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The Berg Lake Trail is a backcountry hiking trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia Canada. The trail, which gains just under 800 m in 23 km, stretches across three biogeoclimatic zones. Due to the trail's stunning scenery, it is one of the most heavily travelled trails in the Canadian Rockies, therefore, if you are planning to hike the trail, making reservations is recommended. Starting from a parking lot near the Visitor Centre, the trail follows the Robson River for most of its length and ends near the Continental Divide, at Robson Pass. The trail, located in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, was built in 1913 at the request of A.O. Wheeler and the British Columbia Government.

History
The region now covered by the Berg Lake Trail is the traditional territory of the Simpcw First Nation, the  Lheidli T'enneh Nation and Red Bluff Indian Band.

Since Mount Robson was first discovered by Europeans it attracted skilled mountaineers. There were several attempts to climb Mount Robson between 1906 and 1909. In 1911, after the railway crossed the Yellowhead Pass A.O. Wheeler, a founder of the Alpine Club of Canada, organized a major summer expedition to the Berg Lake area. This resulted in the first ascent of Whitehorn Mountain by Conrad Kain and the discovery of Arctomys Cave by George Kinney. While there was no attempt to summit Mount Robson, A.O. Wheeler was so affected by the area he initiated a campaign to have the area designated a provincial park and have a trail constructed from the railway to Berg Lake. In the spring of 1913 A.O. Wheeler got the government of British Columbia agree to pay to build a trail to Berg Lake. The trail was built by Donald "Curly" Phillips who was paid $50.00 per mile. The trail switchbacked over the cliffs in the Valley Of A Thousand Falls, but the most amazing feat was a flying trestle bridge around a sheer rock face near Emperor Falls. Phillips was born in Ontario in 1884, and went on to become a leading authority on the mountains of Jasper National Park as a guide and outfitter. The trail was opened in 1913, just in time for the Alpine Club of Canada’s Berg Lake summer camp. During this expedition Mount Robson Provincial Park was created and Mount Robson was first summited by W.W. Foster, A.H. McCarthy and Conrad Kain.

The flying trestle was in use until 1951 when a new section of trail was blasted out of the rock.

Campgrounds
Please keep in mind dogs are permitted on the Berg Lake Trail for day hikes only and must be on leash. Dogs are not permitted on the trail for overnight trips.

Kinney Lake
The Kinney Lake Campground is located at the 7 km mark. It has 14 tent pads, an open air shelter, outhouse and bear resistant food storage. Cycling is permitted to this campground, but not beyond the bicycle storage area, just past the campground. It is an easy hike to the Kinney Lake Campground and is suitable for inexperienced hikers or families with children.

Whitehorn
The Whitehorn Campground is located at the 11 km mark, and is 4 km from the Kinney Lake Campground. It has 22 tent pads, an open air shelter with a wood-burning stove, a composting outhouse and bear resistant food storage. If you continue on the trail past this campground it is recommended you stop and get water since it will not be available as you climb through the Valley Of A Thousand Falls, until you reach Emperor Falls Campground, 5 km up the trail.

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Categories Hiking trails in British Columbia Robson Valley Canadian Rockies

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