The Bertha Lake trail was one of our favorites in Waterton Lake National Park, along with the Bear’s Hump trail. It has a little bit of everything, featuring panoramic views of the Waterton Valley and Upper Waterton Lake, passing by viewpoints of the Lower and Upper Bertha Falls, and ending up at the stunning glacial alpine lake (Bertha Lake). It will also provide a great workout as you’ll ascend over 500 meters through sub-alpine forest, by navigating no less than 21 switchbacks. To help you discover this beautiful area of the Canadian Rockies, we put together this Lake Bertha Trail hiking guide, which includes details on trail difficulty, estimated hiking time, and the incredible viewpoints that make it such a memorable hike. The trail, one of Waterton’s most popular, can also be made shorter by stopping at the Lower Bertha Waterfalls, or longer, by looping around Bertha Lake, and is likely to provide plenty of chances to see some of the local wildlife.
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You might also be interested in these Waterton Lakes National Park pages:
Best Hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park
Wildlife Watching in Waterton Lakes National Park
Best Things to Do in Waterton Lakes National Park – Complete Activities Guide
Bertha Lake Trail Location and Map
The Bertha Lake Trail is located in Waterton Lakes National Park, in the extreme southwestern corner of Alberta (link to Google Maps).
About Waterton Lakes National Park
Where Mountains Meet the Prairies: The park’s range lies between the Canadian Rockies and the Prairies, and is often referred to as the “park where mountains meet the prairies.” Waterton Lakes became Canada’s fourth national park in 1895, though its official status, park boundary and name have varied over the years.
Small in Size, Grand in Scenery: Although Waterton Lakes is currently the smallest of the National Parks located in the Canadian Rockies, it has about 200 km of hiking trails, making its backcountry the most developed of the Canadian mountain parks.
Dark Skies: Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park in the United States are now recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as an International Dark Sky Park and together form the first transboundary IDA International Dark Sky Park.
International Peace Park: Waterton Lakes National Park shares a border with Glacier National Park in Montana, United States: together they form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, designated as a World Heritage Site in 1995 for the parks’ distinctive climate, physiographic setting, and mountain-prairie interface. The Peace Park was first established in 1932 and was the first of its kind in the world. It was intended to promote goodwill between nations and highlight the international nature of protecting wilderness.
Diverse Park Flora: Waterton Lakes National Park is home to many rare plants, more so than any national park in the Canadian Rockies. More than half of Alberta’s plant species are found in Waterton, which is also the only Canadian national park that preserves foothills fescue grasslands. Several different ecological regions converge in Waterton, with prairie plants of the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain plants from northern areas, and coastal plants from the Pacific Northwest all overlapping.
Impressive Wildlife: Waterton Lakes National Park is home to more than 60 species of mammals, including elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, plain bison, lynx, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, cougars, black bears and grizzly bears.
How to Get to Bertha Lake Trail & Waterton Lakes National Park
The Bertha Lake trail is located just outside the town of Waterton (within walking distance), in the heart of Waterton Lakes National Park. If you are not staying in the town of Waterton, then you will definitely want to drive to the trailhead (see further below for parking information), as there is no transportation service within the park to get to the trailhead. There is no outside public transit option with service to Waterton Lakes National Park either. There is, however, an airport charter service available from Calgary, though this is a rather expensive means of reaching the park, and obviously isn’t very useful for getting around the park afterwards.
If coming from outside the park, you can expect the following drive times from the nearest major cities:
From Lethbridge: 130 km (1h30 min drive)
From Calgary: 280 km (3h drive)
From Medicine Hat: 300 km (3h15 min drive)
From Banff: 360 km (3h45 drive)
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your hiking excursion, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Alberta.
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Nearest Gas Station
The nearest gas station is in the town of Waterton (there’s only one) (link to Google Maps). Otherwise, the nearest gas stations are outside of the park, in Mountainview to the east (20 km away) and in Pincher Creek to the north (45 km away).
Roadside wildlife
It’s important to drive slowly throughout the park’s roads, as there is abundant wildlife around every corner. Deer are often seen throughout the Waterton townsite, and deer, elk and bears are often seen alongside many of the park’s roads.
Bertha Lake Trail Access, Fees, and Parking
Trailhead & car park location: The trailhead (link to Google Maps) is located just south of town, next to the townsite campground. It’s a short 10-minute walk from the center of town and the Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre.
Trail access and fees
Anyone visiting Waterton Lakes National Park, whether for a hike or simply to enjoy the scenery, must first pay the applicable Parks Canada entrance fee.
Daily Fee: $11 (adults; discount for seniors and free for children)
Annual Waterton Lakes Pass*: $54.50 (adults; discount for seniors and free for children)
Parks Canada Discovery Pass**: $75.25 (adults; discount for seniors)
The Parks Canada Discovery Pass is valid for 12 months after the date of purchase, which can be purchased online here (includes access to all Canadian National Parks)
As of 2025, the Waterton Day Use and Annual passes can only be purchased in person.
