Hiking
Once you arrive at your destination, stop, rest and cross A trail off your to-hike list.
For more detailed information on hiking trails around Valemount and Mount Robson check out our trails website!
Choose Your Own Adventure
Look up and marvel at the snow-capped peaks, glacial outcrops, alpine meadows, raging rivers and misty waterfalls. It’s time to discover what awaits around the next corner. Hiking in Valemount is well worth the effort and it’s the ideal landing spot for hikers of all skills and fitness levels. Take a day or a week and explore the hundreds of kilometres of trails that wind throughout Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Heli-Hike in Style
Arrive at the top of the mountain in style by booking a heli-hiking tour. Drink in the sights of the Valley of a Thousand Falls, Emperor Falls and Berg and Kinney lakes. Watch in awe as glaciers calf into the turquoise waters of the lake. When the sun begins to set, climb aboard the helicopter and soar back down the mountain. The ride up makes it easy for hikers of all ages and fitness levels to explore the alpine and appreciate the views.
Casual and Carefree
Take a casual stroll down a well marked, lake-side path and spend a carefree afternoon picnicking in the woods with the kids. Take your time and discover our gentle, easy climbs. Great for families and beginners.
Marshes and Mines
Bring the binoculars and relax on the Cranberry Marsh Loop. There are wildlife viewing platforms for the most spectacular bird watching opportunities in the region.
The Mica Mine Trail is a 4.5 km (3 mi), one-way trip back in time. Explore the old mine site where in the 1890s horses were used to haul mica down the mountain. Mica Mountain is also the location of William Roe’s famous Sasquatch sighting back in October 1955. Keep your eyes peeled, just in case!
Serious Stomping Ground
The Selwyn Traverse Trail, will take you on an 11 km (7 mi), one-way journey across small creeks and through cedar forests. Head to the McKirdy Summit Trail, which branches off the Selwyn Trail. Manoeuvre through the boulder field and reach the peak. Panoramic views of the Monashee, Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges can be had from the 13 km (8 mi) Canoe Mountain trip. If the climb doesn’t leave you breathless, the views will. Stop above the alpine lake (about 1 km from the summit) and have a well deserved break.
Rocky Mountain High
Old growth forests, deafening waterfalls and wildflower meadows mingle with steep climbs and dramatic descents — Mount Robson Provincial Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its hiking opportunities. Catch sight of mule and whitetail deer as they roam unhindered through the forest, which is also home to caribou, mountain goat and even grizzly bears. Mount Robson Provincial Park isn’t a place you spend a day. Spend a week or more here, camp under the stars and meet new friends along the way. People come from across the globe to experience the epic hike to Berg Lake.
Hike Amongst Wildlife
You’ll see plenty of wildlife on your Valemount hikes. Over 180 species of birds make Mount Robson Provincial Park their home. Cranberry Marsh is located along a major migration route where more than 140 species of birds touch down each year. Birds include: hawks, eagles, geese, ducks, swifts, woodpeckers, sandpipers, owls, finches, vireos, flycatchers, chickadees, bluebirds and warblers. The bi-annual Mount Robson Bird Blitz happens in June. To experience the true magic of the marsh, come at sunrise or at dusk in spring or in the fall.
There have been 42 species of mammals found in the park, from the wetland-loving moose and valley-hugging deer, to the mountain goats in the alpine tundra. Both black and grizzly bear make a home in the park, as do elk, deer, wolf, coyote and caribou.
Top Ways to Take the Road Less Travelled
- Reserve a campsite, ride your mountain bike to Kinney Lake in Mount Robson Provincial Park, lock up the bike and carry on the rest of the way to the Whitehorn Campground on foot.
- Grab your binoculars and walk the route around Cranberry Marsh Loop, where you’ll see hundreds of birds who call the Cranberry Marsh their home.
- Book a heli-hiking tour with Robson HeliMagic, fly to Berg Lake and spend the rest of the day stretching your legs and breathing in that alpine air
- Get the family involved, pack a picnic lunch and hike to Little Lost Lake. Spend the afternoon swimming, fishing or just playing on the beach
- Make some worldly friends! International travellers head to Mount Robson Provincial Park in droves to hike the Canadian Rockies
- Work up a sweat climbing the Mount Trudeau Trail — dotted with meandering creeks and wildflowers — and cool off when you reach the first lake.
- Take in some history while hiking the Mica Mine Trail, a 4.5 km (3 mi) trip back in time. Explore the old mine site, enjoy the westerly view of the Premier Mountain Range and investigate the area in which William Roe had his famous Sasquatch sighting in 1955
- Drink in that view! Tackle the McKirdy Summit Trail that branches off the Selwyn Travers Trail. Scrabble your way through the boulder field to reach the peak, where you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Monashee, Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges
- Fly into Mallard Mountain Lodge with the Canadian Adventure Company and have llamas carry your load and enjoy the ultimate Sherpa experience on day hike trips
Need To Know
- Pick up a copy of the Valemount and Area Trail Maps at the Visitor Centre or at one of the local shops, restaurants or hotels
- Choose a trail that suits your fitness level
- Weather can change dramatically in early spring as do trail conditions.
- Hiking poles or walking sticks come in handy when hiking the alpine
- Give wildlife space, and never feed wildlife. Even if it doesn’t appear dangerous, it could be in the right circumstances
- Be prepared for sudden weather changes — dress accordingly
- Bring insect repellent and be aware that ticks come out in early spring
- Always pack a first-aid kit
- Pack it in and pack it out — if you’re bringing lunch, make sure to take your empty food and drink containers with you.
- Never go alone. Leave an itinerary with someone and report upon your return and always travel in pairs
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are essential for hiking Valemount, as the blue skies will leave you squinting
- Even if you don’t plan to spend the night, bring extra food, water and a change of clothes just in case.
When to Go
- Our hiking season gets underway as soon as the snow melts in May.
- Come in mid-summer for ideal bird-watching, and in late summer to see the Chinook salmon spawn.
- Alpine blossoms begin in mid-to-late May and persist throughout the summer months and into the fall.
