Parking
Start at the Evergreen South parking lot, about 350 m south of Cameron Falls in Waterton townsite; this is the Bertha Trailhead access for the Lakeshore route.
Overview
About Lakeshore Trail
Why go
- Follows the lake through forest, beaches and secluded Canadian-side shore access.
- A rare point-to-point link between Waterton and Glacier national parks.
Heads up
- Requires advance border reporting and a coordinated return plan.
- The U.S. section is more overgrown and has fewer openings to the lake.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Waterton Lakes map
Full mapElevation1,281–1,375 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Waterton Lakes alerts
- ClosureBelly River Campground closedBelly River Campground is closed to all traffic and travel because a carcass is in the area. - Violators may be charged under the Canada National Parks Act, with a maximum penalty of $25,000.Official details
- ClosureBlakiston Fan closed to protect rutting elkThe Blakiston Fan area is closed to traffic and travel to prevent disturbance of elk rutting there.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Waterton Lakes Tour Guide
Your drive to Lakeshore Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
Bertha Trailhead0:00 / 0:25
“You’re nearing the Bertha trailhead, where I’d choose Lower Bertha Falls for a shorter hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Cameron Falls
- Townsite Campground and Lakeshore
- Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre
- Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre
- 51 audio storiesacross Waterton Lakes’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Black Bear, Elk, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 47 trails, 70 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Lakeshore Trail
The crossingThe Lakeshore Trail is a point-to-point hike from the Bertha Trailhead in Waterton townsite to…
The Lakeshore Trail is a point-to-point hike from the Bertha Trailhead in Waterton townsite to Goat Haunt Ranger Station in Glacier National Park, following Upper Waterton Lake and crossing the international boundary. Parks Canada lists 13.5 km (8.4 mi) one way; connected mapped trail lines measure about 12.7 km, so use the longer published distance for planning. Allow about four hours of walking. This is not a loop: arrange a boat pickup at Goat Haunt or walk back for roughly 27 km round trip.
Climb, bay, and shorelineThe route begins with a steady climb to a viewpoint over the lake, then drops steeply toward…
The route begins with a steady climb to a viewpoint over the lake, then drops steeply toward Bertha Bay. Just beyond the bay, a short two-stage climb over rock beneath an overhang has the trickiest footing. After that, expect smaller rises and dips through forest beside the water, with several beaches and places to reach the shore on the Canadian side.
Across the borderThe international boundary comes roughly halfway through the lakeshore walk.
The international boundary comes roughly halfway through the lakeshore walk. South of it, thick vegetation can close in and the trail offers fewer openings to the water. The route continues to Goat Haunt Ranger Station; a paved path leads to the International Peace Park shelter, and the station has drinking water and restrooms. No food service is listed there, so carry what you need for the walk.
Plan the returnA boat back to Waterton avoids retracing the full trail, but the Goat Haunt landing is seasonal…
A boat back to Waterton avoids retracing the full trail, but the Goat Haunt landing is seasonal and weather-dependent; arrange a one-way pickup and verify service for your date before starting. Hikers crossing into the United States need a valid passport, must report entry through CBP ROAM on the crossing day, and must report their return to Canada under current CBSA instructions. Dogs may be leashed on the Canadian section, but Glacier National Park prohibits pets on trails, so pets cannot accompany the full crossing.
Start and safetyUse the Evergreen South parking lot, about 350 m south of Cameron Falls.
Use the Evergreen South parking lot, about 350 m south of Cameron Falls. The Bertha trailhead lies in an avalanche path; check the current Bertha-Townsite advisory before setting out. If staying overnight, reserve a backcountry site at Bertha Bay or Boundary Bay.
A trail with a long historyBuilt in 1911, the Lakeshore was Waterton's first hiking trail.
Built in 1911, the Lakeshore was Waterton's first hiking trail. Its cross-border route now links two sides of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, established in 1932; the first formal ranger-led Peace Park hike took place in 1978.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Waterton Lakes
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.