*If you plan on spending at least 5 days in Waterton Lakes National Park, you are better off purchasing the Annual Waterton Lakes Pass.
**If you plan on spending at least 7 days within a Canadian National Park during any 12-month period, you are better off purchasing the Parks Canada Discovery Pass. This is usually easily achieved during road trips through the Canadian Rockies.
For up-to-date fee information, consult the Waterton Lakes National Park fee page.
Trail opening Hours: 24 hours – all year. It’s also a great winter hiking and snowshoeing destination for those visiting during the snowy season (see further below for more information and advisories regarding visiting this trail during winter).
Parking lot: The parking lot by the trailhead isn’t overly large (it can accommodate up to 40 cars), and you can expect the lot to fill during busy summer weekends. As mentioned earlier, you can also easily walk to the car park from pretty much anywhere in the town of Waterton.
Alternatively, there’s street-side parking along Evergreen Ave, the street that leads to the car park. You can also park at the Waterton Visiting Center (link to Google Maps), which is about 1 km from the trailhead.
Facilities: There are no toilets by the trailhead or anywhere along the trail.
Bertha Lake Trail Details and Map
The are many variants and possible add-ons to the Bertha Lake Trail. Here we will primarily focus on and describe the most popular trail that climbs from the shores of Upper Waterton Lake and leads to Bertha Lake, but we will also briefly present the various trail alternatives further below, including shorter and longer versions of the trail.
Distance: 12 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation change: 490 m (difference between trail high and low point)
Elevation gain: 600 m (cumulative elevation gain)
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 2441 ratings (2025))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 3h30-4h30
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
We find that AllTrails is a great tool to have when hiking, particularly for assisting with navigation when the trail is hard to locate and to help monitor your progress along the trail, which helps estimate how much time you’ll need to complete the trail.
Additional Bertha Lake Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are permitted on leashes.
– Summit: The trail doesn’t climb a summit, but its highest point by Bertha Lake lies at an elevation of 1780 m.
– Trail environment: Sub-alpine forest – but many of the trees were burned down during the 2017 wildfire. Exposure to sun and wind will be more pronounced until there is sufficient regrowth.
– Route Signage: Yes – but the trail is also very easy to follow.
– Trail Surface / Technical trail: The trail isn’t a technical one, and the trail surface doesn’t present any particular challenges. The trail is mostly along a flat, hardened surface, with several sections that are more rocky.
– Average trail slope grade: 10%, which is considered a moderate average incline.
– Trail difficulty level assessment (based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface) :
Very Easy | Easy | Moderate | Moderately Challenging | Challenging
The trail’s primary challenges stem from the combination of the long trail length and significant elevation gain.
Bertha Lake Trail Description and Summary
From the trailhead, after having gone through a few short switchbacks, the trail slowly gains elevation as you follow a path that roughly runs parallel to Upper Wateron Lake.
After having gained about 80 m in elevation by the 1.5 km mark, you will have reached the first impressive viewpoint: a large open area known as Bertha Point. The views in either direction are superb: to the north, the Waterton townsite and Mount Crandell towering above it, and to the south, the seemingly endless Upper Waterton Lake as it makes its way into Glacier National Park in Montana (USA). There’s also a bench here to sit down and relax while enjoying the spectacular scenery.
From Bertha Point, the trail splits: head straight to continue along the Lakeshore Trail, or turn right to continue towards Bertha Lake. Continuing onwards to Bertha Lake, you will likely notice many scorched trees along the trail, evidence of the destructive Kenow forest fire that ravaged the national park in 2017. Fortunately, signs of regrowth are quite evident as the forest floor is now thick with lush vegetation.
As you make your way towards the lake, the trail will continue to ascend slowly for another 1 km, until you reach another popular viewpoint at around the 2.5 km mark: Lower Bertha Falls, a lovely “bridal veil” waterfall cascading over a rock face. Unfortunately, the bridge leading to the falls was closed for repairs during our visit, so we didn’t get to see the falls from up close. Here’s a picture of them from the Watertown Tourism website.
From the falls, the trail starts to climb at a much steeper grade. You will go through a series of intense and seemingly never-ending switchbacks – this is where you’ll go through most of the trail’s total 21 switchbacks over the course of about 2 km, and this definitely is the trail’s most difficult section as you will gain about 350 m in elevation over that stretch (an average slope grade of 17.5%).
Around the 4.5 km mark, the trail will start to level out, allowing you to walk more comfortably along a mostly flat trail until you reach the lakeshore at around the 5.2 km mark.
