Kinney Lake is a stunning, bright turquoise lake on the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park. The trail begins near the Mount Robson Visitor Centre, located just 1 hour west of Jasper, in British Columbia. Berg Lake is a 40 km, world-renowned backpacking route in the backcountry of Mount Robson. Campsites are available for reservation in early December and spaces fill quickly.
Kinney Lake is the first lake on the trail to Berg Lake and can be done as a day hike as well. We visited Mount Robson over the August long weekend and got to do the hike to Kinney Lake on Saturday afternoon. The weather was on and off rainy, though we did get some sun at the lake before a large storm rolled in. The trail is easy, with a moderate distance, and suitable for a range of skill levels as well as families.
Kinney Lake Hike Summary
- Difficulty:Â Easy-Moderate
- Distance:Â 14.1 km round trip
- Elevation:Â 473 metres
- Trail type:Â Out-and-back
- Time:Â 3-4 hours
- Trailhead:Â Berg Lake Trailhead
Take the turn off the Yellowhead Highway (highway 16) at the Mount Robson Visitor Centre. Follow the signs for Berg Lake on Kinney Lake Road. Park at the lot at the end of the road.
Detailed Trail Description
The trail to Kinney Lake starts at the Berg Lake Trailhead. Parking can be difficult, especially on a busy weekend. Try to get to the lot early to get a parking spot.
We started the trail in the early afternoon, lucky to find a spot in the busy parking lot. The trail begins with a bridge from the parking lot crossing over Robson Creek. Then, the trail follows the creek, curving through the mountains to the lake. Here, the trail is wide, with enough space for around 5 people to walk side-by-side. There is a gradual elevation gain, but overall the trail is fairly flat and easy.
Kilometres 1-4: The Forest Section
Along the trail we saw kilometre markers, so we always knew exactly how far we’d gone. The first 4 kilometres pass through a thick, forested region.
Around the first kilometre marker, we passed signs of the avalanche that had swept across the trail in the spring. The trail was completely clear of any debris, but there were still signs of downed trees in the area.
As we continued on, the trail wove through the forest near Robson Creek. At some points the creek thundered by, while other sections of the forest were quite tranquil.
Kilometres 4-6: Around Kinney Lake
About 100 metres after reaching the 4th kilometre marker, we reached another bridge crossing Robson Creek. Here the creek is calm, flat, and blue. From the bridge, you can see the edge of Kinney Lake. There is a fork in the trail where you can take the scenic route along the lake shore or the more direct route along Berg Lake Trail.
We decided to take the scenic route, passing a couple of picnic tables in use on the edge of the lake. Then, we continued along the trail, following the lake shore to the Kinney Lake Campground, our lunch spot.
At the end of the detour, we followed the trail up a short series of switchbacks, climbing to the trail where the shore was too steep. Here we passed the 5th kilometre marker. Shortly after that, the trail descends back to the shore. We made our way through some rocky terrain and across a small creek with a wooden and metal temporary bridge. Then, we arrived at Kinney Lake Campground, a little passed the kilometre 6 marker.
We ate a late lunch at one of the picnic tables at the campground, enjoying the nice weather. After eating, the sky began to darken as a thunderstorm rolled in. We got into our rain gear and began the hike back out, but were quickly caught in a downpour. There was thunder which echoed gloriously off the surrounding mountains.
Once we reach kilometre 4, the thunder subsided and we made our way back to the trailhead as quickly as possible, given the continuous rain. Our total time spent on the trail was 4 hours, with a 40 minute lunch break. We did take our dog and our friends hiked with their baby, both which did well on the trail. If you do plan to hike with pets, it’s important to note that they must be on leash at all times and are not permitted to stay overnight at any of the campgrounds.