Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · Fishing · Alberta
The Waterton townsite trailhead for Lower Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake, a steady climb with lake and mountain views. Much of the route is open and burnt, so start early on hot days.
The Bertha trail leaves from the south end of the Waterton townsite and climbs above Upper Waterton Lake toward Lower Bertha Falls and, higher up, Bertha Lake. Hikers talk about viewpoints along the way, wildflowers, and a waterfall at the end that makes the effort feel worthwhile. Parks Canada puts Bertha Falls at about 3 km one way and Bertha Lake at about 5.4 km with roughly 460 m of climbing.
Opinions on difficulty vary with how far people go. One hiker found it easy and not very steep to the falls, while others describe the push up to the lake as steep and challenging in places. A family with an eight-year-old made it to the falls and back but found the lack of shade tough in the midday heat.
People who carry on to Bertha Lake spend time there swimming, lounging on the shore, or walking the loop around the lake. Deer are a common sighting, and hikers remind others to carry bear spray. Bertha Lake is open to angling under national park rules and is one of the Waterton lakes where a small cutthroat trout harvest is allowed, so a light rod is worth packing if you have a Parks Canada fishing permit.
The main caveat is exposure. Wildfire burned most of the tree cover along the route, so there's little shade and the sun can be hard going on hot afternoons. Start in the morning, bring plenty of water and sun protection, and wear proper hiking shoes.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 110 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
