10 Best hikes and trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

Hiking/
Canada/
Alberta/
Waterton Lakes National Park

Best trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

4.4(24,207 reviews)

Canada
:
#3 of 49 national parks

Waterton Lakes National Park is located on the South border of Canada, right next to Glacier National Park in Montana, United States. It was established in 1895. Its landscape is made of mountains, prairies, lakes and waterfalls. It is home to a varied wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, moose, cougars, timber wolves, mountain sheep, mountain goats, etc. It is a great place to backpack, hike, camp, watch wildlife and snowshoe or ski in the winter.

Top trails

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...

#2 - Crypt Lake Trail

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. For rates and additional...

#3 - Upper Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake Trail

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...

#4 - Lower Bertha Falls and Lake

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...

#5 - Blakiston Falls Trail

This is an awesome short and sweet little walk to new and improved lookout points for the Blakinston Falls, which were renovated between 2020 and 2021. This adventure will be good one for a little stroll with friends or with young kids. Overall, this is a beautiful easy walk in the forest from Red Rock Canyon day-use area. There are plenty of stairs here, so be sure to come prepared to move those legs.

#6 - Carthew Alderson Trail

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...

#7 - Rowe Lakes via Rowe Creek Trail

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.

#8 - Red Rock Canyon Trail

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...

#9 - Lineham Falls Trail

4.6(593)

•Moderate

•6.1 mi

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.

#10 - Bertha Lake Loop from Waterton Park

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...

Showing results 1–10 of 98

Explore more trails

Visitor info

Passes & fees

Fee required

Waterton Lakes National Park charges a fee to enter.

Get details from the park

Guides

Top Picks in Waterton Lakes National Park

8 trails

Explore more national park guides

Trail reviews for Waterton Lakes National Park

20,028 trailgoers Busiest in August

Eric Blair

Sep 2, 2024•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Access via Wishbone/Vimy Trailhead located along Highway 6 in Waterton Lakes National Park. At 26km this is a full day hike so be sure to bring plenty of water, or for those with a water filter you'll find two stream crossings along the way. Vimy Peak is a distinct landmark throughout the park however panoramic views from its summit are beyond words.

Parking: Entry fee, Free, Medium lot

Difficulty: Hard

Vimy Peak via Wishbone Trail

Ellen Bai

Aug 11, 2024•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Most iconic trial in beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park. We have seen 15 lakes along this hike. Great trail conditions and weather conditions today. It helped us finish the Triple Crown Of Waterton. It’s easier if you starts from Cameron Lake. Have fun and be patient!

Carthew Alderson Trail

Ellen Bai

Aug 1, 2024•Hiking

One of the best views in Waterton Lakes National Park!

Conditions: Great!

Crypt Lake Trail

Sébastien Duval

Jun 7, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Stunning hike! No scrambling at all on this route. If you go a little further on the SE ridge after the summit, you can see the full Waterton Lakes. Good scree skiing for 100m after coming down from the West Ridge. Views are really impressive all around, especially on the horseshoe ridge and at the summit. Trail was really quiet on this beautiful Saturday morning. Be safe and enjoy!

Conditions: Dusty

Mount Crandell West Route

Cousin Squatch

Nov 2, 2024•Hiking

Not crowdedDog-friendlyGreat views

Bertha Lake is a large hourglass shaped alpine lake with one of Waterton Lakes most coveted and scenic back country campgrounds. This hike is a definite 5 stars for a combination of the views of Waterton Lakes along with Bertha Peak, Mount Richard’s and Bertha Falls on the way up the mountain pass. You will walk through some of the burned areas from the 2017 fire but it is balanced by plenty of lush conifers along the way. This time of year there will be snow at the lake and in the higher elevations as you climb up and over the mountain pass. The lake sits at around 5800ft/1770m. Today there was no need for cleats as the trail was still accessible with good shoes. See pictures for more details. Overall I would consider it a moderate to hard hike depending on various fitness levels. The park did a great job on the number of switchbacks on the trail in order to minimize the grade and make it manageable by more hikers. If you go during the peak season you may struggle to get a parking spot so plan to get there early.

Upper Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake Trail

Eric Vilbs

Sep 19, 2024•Hiking

Great views

Hiked on an overcast day in mid September. Super easy trailhead to find... right near town in Waterton. It's a short/painful trail, with a 700+ foot climb over 3/4 of a mile. The trail is easy though... well maintained with steps etc. and the views from the top are fantastic, overlooking the town, Upper Waterton Lake, the Prince of Wales hotel, and prairie. A must do hike if you're visiting Waterton Lakes.

Parking: Entry fee, Medium lot

Difficulty: Moderate

Bear's Hump

Parks

Headed to a park?

Take AllTrails with you

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park is Bear's Hump, which has a 4.7 star rating from 4,044 reviews. This trail is 1.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 715 ft.

What is the longest trail in Waterton Lakes National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Waterton Lakes National Park is Great Divide Trail Section A: International Boundary to Crowsnest Pass. This trail is estimated to be 87.9 mi long.

How many trails are in Waterton Lakes National Park?

There are 98 trails in Waterton Lakes National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 24,207 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Waterton Lakes National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Waterton Lakes National Park has you covered. Great Divide Trail Section A: International Boundary to Crowsnest Pass boasts the most elevation gain with 21,879 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Avion Ridge via Rowe Creek Trail, which will get you 14,940 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Waterton Lakes National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 39 camping trails in Waterton Lakes National Park and the most popular is Crypt Lake Trail with an average 4.8 star rating from 3,173 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Waterton Lakes National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 31 running trails in Waterton Lakes National Park and the most popular is Bear's Hump with an average 4.7 star rating from 4,044 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Waterton Lakes National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 16 biking trails in Waterton Lakes National Park and the most popular is Crandell Lake Trail with an average 4.4 star rating from 537 community reviews.