The Robson River is a short but swift, rapid & waterfall-infested river in Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia.[1] It is a tributary of the Upper Fraser River & it originates near Robson Pass, which divides the Robson River & the headwaters of the Smoky River drainage. There are 3 lakes along the river’s course as well as 4 waterfalls.
Course
Robson Lake to Berg Lake
The Robson River begins in Robson Lake, which is located at the toe of the Robson Glacier. After exiting the lake, the river flows northwest then southwest before entering Berg Lake. Before entering Berg Lake, the river widens & splits into many small streams before flowing into the northeast end of Berg Lake.
Berg Lake to Kinney Lake
The river exits the southwest end & flows west for about 2.3 km until dropping over spectacular Emperor Falls, a 150 foot plunge at the head of a short (1.6 km long) but impressive canyon that sees the river thunder over 2 more large & powerful waterfalls. The first is Falls of the Pool, which comes about halfway down the gorge & at the end of the canyon is White Falls, a multi-tiered waterfall that cannot be seen in its entirety from the main trail. All these falls are collectively known as the Valley of a Thousand Falls. The river continues south from White Falls for another 3.3 km before entering Kinney Lake, which sits directly at the base of the Robson River’s namesake peak, Mount Robson. Between Berg & Kinney Lakes, the river loses 2185 feet of elevation, much of which is lost in the gorge between Emperor & White Falls. Once again, prior to entering another lake, this time Kinney, the river spreads out very wide & divides into many braids before flowing into the lake.
Kinney Lake to the Fraser River
The Robson exits Kinney Lake at its south end & flows southwest for about 7.3 km to its confluence with the Fraser, about 3.5 km below Overlander Falls & about 1.7 km above the mouth of Swiftcurrent Creek. About halfway between Kinney Lake & the Fraser is Knowlton Falls, the first waterfall seen on the Berg Lake Trail. About 0.6 km above the Fraser, the Yellowhead Highway crosses the river.
In total, the river loses 2852 feet of elevation between Robson Lake & the Fraser River, ¾ of which is lost between Berg & Kinney Lakes.
Hiking
The main hiking trail in the area is the Berg Lake Trail, which begins at the Yellowhead Highway near the mouth of the Robson. It goes all the way to its namesake lake, where the trail splits into more trails. Reaching Berg Lake is usually a multi-day trip. However, it is possible and it is done in a single day by some.
Not everyone chooses to go all the way to Berg Lake though. Some will settle with a much quicker but still satisfying trip to Kinney Lake. Bikes are permitted all the way up to Kinney Lake and a ways beyond. Part way down the shore of the lake is a bike lock-up. From here, anyone continuing to go further upriver has to go on foot.
The Berg Lake trail also gives hikers looks at the Robson’s waterfalls. Knowlton Falls is seen about halfway between the trailhead & Kinney Lake while hikers can stare into the canyon at White Falls & Falls of the Pool as the trail climbs toward Berg Lake.[2]