Hike Alberta
Upper Waterton LakeBertha LakeLower Bertha Falls 1 km N
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Bertha Lake Trail

Near Waterton Park · Waterton Lakes National Park

Hard · Out and back

Bertha Lake at the end of the trail
Bertha Lake at the end of the trail. Photo by LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 88 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Upper Waterton LakeBertha Lake 1 km Open the map

About this trail

Bertha Lake Trail is a 10.6 km out and back trail near Waterton Park in Waterton Lakes National Park. It runs 5.3 km each way. The route gains 592 m in total and tops out at 1,804 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 4 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It passes three mapped trail junctions. Between 5.2 km and 5.3 km a 4.2 km alternative with the same name runs beside the route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Upper Waterton Lake and Bertha Lake, a viewpoint, Lower Bertha Falls and a stream crossing. Also used for mountain biking.

Length
10.6km
5.3 km each way
Elevation gain
592m
Estimated time
4h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,804m
Lowest point
1,296m

Elevation profile

1,296 m to 1,804 m
1,8041,296 0 km5.3 km

Highest point 1,804 m, lowest 1,296 m, 592 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 28% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.0 kmBertha Lake Trail HeadTrailhead
  2. 0.5 kmUpper Waterton LakeLake
  3. 1.3 kmViewpointAt 1.3 km
  4. 2.6 kmLower Bertha FallsWaterfall
  5. 2.6 kmStream crossing
  6. 5.1 kmUpper Bertha FallsWaterfall
  7. 5.2 kmWaterfall
  8. 5.2 kmBertha LakeLake
  9. 5.2 kmStream crossing

Good for

  • Hiking, Mountain biking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Waterfall, Views

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 49.0468° N, 113.9168° W.

Driving directions

Waterton Lakes National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy Discovery Pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 63 trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30