From here, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Bertha Lake, a stunning alpine glacial lake, beautifully backdroped by Bertha Peak, Mount Alderson and Mount Richards.
You can freely explore the lakeside as there’s a trail that fully loops around the lake. But you can expect a full loop to add about an hour to your adventure (see further below for more details on the lake loop trail extension).
Once you leave Bertha Lake to return to the Waterton townsite, the fun isn’t over, as you’ll enjoy beautiful views of Waterton Valley and Upper Waterton Lake as you near Bertha Point again.
Another fun thing about this trail (like many others in Waterton Lakes National Park) is that you are quite likely to come across some local wildlife along it. We crossed some deer during the early part of the trail.
Finally, as you near the end of the hike, you’ll start to see views of Waterton and Mount Crandell emerge from behind the treeline.
Bertha Lake Hiking Tips
Hiking Experience
The Bertha Lake Trail is suitable for most novice hikers as the trail isn’t technical and doesn’t require special skills. The main requirement is a sufficient level of fitness, given that it is a long trail with significant elevation gain.
Cell Service
Cell service in Waterton Lakes National Park is limited and unreliable. While some cell service is available in the town of Waterton, it is generally spotty and may be unavailable in other areas of the park.
Leave No Trace
Stick to the designated path to protect the surrounding environment.
Bugs
The prairie-meets-mountain environment of the Waterton Lakes National Park means you can encounter both wetland-loving mosquitoes and sunny-meadow-loving horseflies when visiting Waterton Lakes National Park.
Late May – Mid June: Mosquito activity begins in low-lying, wet areas (near lakes, streams, marshy valleys).
Late June – Mid August: Mosquitoes are most active around dawn/dusk, especially near vegetation and water. Black and deer flies are worse during calm, sunny days in open areas.
Late August – September: Bug activity drops sharply as nights cool.
Ticks are also present in the park and the surrounding area. They are most active from April to June, especially in dry, grassy slopes.
In summary, be sure to pack insect repellent for your visit to Waterton. We can recommend visiting in late August, which is when we spent most of our time in Waterton, as we didn’t find bugs to be a nuisance during our time there.
Equipment
No specialized equipment is required for the Bertha Lake Trail, though proper hiking footwear is recommended. Trekking poles can be useful for those with bad knees, particularly for the descent through the switchbacks.
Weather and Exposure
Waterton Lakes National Park is notoriously windy, and this will be particularly true along the early sections of the Bertha Lake trail, particularly when at Bertha Point The lack of tree cover (until there is significant regrowth) also means you will be at the mercy of the weather along the trail, whether that be a strong sun or pouring rain.
Be sure to wear sunscreen on sunny days – you won’t find any shade along the trail.
Current Trail Conditions
Check this page of the Waterton Lakes NP for up-to-date trail conditions and any notices of temporary trail closure.
Also note that the Bertha trailhead is in an avalanche path. Check the Bertha-Townsite avalanche advisory (updated daily) before accessing the area.
Best Time to Hike the Trail
The best months to hike in Waterton are generally late May through early October.
June & September: These shoulder season months offer a good balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds. You might encounter some rain or cooler temperatures, but you’ll also experience more tranquillity on the trails.
-Wildflowers will start to peak in late June.
-Mosquitoes can be quite active in June.
-Fall colours are apparent in late September.
July & August: Best weather (warmer, drier and more dependable) but more crowded trails – the park attracts around 500,000 visitors each year. Nearly 50% of visitors come in July and August.
-July is peak wildflower season.
-Bugs are still quite active in July, with their activity decreasing throughout August.
May and October*: These months are more unpredictable, with the possibility of snow, especially at higher elevations, and hiking may be limited to lower-elevation trails.
Quick Summary
If you want wildflowers and smaller crowds, late June to early July is ideal. Daylight hours are also significantly longer during these months, allowing you more time to explore every day.
If you want fall colors and fewer people, aim for mid-to-late September. Cooler temperatures make longer hikes more comfortable.
During the peak summer months, it’s best to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the trail’s most crowded times.
Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing are also popular in Waterton during the snowy months, particularly along the Bertha Lake trail, though the trail is typically closed beyond Bertha Falls. As noted above, the Bertha trailhead is in an avalanche path. Check the Bertha-Townsite avalanche advisory (updated daily) before accessing the area. The rest of the trail, much like most trails in the park during winter, traverses avalanche terrain.
Wildlife
You may encounter wildlife along the trails, and it is important to know how to react in the presence of wild animals appropriately. Always maintain a safe distance from wildlife, whether deer, big-horned sheep, elk or wolves. Never attempt to feed wildlife, either: feeding wildlife in a Canadian national park is prohibited by law and may lead to a fine of up to $25,000.
Bears: Waterton Lakes National Park is bear territory, so you should carry bear spray at all times (keep it easily accessible in a bear spray holster) and know how to use it.
