Mount Robson Provincial Park Photo: Zeljko Kozomara / CC BY-SA 4.0
Canada › British Columbia

Mount Robson Provincial Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: 1913, the second-oldest park in British Columbia
  • Highest point: Mount Robson, 12,972 feet (3,954 m), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies
  • Relief: more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) from the Fraser River valley to the summit
  • World Heritage: part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO site
  • Gateway: Valemount, about 22 miles (35 km) southwest; Jasper to the east
  • Managed by: BC Parks

The landscape

Mount Robson rises straight out of the Robson Valley, its summit nearly two vertical miles above the Fraser River valley. The park protects the headwaters of the Fraser River, and its north side holds the Berg Glacier, which drops ice into Berg Lake beneath the mountain’s north face. Below the peaks, the Robson River runs through old cedar and hemlock forest and past a chain of waterfalls. Grizzly and black bears, moose, mountain goats and caribou live in the park.

Best time to go

The Berg Lake Trail is at its best from July to mid-September, when the upper trail is snow-free. Weather in the valley can be pleasant while the peak hides in cloud for days, so allow time if you want to see the summit. The highway corridor campgrounds and short walks work from late spring to fall. Winter brings deep snow and real avalanche danger to anything off the highway.

Mount RobsonPhoto: Michael Konen · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Berg LakePhoto: Matt Scobel · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Kinney LakePhoto: Florian Fuchs · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Overlander FallsPhoto: Guenter Wieschendahl · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
Berg Lake TrailPhoto: Joli Rumi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
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Getting there and around

Highway 16 crosses the park for about 39 miles (63 km), linking it to Jasper National Park on the east and Valemount and McBride on the west. The Welcome Centre, campgrounds and Berg Lake trailhead are near the western entrance. The Berg Lake Trail runs about 13 miles (21 km) one way to Berg Lake, and bikes are allowed on the first section only.

Things to do

The Berg Lake Trail is the headline, a multi-day backpack past Kinney Lake and the Valley of a Thousand Falls to camps beneath the north face; strong hikers do the lower section as a day hike. Short walks from the Welcome Centre and campgrounds include the Journey Through Time interpretive trail and salmon-viewing walks along the highway corridor in late summer. Mount Robson itself is a serious mountaineering objective with a low success rate, for experienced climbers only.

Staying safe

The Robson River and its tributaries are fast, cold and silty; never try to wade them. Stay well back from the edge of Berg Lake and the glacier, where falling ice can send waves across the water. Bears use the whole trail, so carry bear spray and use the food lockers at every campground. Mountain weather turns quickly even in summer. There is no cell service beyond the Welcome Centre, so carry paper maps and a satellite messenger, and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

Berg Lake Trail campsites are limited and reserved well ahead, and the trail is prone to flood damage, so check advisories right before you go. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current trail status, reservations and closures with BC Parks before your trip.

Navigation
Coordinates
52.9035, -118.8505
Magnetic declination
15.3° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

81 places in Mount Robson Provincial Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 1

Visitor centre

On the trail 18

Trailhead

Route

Campgrounds

Huts and shelters

Sights 62

Viewpoints

Waterfall

Lakes

Heritage site

Points of interest

Peaks 30

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expeditionMountaineeringWildlife viewing

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
AlpineMountainsGlaciersRiversForest
Key hazards
Fast glacial riversGrizzly and black bearsSudden mountain weatherGlacier and icefall hazardsTrail washoutsCliffs and slippery rock
Best seasons
Summer (July to September), Early fall
Difficulty
Easy to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Highway 16 (the Yellowhead) runs through the park for 39 miles (63 km). The Welcome Centre and Berg Lake trailhead are near the western entrance, about 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Valemount; Jasper is to the east.
Water
Streams throughout; the Berg Lake Trail is under a permanent boil-water advisory, so boil, filter or treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
The Welcome Centre is the only place in the park with cell service; it also has payphones and Wi-Fi. None elsewhere.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911, from the Welcome Centre or by satellite device. Nearest hospitals: McBride (west) and Jasper (east); clinic in Valemount.
Permits & regulations
Backcountry camping on the Berg Lake Trail needs a reservation. Watercraft and wading gear are banned in the park to stop the spread of whirling disease.
Leave No Trace
Camp only at designated Berg Lake Trail campgrounds, use the food lockers, stay on the trail, and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high43°F(6°C)6°C(43°F)
Average low30°F(−1°C)−1°C(30°F)
Rainfall3.8 in(96 mm)96 mm(3.8 in)
Daylight, mid-month10 h 41 minSunrise 7:20 a.m., sunset 6:01 p.m.
  • Below-freezing nights

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

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Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Cariboo Lodge station, 27 miles (43 km)43 km (27 miles) away at 3,595 feet (1,096 m)1,096 m (3,595 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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