Waterton offers two excellent hiking choices: Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake. Bertha Falls is a beautiful horsetail fan-type waterfall twisting its way over intriguing upturned rock formations. The hike to the falls is short and easy, making it perfect for enjoying the scenery of Waterton Lakes National Park. Brace yourself for a much tougher climb if you continue to Bertha Lake. This part of the trail is quite steep and difficult, so you should plan to spend anywhere from a half to a full day for finishing the whole hike.
Plan your stay at the campground and you won’t even have to bother driving anywhere. You will find the Bertha trailhead just outside the Waterton Town Campsite, but expect limited parking options. If you are staying in town, it’s much easier to just walk to the start of the trail. This option serves you best during the busy summer season when parking spots vanish quickly.
Hiking to Lower Bertha Falls
From the trailhead, you’ll start a gentle climb through thick trees and bushes. Initially you will find a few switchbacks. But very soon you can enjoy a beautiful aerial view of the town with Mount Crandell and Bear’s Hump towering above it. After walking only 100 meters, you will see a beautiful view of Waterton Lake and its sparkling beach. The scenery only gets better as you keep going!
Enjoying Wildlife
Waterton Lakes National Park prides itself for the rich flora and fauna. You will get close encounters with wildlife along the hike. We were lucky to meet a bambi and its mother just a few minutes into the hike.
First Viewpoint Along the Trail
The trail will slowly gain elevation, and upon covering the first 1.4 km, you will reach a spot with a bench for resting your tired legs. At the same time, prepare to marvel at the stunning lake views ahead.
Once you feel rested, re-join the trail as it winds toward the hanging valley. Take the first turning on the right after crossing the viewpoint. The trail moves towards the valley nestled between Mount Richards and Bertha Peak. Continuing south you will reach Glacier National Park and the American border.
The devastating wildfire in 2017 cleared a big share of the surrounding greenery, offering sprawling views of Bertha Lake along the way. 35000 hectares were affected in this wildfire, including 19000 within Waterton National Park. But the landscape is still full of life. It is the breeding ground for beautiful wildflowers, which fill your path with vibrant hues.
Bertha Creek Cascades
Get ready for a bonus waterfall along the way just a few minutes before reaching Lower Bertha Falls. You can rest for some time here or proceed forward for even better views.
Lower Bertha Falls
A bridge over Bertha Creek provides excellent views of the Lower Bertha Falls. But to uncover its true beauty, shimmy along the rocks and come closer. The falls gush over a rocky boulder, which is a part of the Altyn formation. The water erodes between two upturned rocks at the bottom of the main falls. The Lower Bertha Falls hike is a moderate one that can be completed in two hours. However, it might take more if you plan to click some amazing pictures along the way.
Hiking to Upper Bertha Falls
Planning for a more extended hike? Head towards the Upper Bertha Falls. During this hike, you will gain an additional 300 meters as you make your way through an array of switchbacks. However, the forest will start getting thicker, and you won’t get to see much view along the way. Cover 5 km to finally marvel at the view of Upper Bertha Falls cascading 75 meters down the cliffs.
Hiking to Bertha Lake
This stunning lake sits a bit higher than Upper Bertha Falls. It has an amazing shoreline lined with pretty wildflowers. While stopping at the shore is tempting, walking the full loop around the lake offers a much better experience. The loop itself is about 4 km, but the entire trip, completing the loop and hiking back to town, covers a total of 15 km.
We highly recommend hiking to Bertha Lake if you have enough time in hand. Once you’re finished, you simply take the same trail back to Waterton. The month of June is the best time to hike the Bertha Lake trail, as it remains lined with wildflowers. Every season presents different sceneries, but your hike will be an enjoyable one between May and October.
