The Marathon

The Mount Robson Marathon itself will be two separate races on the Berg Lake Trail - a full marathon (42.2km, 26.6mi) and a half marathon (21.1km, 13.3mi). Both races will start from the Mount Robson Visitor Centre and will be "out-and-back" runs.

The Berg Lake Trail is the most heavily used backcountry trail in the Canadian Rockies, with over 2,000 overnight users each year. The trail is very well maintained, and is mostly hardpacked ground with very few exposed roots or protruding rocks

The half marathon has an elevation gain of only 180m/600ft over the 21.1km distance, with most of the elevation gain evenly spread along the 4km between the Berg Lake Trailhead and Kinney Lake. There are only two short sections (perhaps 200m each) of what could be considered steep uphill.

The marathon has a much greater elevation gain of 825m/2,700ft. The section from Whitehorn Campground to Emporer Falls Campground climbs continuously steeply through the Valley of a Thousand Falls for about 5km, gaining about 500m/1650ft. Most runners will be walking much of this section of the marathon.

Marathon Route Details

• start at Mount Robson Visitor Centre
• 2km flat paved road to Berg Lake trailhead (water station, 15m elevation gain in 2km)
• mostly gradual climb along Robson River through cedar rain forest to Kinney Lake picnic area (aid station, 160m elevation gain in 4km)
• short up and down and then flat along the shore of Kinney Lake to Kinney Lake campground (aid station, no elevation gain in 2.0km)
• gentle incline through forest and onto gravel flats of Robson River and the half-marathon turnaround (water station, 20m elevation gain in 2.0km)
• climb up and then descent down to Whitehorn Campground (aid station, 130m elevation gain in 2km)
• the hard part – up Valley of a Thousand Falls to Emperor Falls Campground (aid station, 500m elevation gain in 5km)
• gradual climb to the shores of Berg Lake and the turnaround (water station, 15m elevation gain in 2km)