There’s no doubt about it, the Canadian Rockies are gorgeous and one of the highlights of Canada. Photos of Moraine Lake and Lake Louise inspire millions to make the trip to Banff National Park. But did you know Banff National Park gets more than 4 million visitors per year?!? So imagine hundreds of people in that photo. If you want to experience the Canadian Rockies for free and without the crowds, head to British Columbia to Mount Robson Provincial Park, the perfect alternative to Banff! The following is everything you can see in one day at Mount Robson Provincial Park.
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Free Entry, Free Parking
Unlike Banff, which costs $19.60 per day, Mount Robson park is free for entry and free for parking! The only fees are for camping.
The Best Views in Mount Robson Provincial Park
- The view from Highway 16. I will not forget the moment I first turned the corner and got my view of Mount Robson. It brought tears to my eyes.
- Park entrance sign on Highway 16. I don’t normally stop to take pictures of the entry sign for parks, but the Mount Robson sign is a mountain goat. With the mountain in the background and a big parking lot to pull off the side of the highway, the entrance sign is a great photo op!
- There’s a postcard view from the Mount Robson Visitor Center. Make sure you stop into the visitor center for information on the area – they have loads of maps and info. They even gave me some coupons good for area attractions.
- Kinney Lake. This might be the best view in the park. It has it all – an icy blue lake, colorful stones, glaciers, and waterfalls. This view requires a hike…
The Best Hike in Mount Robson Provincial Park
If you have only one day to do a hike, you MUST do the hike to Kinney Lake. The Kinney Lake Hike shares the same trail as the Berg Lake Trail. The Berg Lake Trail is considered a difficult hike, but the portion to Kinney Lake would be considered easy/moderate. This walk can be done in about 3 hours and is just under 3 miles one-way, climbing approximately 400 feet. The biggest challenge for this hike may be the parking – if you visit mid-day when there’s nice weather, you may need to a quarter to half mile away (overflow parking on the west side of the road to the trailhead). Insider tip: take toilet paper or tissues with you. The toilets along this trail are not stocked with paper.
Don’t Just View the Scenery – Check Out the Small Stuff
The hikes in Mount Robson Provincial Park go through old-growth forest. Check out the plants in the forest. The ferns and fungi are amazing! And when near Mount Kinney, look in the rock falls for pikas – little rodents with big ears and no tail.
Mount Robson – Where to Stay
If you’re camping, you can stay at the Mount Robson Campground. It’s one of the nicest and most posh campgrounds in the British Columbia parks system is at Mount Robson Provincial Park. If you’re looking for a hotel, you should definitely stay in Valemount (Check Rates and Availability). Lots of restaurants and other services there.
Getting to Mount Robson
If you’re heading to Mount Robson from the west – Prince George, you should definitely take the detour to Dunster, it will definitely take you off the beaten path!
Do you suggest other things to do in one day in Mount Robson Provincial Park? Leave your comments below.
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