasper, Alberta: 1 hour
Mileage: approx. 25 miles
Elevation gain: ~4,400 feet
Activities: Backpacking
Estimated time: 3 days
Reservations and fees required here

This trail is located in Mount Robson Provincial Park and is another Canadian backpacking gem. There are established backcountry campsites along the trail, so you have to be sure to reserve those in advance if you plan on staying overnight. The campsites all have bear lockers, running water, grey water pits, outhouses and cooking areas. A few even have ranger stations located at them. Depending on availability, you may not get the itinerary you originally want, but there’s many different ways that you can hike this trail, and it could even be doable as a long trail run.

Prior to starting your hike, you will need to check in at the Mount Robson visitor center to obtain your official permits. Then, you can head to the Berg Lake trailhead to get started (we slept in our car here the night before).

The beginning of the trail is very wide and well-maintained following the Robson River through the forest while gradually gaining minimal elevation, until you reach glassy Kinney Lake. The first campground can be found here, but most backpackers opt to take a snack break on the shore and head to a further camping spot. You’ll continue hiking past the lake in a relatively flat valley with beautiful peaks surrounding you until you reach Whitehorn campground.

Things start to get exciting past Whitehorn, where you start climbing and essentially double your elevation gain in half the distance. Luckily, there are several breathtaking waterfalls along the way that make for perfect spots to take a break, including the famous Emperor Falls. After the stairs, you arrive at Emperor Falls campground.

The trail begins to flatten out after Emperor Falls campground and remains flat until you reach Marmot campground and the shore of Berg Lake, where you’ll be able to see the glaciers on Mount Robson and watch the ice calve. The Berg Lake campground is only a little further and is an easy, flat walk through the forest. This campsite is a popular base camp as there are several side hikes that can be done from this area.