Valemount & Mount Robson / Full trip pack
Emperor Falls
- Published distance
- 14.5 km One way only
- Elevation gain
- Not established Cumulative ascent for this outing has not been established.
- Walking time
- See time notes Long full-day outing or stop on a backpacking trip; no separate source duration
- Difficulty
- Unconfirmed
one way to Emperor Falls side-trail junction; spur distance additional
Access and trail reports
Robson watercraft and wading equipment restriction
From May 4, 2026, BC Parks prohibits watercraft and wading equipment throughout Mount Robson Park waters to limit aquatic disease spread. This includes powered and unpowered craft, inflatables, wading clothing and boots. The hiking trails are not closed by this notice.
Reported date not supplied · checked 2026-10-17 · BC Parks
Reports describe the cited dates. An expected reopening date does not establish reopened access.
A short side path descends from the Berg Lake corridor to the powerful Emperor Falls viewpoint. Reaching that junction involves the long approach through Kinney Lake and Whitehorn, so this is a substantial hike from the road.
1. Getting there and parking
From Highway 16, turn into the signed Mount Robson park entrance near the Welcome Centre and follow Kinney Lake Road about 2.3 km to the road-end Berg Lake Trail parking. This is the vehicle access for the whole Berg Lake corridor. The waterfall and upper-basin destinations have no separate road approach.
- From Highway 16 at Mount Robson, follow Kinney Lake Road to its end and the Berg Lake trailhead.
Parking: The road-access trailhead is at the end of Kinney Lake Road near the Mount Robson Welcome Centre. Upper-corridor camps and viewpoints cannot be reached by car.
2. Walking the route
Approach on the Berg Lake Trail past Kinney Lake and Whitehorn campground, then cross the river and continue into the Valley of a Thousand Falls. Climb the steep, rocky section beyond White Falls to the signed Emperor Falls junction. A 2025 trip account describes the viewpoint spur as roughly 150 m each way, descending from the main trail. Return uphill to the junction afterward. The campground named Emperor Falls is farther along the main route, about half a kilometre beyond the junction, and is a different destination from the falls viewpoint. Expect wet rock and exposed river edges around waterfall viewpoints. The distance on this record is measured from the road-end trailhead unless its scope explicitly says otherwise; it is not just the short viewpoint spur.
- Follow the Berg Lake corridor from Kinney Lake Road past Kinney Lake to Whitehorn campground.
- Continue across the rebuilt river crossings into the waterfall valley and begin the steep ascent.
- Continue uphill beyond the White Falls area to the Emperor Falls junction.
- Take the viewpoint spur downhill for about 150 m, then climb back to the junction. Emperor Falls campground is approximately another 500 m uphill on the main route, not at the viewpoint.
The return
Retrace the full approach through Whitehorn and Kinney Lake. The displayed highway-trailhead distance is a one-way approach to Emperor Falls, not a short roadside waterfall walk. Add any viewpoint spur in both directions.
3. Route map
Mapped waterfall viewpoint spur
© OpenStreetMap contributors. Route geometry is available under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. · Line source · Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 · Source-line database: https://hikingprincegeorge.com/data/osm-route-lines.geojson
Partial elevation profile
Partial elevation profile
This chart covers only part of the route. It does not establish the full hike or a return journey.
0.22 km along source section 1 of 1, in its mapped direction.
Approximate 90 m terrain model along this mapped section. Separate sections are not joined. This chart does not measure total trail ascent or establish current access; use the guide’s published outing measurements.
Copernicus GLO-90 terrain elevations via Open-Meteo (CC BY4.0); linework: Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0
Copernicus DEM 2021 GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Linework source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/301569313. Sampled and rounded for display.
Source: https://open-meteo.com/en/licence
Licence: CC BY4.0 elevation data; Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 linework · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Profile source checked: 2026-10-18
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emperor Falls named falls destination | 53.130833 -119.204722 | BC Gazetteer: Emperor Falls | Falls | 53 07 50 N | 119 12 16 W | WGS84 | mapsheet 83E/3
Official named-feature location, not parking or a verified route start. This point supports regional orientation and area forecasts; road directions and distance-to-trailhead must use a separately verified access point. https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/d92224ee-03ef-4904-be53-b677d8e01ac4/resource/69738aa8-2cc0-4975-aec6-4dc2e30990bf/download/bc-gazetteer-2026-08-12.csv |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
Overnight stays on the Berg Lake corridor must use designated campground sites. Peak-season reservations are required, and campfires are prohibited year-round. Dogs are allowed only on leashed day trips, never on an overnight trip; Snowbird Pass excludes dogs entirely.
Water
The Berg Lake corridor has a permanent water-treatment advisory. Treat water before drinking, cooking or other use.
Season and access
The rebuilt corridor reopened in stages after the 2021 damage, with the full route reopening in 2025. Current signs and BC Parks advisories take precedence over older map distances. Winter travel is possible but adds avalanche, snow and ice hazards; it is not the same undertaking as a summer walk.
Winter route
BC Parks allows winter use, but warns of severe winter conditions. Use designated camping areas and check current advisories and avalanche conditions; the summer itinerary is not a validated winter track.
Mobile service
BC Parks reports no mobile-phone service on the trail. Service and Wi-Fi are available at the Welcome Centre.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Reservations and current availability
Check the operator’s current rules, opening dates and booking requirements for your chosen campsite or cabin.
More maps & trail files
Berg Lake corridor to Emperor Falls camp on AllTrails
The hosted map now shows about 31.3 km out and back toward Emperor Falls campground. The falls viewpoint is a side trip before that camp. Older indexed text described the one-way distance; current park access and campsite rules take precedence.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/berg-lake-trail-emperor-falls
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Additional source maps
Map 1: https://nrs.objectstore.gov.bc.ca/kuwyyf/berg_lake_trail_map_fce7c2b377.pdf
Your trip notes
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