Mount Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, at 3,954 metres, and the way it appears from the Yellowhead Highway is something you remember. The mountain rises about three thousand metres above the valley floor in a series of huge, banded cliffs and glaciers, and it is often wrapped in cloud, which makes the moment when it clears all the more dramatic. The Yellowhead Highway, Highway 16, runs right beneath it, and a visitor centre and viewpoint give an unobstructed look on a clear day.
The mountain lies in Mount Robson Provincial Park, in British Columbia, just west of Yellowhead Pass, which marks the border with Alberta and the Continental Divide. The Fraser River, the longest in British Columbia, begins its long journey to the Pacific in the park, and the trail to Berg Lake, one of the most beautiful hikes in the Rockies, runs beside it, with glaciers calving into a turquoise lake. The Yellowhead Pass, at about 1,130 metres, is one of the lowest crossings of the Rockies, and was used by fur traders, railway builders and the people who lived here long before them.
The ride from Jasper to the park is spectacular. The road follows the Miette River and then the Fraser, through forest, past lakes and with views of the peaks on both sides. The surface is generally excellent, with long, easy curves, and traffic is moderate, though trucks and RVs can slow the pace in summer. Wildlife is abundant, with elk, bighorn sheep, moose and bears often seen beside the road, so stay alert.
Fuel is available in Jasper, about eighty kilometres to the east, and in Valemount, to the west, but there is little in between, so fill the tank beforehand. The visitor centre has a cafe and washrooms, and a campground nearby offers a good base. The weather in the mountains changes quickly, so carry waterproofs and warm layers, even in summer. Early morning and evening give the best light on the peak, and in autumn the aspens turn gold along the valley.