Snowbird Pass Route

Dogs No Dogs

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

Snowbird Pass Route is a challenging, rewarding run to Snowbird Pass from any of the Berg Lake area trail camps. Whether or not one gets all the way to Snowbird Pass, there is dramatic beauty all along the way. The Snowbird Pass Route Trailhead is well marked by a trail sign on the Berg Lake Trail.

Snowbird Pass Route starts off flat in the meadows of the Berg Lake Valley. The trail reaches the Robson River almost immediately, and then follows the silt-laden water up to its source at the small, glacier-fed Robson Lake.

Leaving the meadows behind, and now on rock, the trail reaches Robson Lake about 0.9 miles from the trailhead. From here, the trail runs next to Robson Lake to its left. About 1.4 miles from the trailhead, the trail turns left to climb rocks to the top of a glacial moraine. This is a lateral moraine from Robson Glacier that can be seen ahead flowing down into Robson Lake. The trail becomes difficult to follow for about 0.6 miles as it climbs this moraine—look for cairns and red rectangles.

Still climbing the moraine about 2 miles from the trailhead, the trail becomes more obvious as it climbs a few switchbacks to reach the top of the moraine. At this point, the trail is at the far end of Robson Lake that can be seen far below, with Robson Glacier calving into it. Robson Glacier is up close and straight ahead. Snowy Resplendent Mountain and many others are behind Robson Glacier. Rearguard Mountain, with Mt. Robson behind it, is just across Robson Lake/Glacier to the right.

Now up on the moraine, the trail is flat and easy to follow again as it runs along the top of the rocky moraine next to Robson Glacier below. After about a mile on the moraine, a creek is heard ahead. This creek is tumbling down a waterfall from the (unseen) high meadows to the left of the trail. Just before reaching the creek/waterfall about 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail veers left to go up a few switchbacks to get to the high meadows. If you are short of time, or energy, if you make the goal to at least get to this point the hike is still well worth it as the view from this point is one of the best in the area.

Upon reaching the high meadows, the trail follows the creek to the right. Lynx Mountain is ahead to the right and Titkana Peak is in the distance to the left, with Snowbird Pass between them. The trail heads over the meadows toward the pass. About 0.5 miles below the pass, now on rock, the trail makes a final climb to reach Snowbird Pass.