Best trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

Bear’s Hump is a short and steep hike from the famous Waterton Lakes. The hike starts from the Visitor Center to rocky outcroppings and offers great views of the Prince Wales Hotel, Waterton Lakes and surrounding lakes and mountain range. On a clear day, hikers will be able to look down the lake towards the United States too. This trail is located in Waterton Lakes National Park and is very convenient and popular as it's one of the shortest hikes starting behind the Visitor's Center. For the...

The trailhead for this hike is on the water and is only reachable by ferry (or canoe, kayak, etc.) Tickets for the ferry are available at the marina. Seating is limited and may sell out, so it is best to arrive early to purchase tickets. Pay close attention to the pick-up times for return to town after the hike. After the last scheduled pick-up of the day, there will be no more ferries coming until the following morning. The ferry is also subject to closures, and runs only from May to...

This trail climbs from the shore of Waterton Lake to Bertha Lake. It passes the lower and upper Bertha Falls and offers several great views of Waterton Park, the lake and surrounding Canadian Rockies.The trailhead is right in the village of Waterton. Plan ahead for sun exposure as most of the trail is not covered. The hike is fairly easy at the beginning as it follows the lake shore and splits from the Great Divide trail to link with the Bertha stream. The Great Divide trail continues to...

The Lower Bertha Falls is a good beginner-level hike, but it is not too easy. Especially for those who are not used to elevation gain, slow speeds are the best way to enjoy this relatively short hike to the falls. The first third of the hike is mostly all ascent, with some good points of flatness and views. When hikers finish this section, they roll out onto a fairly flat viewpoint that provides beautiful sweeping views of the lake below. It is also common for people to see animals from this...

This is a point-to-point hike. As such, visitors will either need two vehicles (one parked at Cameron Lake and the other at Waterton townsite), or to park a single vehicle at the townsite and take a shuttle to Cameron Lake to begin the hike. It is recommended that the shuttle be booked in advance, as spaces are limited and may sell out. It is very important that each member of the hiking group is carrying bear spray, as bears and other wildlife are regularly spotted on this trail. Many...

The Red Rock Canyon Trail is a super short and easy hike that is more of a walk to a viewpoint than a true nature hike. The short path follows a nice route that moves along the canyon at lower levels, high levels, and even through the water during the summer when water levels are lower. It is best to head down into the canyon, since this section of the trail really does highlight the beautiful and colourful geologic formations that people come here for. Folks will really see this as more of...

This is a very pretty hike, that is also quite challenging. When hiking Upper Rowe you will notice that the last kilometre is a pretty good climb up but the viewpoint over Lineham Ridge is breathtaking. The route begins in burnt forest then enters unburnt greenery. Walking along the creek is beautiful and it is worth your while to take the short detour to Lower Rowe. Horseback riding is available from September 1 to June 30.

This hike starts off on the Waterton Lakeshore trail, which ends up in Goat Haunt, Montana. As a footnote, in the summer months there are semi-weekly International Peace Park interpreted hikes, which are lead by both a Waterton Park and Glacier National Park rangers when the border is open. These outings are extremely entertaining and informative, ending off with a boat cruise back to Waterton. After about 1.5 km (1 mile), the Bertha Lakes trail veers sharply north away from the Lakeshore...

Wall Lake is the most popular hike in Akamina-Kishinena Park. This lake has a breathtaking setting beneath sheer limestone rock walls. The large snow fields located at the north end of the lake are visible into midsummer add a wonderful contrast to the deep green of the lake and forest.  Up top is the Akamina Ridge another hike in this area.

The first couple of kilometers up to the ridge is right through berry patches, prime bear habitat, so you should beware of bears while enjoying this nature. A little further in it starts to level out as hikers walk through the forest, some of which has been burned in forest fires. If you use this trail during the wintertime, the usage of spikes is recommended. Lineham Falls is a spectacular drop of 500 feet over a cliff face and is best visited during spring or after a significant rainfall.