When possible, hike in groups, and try to make frequent noise while you hike to avoid surprise encounters.
Follow Waterton’s advisories and Trail Condition pages for more information on current bear sightings and trail closures.
For more tips on wildlife encounters and safety precautions, be sure to check out our guide on Wildlife Watching in Waterton.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Water Filter Bottle – The Life Straw bottle is an advanced water bottle with a filter that not only improves water taste but more importantly filters out bacteria and parasites, chemicals and microplastics.
Headlamp – very practical and a smart choice if you plan to start your hike before sunrise or finish it after sunset.
Bertha Lake Trail Variants and Add-Ons
All of the following trails share the same trailhead as the Lake Bertha trail, but either differ in their point of return or the route followed.
Trail to Bertha Point
This is the shortest variant of the Bertha Lake trail. The total length (including return) is just under 3 km, with about 80 m of elevation gain. The main rewards are the great views of the Waterton Valley and Upper Waterton Lake. Most people should be able to complete this out-and-back version in under an hour.
Trail to Lower Bertha Falls
For those wanting a slightly shorter walk, you continue from Bertha Point until you reach Bertha Falls (which we unfortunately didn’t get to see due to the bridge closure during our visit). The total trail length is 5.3 km with an elevation of 205 m.
Bertha Lake Trail with Lake Loop
This variant is an extension of the Bertha Lake Trail presented above, but one that adds a full loop of Bertha Lake, adding about 4 km and an extra hour of hiking. The loop route is, on average, fairly flat, but with lots of short up and downs. The total trail length of this variant is 14.8 km with 655 m of cumulative elevation gain. It takes, on average, close to 5 hours to complete this version of the trail.
Note that the loop trail around the lake is often quite muddy, particularly after rain or during the higher elevation snow melt period.
Bertha Lake Trail with Lakeshore Trail
This is more of a trail add-on as both the Lakeshore and Bertha Lake trails share the first 1.5 km segment (up until Bertha Point). If, after returning to Bertha Point, you would like to continue walking/exploring without having to endure too much additional elevation gain, you can head south along the Lakeshore Trail.
Although the trail’s terminus is Boundary Bay next to the US border, the trail can still be enjoyed by walking only a portion of it, up to Bertha Bay Backcountry Campground, for instance, which is about 1 km from Bertha Point. There are several secluded beaches along the trail.
For more information about this trail, be sure to check out our Lakeshore Trail hiking guide.
Some of Our Other Favorite Nearby Trails in Waterton
Bellevue Prairie Trail
If you are looking for a family-friendly and uncrowded hiking adventure, the Bellevue Prairie Trail might be for you. While it may lack some of the “wow” factor that some of the park’s more popular trails are known for, it still offers beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding landscape while you traverse gently undulating grassland hills. With mountains on one side and open blue skies on the other, the Bellevue Trail perfectly exemplifies the park’s motto, “where the mountains meet the prairies.” The trail ends by the park’s bison paddock, offering you a chance to see Bison roam the fields.
For more information on this trail, be sure to check out our Bellevue Prairie Trail hiking guide.
Bear’s Hump Trail
Most people will tell you that the best views in Waterton Lakes National Park are from the top of the Bear’s Hump, the endpoint of the park’s most popular trail, and we’d have to agree. The sweeping panorama from the summit is simply sublime, reminiscent of the dramatic vistas you might see above a Norwegian fjord. The hike itself is fairly steep, but because it’s so short, it remains accessible to most novice hikers and is a good option for families who don’t mind a brief, vigorous climb.
For more information on this trail, be sure to check out our Bear’s Hump hiking guide.
Where to stay near the Bertha Lake Trail
Unlike many national parks, Waterton Lakes National Park offers several lodging options right inside its charming lakeside townsite, putting visitors just steps from the trails, restaurants, and waterfront views. Staying within the park means you can enjoy sunrise and sunset over the lake without ever needing to drive far.
Prince of Wales Hotel – One of the most iconic places to stay in the park, this historic 1920s landmark is perched dramatically on a bluff overlooking Upper Waterton Lake. Its vintage interiors, elegant tea service, and panoramic views make it one of Canada’s most memorable national park lodges.
Bayshore Inn & Spa – For those who prefer to stay closer to the heart of the village, the Bayshore Inn & Spa offers modern comforts right on the lakefront. Ideal for travellers who want easy access to restaurants, shops, and boat rentals.
Aspen Village – Meanwhile, the Aspen Village Inn provides a relaxed, family-friendly alternative with spacious rooms and great value, all within walking distance of the park’s main attractions.
Want to Discover More Hiking Trails In The Canadian Rockies?
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Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
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Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Waterton Hiking Guide for the Bertha Lake Trail and that it will prove useful for planning your hiking trip.
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