Bear’s Hump is one of the best things to do in Waterton National Park. It’s a great Canadian Rockies hike, as almost anyone can make it up to Bear’s Hump and get incredible views over the park. On a clear day, you can easily see Montana from here. It’s a beautiful, short, and easy hike that any visitor to Waterton should have on their bucket list!
Located right in town, it’s easily doable in under an hour – meaning you can have a full day in Waterton and enjoy this hike. Here’s how to hike Bear’s Hump in Waterton National Park!
Bear’s Hump Hike Guide
Bears Hump Stats
Length
2.3 km
Duration
30 min to 2 hrs
Elevation
214 meters
Difficulty
Easy
Trailhead
Bear’s Hump Trailhead
What’s the Story Behind the Name?
Waterton Lakes holds deep cultural significance as the traditional territory for the Blackfoot, which is comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kanai nations. Bear’s Hump, along with Mount Crandell, was formerly called Bear Mountain by the Blackfoot Piikani due to its distinctive hump shape that looks like the outline of a grizzly bear from a distance.
According to Piikani tradition, Waterton Lake originated from the massive trenches dug by a giant, furious bear, who also piled up earth and rocks to form the surrounding mountains. As the bear eventually fell asleep, it transformed into the prominent landmark known as Mount Crandell.
Route Description
You have a couple options for starting your Bear’s Hump hike. As we were staying at one of the best Waterton hotels (the Prince of Wales), we parked our car here and walked across the street to the start of the trailhead to begin our hike. Bear’s Hump is also an easy walk from town if you are staying there.
There is a car park at the trailhead, but note that it is not large, and it may be full on the weekend. If this is the case, please don’t attempt to park on the side of Highway 5 – not only will this block traffic, but you’ll probably get ticketed.
The whole hike up to Bear’s Hump is on a well-maintained trail. There are “stairs” throughout this trail held up by wooden beams, making the climb up and down easier. There’s absolutely no way to get off trail on this hike, but you will gain elevation quickly in a series of switchbacks. Don’t worry, though – there are numerous benches to take a breather throughout the hike.
This hike is moderately strenuous, depending on your fitness ability, but thankfully, it’s only 1.4 km up, making it one you get to put behind you quickly. Within an hour, you’ll reach the top of Bear’s Hump and be able to take in the vistas surrounding you.
Once at the “top,” the views over the Waterton townsite and everything around Waterton Lakes are incredible. 99% of people will stop here, but it is possible to continue your ascent up to Mount Crandell behind – though this is rated as difficult in Alan Kane’s book, so it should only be attempted by serious scramblers.
From the uppermost point, you get astonishing views of the Prince of Wales Hotel and the narrows that separate the Upper and Middle Waterton Lake. You’ll find a large rock situated perfectly for hikers to pose over Waterton.
Waterton is one of the windiest places in Canada, so once you have been blown around a bit or are ready for lunch, descend the same way you came.
How Hard is Bear’s Hump Hike?
The Bear’s Hump hike is one of the easiest I’ve come across in all of my adventures in the Canadian Rockies, but it’s still one of the best things to do in Waterton. you’ve completed Tunnel Mountain in Banff, you can expect Bear’s Hump to be easier than that. It’s a great hike for beginner hikers as there is nothing scary or sketchy about it. The trail is well-maintained for all ages and abilities.
Gear We Recommend For Hiking in the Rockies
The vast majority of hikes and easy scrambles in the Rockies, you’ll find us in our trusty Salomon Speedcross.
Arc’teryx Cerium is our pick for the best down jacket. It’s incredibly light, and we bring it on almost every hike in the Rockies.
There is not much in terms of cell phone service around the Canadian Rockies. In case of emergencies, we carry an emergency beacon with GPS.
A pair of durable and lightweight hiking poles are a great asset on the hiking trail. We’ll always
20L feels like the ideal size for quick hikes and scrambles. We love the Nano from Gregory with a hydration reservoir.
At only 10 oz, the Zeta is an excellent shell jacket that blocks out the elements without too much weight in the backpack.
Bear’s Hump Hike Duration
At just over 200 meters of gain and less than 3km of distance round trip, you can expect Bear’s Hump to take you less than an hour up and 30 minutes down, depending on your pace. It’s also a great trail to trail run in under 30 minutes round trip, or you can consider heading up to Bears Hump on a clear night to see the stars.
When Can You Hike Bear’s Hump?
Being low elevation, Bear’s Hump is usually clear of snow in May and is good to hike snow-free until October. If you want to hike Bears’ Hump in the winter, make sure to bring poles and microspikes.
Should You Bring Dogs & Kids up Bear’s Hump?
Absolutely! Kids and pets will love this family-friendly hike. After you’ve completed Bear’s Hump, you’re ready for the Crypt Lake Trail!
What to Wear On a Hike?
The most basic principle of what to wear hiking is layering. Anyone who has spent time in the wilderness or mountains can speak to the fact your temperature can fluctuate a lot on a hike. You can easily start off cool at the mountain base and get hot as soon as you begin moving.
The goal of hiking clothing is to help regulate body temperature, protect against elements, and manage moisture. Temperature management is best achieved through a layering system. We have an entire guide about hiking clothing in the Rockies if you want to learn more.
Looking for Other Great Canadian Rocky Hikes?
If you plan to explore more of the Rockies, this website details some of our favorite hikes!
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Tours (New in 2024): The Banff Blog is partnering with one of the leading tour companies in Western Canada so readers can experience the magic of the Rockies with other travelers – without having to think about a thing. See all our 2024 tour offerings here!
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get to Banff or Canmore Without a Car: The Banff Airporter provides fantastic service connecting you from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Banff or Canmore.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. Or embark on an epic campervan trip. We like to compare prices on Motorhome Republic and Outdoorsy.
- Cheaper Airfare: We also use Going to watch for cheap airfare deals!
- Hop On, Hop Off: This tour is taking Banff by storm. It’s exactly what it sounds like, hop on and off a bus bound for all the best attractions at your own pace!
