Waterton Lakes National Park May 22, 2026

This is what it looked like today when I went wandering in Waterton Lakes National Park.

One of the things I love about hiking in Waterton is that it only takes a few minutes to get to any of the trailheads and that includes the Bertha Falls & Lake trail where I hiked today. No worries, the red tape closure is to protect a sensitive species in the area adjacent to the trail.  Now what that species is, I do not know.

view ahead of me as I begin to ascend 

lots of beautiful Paintbrush along the trail

a White-crowned Sparrow belting out a melody

Bertha Peak

at a viewpoint along the way

A couple of years ago I did this watercolour painting from one of my photos at this same spot. It is the screen saver on my iPad.  Every time I open my iPad, I am reminded of how much I love Waterton and that it holds a piece of my heart.

looking back at Mount Crandell and Upper Waterton Lake

making my way along the trail

more Paintbrush 

view ahead of me 

a Pacific Wren

Bertha Falls

The plan was to only go to the Falls because the Park website said the trail was not cleared of downed trees beyond that.  I hiked a bit further anyway and it was fine for awhile.  I climbed over ten downed trees but as there were more and more down the higher I went, I decided that was enough.  I turned back about a kilometre before Bertha Lake.  I did not take photos of that section of the trail.

I waited until I got back below the Falls then started taking photos again.  

more Paintbrush 

almost back at that viewpoint 

beautiful Upper Waterton Lake

Once I got back to my home away from home, I cleaned up then headed back out.  It was sunny and warm and worthy of sitting outside on a patio to take it all in.  That’s a “HIT THE DECK” Hazy IPA brewed in Fernie, British Columbia. It paired nicely with the scenery, the weather and the.,,,,

…..burger, fries and coleslaw.

Just another day wandering in this little piece of paradise!