Edmonton 2025 - spring wildflowers in Waterton Lakes

 When I planned this blog post I "googled" wildflowers in Waterton Lakes and discovered that it is nicknamed "The Wildflower Capital of Canada" and has over 400 flower species with 175 of them considered rare. Who knew?

There is also a website devoted to the wildflowers in the park so I was able to identify most of the ones I took pictures of.

I had spotted a couple of flowers on the first day hiking down Bear's Hump Trail but hadn't mentioned them to the others as it was while I was enjoying the peace and quiet of walking down slowly while the rest of the family forged ahead. This is a Glacier Lily.

 

The leaves of this look like a Holly but it is a Creeping Oregon Grape.

About half an hour into the Bertha Falls hike, Mike pointed out these. After that Maya and I were on the hunt for flowers.

Prairie Pasque Flower.

Turns out that Maya is a very good flower spotter. Hooked Spur Violet. We saw numerous violets of various colours The website listed 4 different varieties.

Harsh Indian Paintbrush.

I didn't need the internet to identify this as a wild strawberry but it is officially a Virginia Strawberry.

More of the Creeping Oregon Grape.

These were tiny, that's the tip of my hiking pole. I wasn't able to identify this one, maybe one of the Geraniums.

Finally, nearly back at the village, Western Blue Clematis.

 These were all found alongside the trail, mostly where the undergrowth was recovering from the wildfire. The info on the internet indicates that the best wildflowers are in the prairie areas of the park in May and June.

Edmonton 2025 - Lower Bertha Falls Trail

 

On our way to the start of the hike for the day, we passed the falls we saw the previous night

and Maya and River tested how close the deer would come if they sat, still and quiet, in the nearly empty campground.

The Lower Bertha Falls trail starts beside the campground and gradually climbs beside the lake. It was a much easier, though longer, hike

The melting snow created lots of mini waterfalls and creeks. As it was getting warm, caps were dipped in the freezing cold water and returned to already sweaty heads.

View from the first lookout spot. Still climbing through the wildfire area.

Then the trail turned away from the lake and up a valley,

with the sound of a rushing river below.

The falls were worth the hike. The trail continued but we talked to people who had gone further and they said that the snow was too deep.

It was a great place for photos. (Mike carried River most of the time in the "Sultan's Chair")

We had a snack on a bench by the river. Somehow the wildfire had jumped this little valley and we enjoyed the shade for a change.

Family reflections.

The walk back was just as lovely and Mike challenged the kids to a dip in the lake. I didn't think they would take him up on it but, first Maya, and then Avery, did.

So, after dinner

first Mike and

and then all 3, took the polar plunge. Fully immersed, head under!

That is crazy!!

The only downside to an otherwise great day was the number of deer ticks we found on clothes, in hair and later on the walls and bed (kids had been lying on it in their clothes) but we got everyone "deticked".

Edmonton 2025 - Waterton Lakes, Bear's Hump Trail

 

Our first morning in Waterton we woke to snow. Sunny and cool, so we took our time with breakfast and deciding where to hike.

Maya, River and I took a short stroll while the hiking decisions were being made.

They picked up stones that looked so colourful in the water.

We saw 3 Northern Flickers and a Pileated Woodpecker.

Mike was "gung ho". He wanted Aimee to hike 8 hours with him while I took the kids on an easy hike. Aimee vetoed that idea and luckily the ferry wasn't running that would cross the lake to take them to that marathon. So we all hiked together on a trail that was listed as "moderate" and short.

The trail head for Bear's Hump was just out of the village, across the road from the Prince of Wales Hotel.

We had it covered - large group, noisy and bear spray (and joking about tossing River at any wild animal to buy us some time)

The hike started as a gentle climb but shortly became a steep clamber, sometimes an a gravel path, sometimes loose rocks and sometimes stone steps. We were hiking through an area that had been burnt during the 2017 wildfire and the undergrowth was regrowing.

In September 2017, a large forest fire known as the Kenow Wildfire spread across Waterton Lakes National Park, forcing the evacuation of the townsite and park. The fire burned through 200 km2 of the park, destroying the visitor centre, stables and other buildings. Over 19,000 hectares, or 39% of the park's area, burned. Some 80% of hiking trails were affected and several remained closed for the 2018 season. from wikipedia

We started out in jackets but warmed up with the exertion and stripped down to shirts. I stopped and sat on convenient benches (some still snow covered) when I needed to get my heart rate down.

Maya and I were sitting on the bench overlooking the photo above, when I noticed something off in the distance. As it came nearer I realized it was a bald eagle. We sat and watched it circling and swooping, coming nearer and nearer until it flew over the mountain, above and behind us. We got up to continue the hike and it returned to fly directly over our heads and back the way it had come. It was a lovely experience to share with Maya.

The last 50 metres were the toughest but finally at the top the views were worth it - down to the village and along the lake to the mountains around.

Time for photos

and snacks

and more photos.

More snow up here and Avery made a little hand held snowman to carry down (he didn't make it - the snowman, Avery made it)

Took us about an hour to hike up, half and hour to go down. River had ridden up on Mike's back in the backpack known as "The Sultans Chair" but she walked all the way down, holding various family members hands and jumping down the steps.

After the hike we went to the Visitors Centre in the village to gauge which were good hikes for the kids (and Mike was still trying to talk Aimee in to a big one for just the 2 of them)

After lunch I was left on duty while River napped and the neighbours

stopped by. 

Very tame, we frequently saw these Mule Deer around the village

While I was drinking this surprisingly nice

wine, River sleeping, deer munching, my phone beeped

and I got this photo from my next door neighbour, showing my tree on the ground. Then a video came through from Rick..., followed by a call from another neighbour who didn't realize I wasn't home and wanted to check I was OK.

They reported that at about 7:30pm, there was thunder and lightening around, but no wind or rain, my tree was struck by lightening and exploded, sending wood flying in all directions. Rick and my two neighbours all said it was a huge bang and very scary.

I needed another glass of wine! As everyone was safe and there didn't seem to be major damage there was nothing to be done about it all until tomorrow.

After supper, another stroll. Mike pointing to Bear's Hump where we had hiked and looked down at the village.

The waterfall at the edge of the townsite and

great excitement to find a playground as the sun settled behind the mountains.