Berg Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berg Lake |
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Berg Lake as viewed from the Mumm Basin
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 Berg Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 53°8′44″N 119°9′28″W / 53.14556°N 119.15778°W |
| Primary inflows | Robson River, Toboggan Creek, Hargreaves Lake Outlet Stream, |
| Primary outflows | Robson River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Settlements | None |
Berg Lake is a beautiful lake found in Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. It sits right at the base of Mount Robson, which is the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. The lake gets some of its water from the Berg Glacier, which is a big sheet of ice.
What makes Berg Lake special is its amazing turquoise color. Even in the middle of summer, you can often see icebergs floating in the water! It's like a giant, natural ice cube tray. To get to this incredible spot, you need to follow a marked hiking trail for about 19 kilometres (12 mi).
You can reach the starting point for the hike by car. If you're coming from Valemount, follow Highway 5 north to Highway 16 and then head east for about 18 kilometres (11 mi). If you're coming from Jasper, take Yellowhead Highway 16 west for about 84 kilometres (52 mi) to the Mount Robson Viewpoint centre. From there, a paved road leads about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the parking lot where your adventure begins!
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Hiking the Berg Lake Trail
The journey to Berg Lake is an exciting adventure itself! The trail is famous for its stunning views and challenging climbs. It follows the Robson River, which eventually flows into the mighty Fraser River.
First Steps: Kinney Lake
The trail starts by gently climbing alongside the Robson River. After about 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi), you'll reach Kinney Lake. This lake is often calm and reflects the surrounding mountains beautifully. After crossing a steel bridge at the end of Kinney Lake, it's just 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) more to the Kinney Lake campground. This is a great spot to rest or even spend the night.
Climbing to the Valley of a Thousand Falls
After leaving Kinney Lake, the trail starts to climb. You'll soon enter a truly amazing area called the Valley of a Thousand Falls. As you hike, you'll pass several impressive waterfalls. These include White Falls, Falls-of-the-Pool, and the powerful Emperor Falls. The sound of the rushing water is incredible!
Reaching Berg Lake
After a steep climb of over 500 metres (1,600 ft) in about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), the trail finally levels out. You'll then get your first amazing views of the Emperor Face of Mount Robson. This is the massive, steep side of the mountain. You'll pass the Emperor campground before continuing on for about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) until you reach the shores of Berg Lake itself. Here, you'll find the Marmot campground. If you keep going for another 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), you'll reach the main Berg Lake campground.
Day Trips from Berg Lake
Once you're at Berg Lake, there are several fantastic day trips you can take to explore even more of this incredible area:
- Hargreaves Glacier/Mumm Basin Traverse: This trip offers amazing views of glaciers and high mountain landscapes.
- Toboggan Falls: A beautiful waterfall that's worth the hike.
- Snowbird Pass: This challenging hike leads to a high mountain pass with breathtaking panoramic views.
There are also a couple more campgrounds further along the trail, called Rearguard and Robson Pass, at the 22 kilometres (14 mi) and 23 kilometres (14 mi) marks.
