Campground · Waterton Lakes National Park
A tiny Upper Waterton Lake camp reached on foot or by watercraft.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Waterton Lakes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Waterton Lakes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Waterton Lakes audio tourRecorded for this place
Bertha Trailhead“You’re nearing the Bertha trailhead, where I’d choose Lower Bertha Falls for a shorter hike.”
Plays as you drive up to Bertha Bay Backcountry Campground in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Bertha Bay Backcountry Campground is one of Waterton's backcountry overnight sites, on the shore of Upper Waterton Lake. It's a self-supported night by the water, reached on foot or by watercraft; you can't drive in. I'd choose it if you want a simple lakeside camp and don't mind carrying your gear.
Parks Canada requires a backcountry permit for overnight stays. Bring your food and stove, and treat or boil water from backcountry sources. Save a copy of your permit and check the trail and park notices before setting out; access and fire restrictions can change. Fires are allowed only in designated metal rings when conditions permit.
The campground has four tent pads, an outhouse, food lockers, fire rings and a dock. One pad looks over the water while another sits among trees. The rocky shore is part of the appeal, but picnic-table availability is unclear, so plan to cook without one.
Wildlife
83 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
563 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
146 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
113 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
55 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
53 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Waterton Lakes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingCrypt Lake Trail17.1 km · 7 hr · 1.1 km awayBoat ride, tunnel and ladder lead to a lake beneath sheer cliffs.
ModerateHell Roaring Falls Trail5.3 km · 2 hr · 1.1 km awayA steep waterfall loop with a canyon view near Crypt Lake.
ModerateBertha Lake Trail10.3 km · 4.5 hr · 2.1 km awayA waterfall warm-up before the climb to Bertha Lake.
ModerateLower Bertha Falls Trail5.1 km · 1.5 hr · 2.1 km awayA short waterfall hike with a big view of Waterton Lake.
ModerateLakeshore Trail13.5 km · 4 hr · 2.1 km awayOne way lakeshore hike from Waterton to Goat Haunt, crossing into Glacier.
EasyTownsite Loop3.2 km · 1 hr · 2.5 km awayA gentle paved loop links Cameron Falls, the village, and lakeshore.
ChallengingAlderson Lake Trail14 km · 5.5 hr · 2.5 km awayA forest climb ends at a blue lake beneath Mount Alderson's cliffs.
ModerateCrandell Lake-Townsite Trail12.4 km · 4 hr · 2.8 km awayA steady climb from town through renewing forest to a lake.
Sight · 1.4 km awayLower Bertha FallsThis waterfall walk earns its climb with lake and town views.
Picnic area · 1.8 km awayCameron Bay Day Use AreaA lakeshore picnic stop with shelters and night-sky viewing.
Campground · 2.1 km awayTownsite CampgroundA large RV and tent campground within walking distance of town.
Picnic area · 2.2 km awayLakeshore Day Use AreaAn easy picnic beside Upper Waterton Lake, just outside town.
Visitor center · 2.4 km awayWaterton Lakes Visitor CentreGet trail updates, then explore Blackfoot-focused exhibits.
Lodging · 2.4 km awayNorthland LodgeA nine-room inn for muffin breakfasts and mountain-view mornings.
Store · 2.4 km awayWelch’s Chocolate ShopNostalgic sweets, ice cream, and a jumbo cinnamon bun.Sight · 2.4 km awayBertha LakeBlue-green water waits beyond the trail's steepest climb.Parkwolf’s Waterton Lakes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
