"Bartha Falls & Lake is such a hidden gem! The trail is well maintained and rated moderate — we’re not pro hikers, but still managed it with some effort. The last stretch is quite steep, but so worth it once you reach the top. You first come across the beautiful Bartha Falls, and then if you keep going, you’re rewarded with the most gorgeous alpine lake. There’s even about a 4 km loop around the lake, perfect if you want to explore more.

We went during berry season, so definitely carry bear spray — we saw lots of berries, birds, and even deer along the way. The weather can be unpredictable (we got some quick rain), so a light raincoat or jacket is handy. The lake itself is breathtaking — peaceful, less crowded, and the water is cold but refreshing if you’re brave enough for a dip after the climb. We had snacks and just sat by the shore taking it all in. Truly a hike that’s worth every step!"

Patel Krina

"Hiked the 12 km Bertha Lake Trail on August 23, Saturday. We began at around 8 am and there were still spots left in the parking lot. The trail travelled through low brush to start and then opened up to views of the surrounding mountains and Upper Waterton Lake as it gradually gained elevation. The majority of the trail was burned from the 2017 fire so it’s very exposed with little shade (only a few sections in the switchbacks closer to the lake were shaded).

We saw two deer in the brush closer to the trailhead and then another two deer further along who ran across the trail. At the 1.7 km mark, I heard rustling in the brush higher on the right slope and spotted a bear, then realized that there were three grizzly bears (a mama and two cubs)!! They wandered down the slope and onto the trail, munching on bushes. We backed away and gave them space and had our bear spray in hand and ready if needed. The bears definitely saw us and the one baby was curious and started to walk on the trail towards us for a bit before backing away. It was an incredible experience to see the bears (first time I’ve ever seen a bear on any trail)! We waited for a bit off the trail and they eventually ambled down the left slope into the valley, allowing us to continue on the trail. Did not expect to see grizzly bears on this trail, so come prepared.

The trail continues through brush and gaining some elevation, leading to the Lower Bertha Falls with a small footbridge offering nice views of the falls. From there, the trail becomes more challenging with a series of shorter, steep switchbacks and then longer switchbacks, gaining steady elevation to Bertha Lake. The views were beautiful along the way and the burned forest allowed for more views to be seen (side benefit of the fire damage). It was tough going up the switchbacks but we stopped often to hydrate and rest. We finally made it to Bertha Lake, which was stunning and worth the effort. The water was a turquoise colour with clear skies and surrounded by mountains. Absolutely gorgeous! We enjoyed a snack and rest here before hiking back down to the trailhead. There is an optional loop around the lake which adds another 4 km but we were good without doing that. The hike down was faster but we met lots of people coming up and the trail was very busy. We enjoyed our hike up in relative peace, seeing few people, which was a benefit of starting early. The 12 km took us around 5.5 hours total including stops. Would highly recommend!"

Brittany Thiessen

"The slog up to the lake will be quite taxing for many. I did not find the lake overly spectacular when weighed against the time and effort to get there. Might as well put in just a pinch more time and experience Crypt Lake to the East. I do not recommend this hike.

PS - the number of berry bushes that have come in after the 2017 fires is impressive. I am not saying berry bushes justify this hike, but they are notable given that with tree cover, most of those bushes would not be there."

Al-Karim Walli