Marathon

The Mount Robson Marathon will be an "out-and-back" run on the world famous Berg Lake Trail. The route passes through several different environmental zones and has its turn-around point on the the shores of magnificent Berg Lake, truly making this marathon a one-of-a-kind experience. The route is actually 46km, or about 4km longer than a true marathon.

The full marathon has an elevation gain of 825m/2,700ft over the 21km to the turn-around point. The section from Whitehorn Campground to Emporer Falls Campground climbs steeply and almost continuously through the Valley of a Thousand Falls for about 5km, with an elevation gain of about 500m/1650ft. Most runners will find themselves walking much of this section.

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.

Marathon Route Overview

• start at Mount Robson Visitor Centre
• 2km flat paved road to Berg Lake trailhead (aid 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 coniferous forest onto the gravel flats of Robson River where the half-marathon turns around (aid station, 20m elevation gain in 2.0km)
• moderately steep incline followed by descent 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 then along the lake to the turnaround at Hargreaves Shelter (aid station, 15m elevation gain in 4km)