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Enjoy a challenging route to a high pass overlooking Reef Icefield with dramatic beauty all along the way.


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Map Key

5.8

Miles

9.3

KM

Point to Point

8,021' 2,445 m

High

5,416' 1,651 m

Low

2,704' 824 m

Up

100' 31 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

36%

Max Grade (20°)

Dogs No Dogs

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

Closed May, June, and possibly July for caribou calving. Check before you go.

Description

Snowbird Pass Route is a challenging, rewarding hike 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.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton with improvements by Carol Boyd

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 3 votes

#723

Overall
  5.0 from 3 votes
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#723

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Photos

Robson Glacier flowing down from Mt. Robson on the right.
Oct 13, 2017 near Valemount, BC
Mt. Robson from the upper meadows, below Snowbird Pass.
Oct 13, 2017 near Valemount, BC
Made it! Titkana Peak rises above Snowbird Pass on the Continental Divide, with the Reef Icefield to the right (east).
Oct 13, 2017 near Valemount, BC
Snowbird Pass looking over to Alberta
Jul 13, 2019 near Valemount, BC
Reef Icefiled looking southeast from Snowbird Pass. Reef Glacier flows southeast down off the edge on the right center of the picture. Steppe Glacier also flows southeast in the upper center of the picture.
Oct 13, 2017 near Valemount, BC
Reef Icefiled looking northeast from just above Snowbird Pass. Coleman Glacier flows north down off the edge in the center of the picture
Oct 13, 2017 near Valemount, BC

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Check-Ins

Jul 1, 2019
Carol Boyd
Opening Day 2019! Miserable weather but this was my only chance to do Snowbird and I'm glad I did. Amazing variety of terrain in only 22 km (RndTrip) 14mi — 6h 00m
Sep 14, 2017
Joan Pendleton
Jun 1, 2016
Derek Fisher
Kathleen Jess and I hiked to the lake for lunch
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