Waterton Lakes National Park

A lakeside village where the Rockies meet the prairie, with the Prince of Wales Hotel, cross-border boat cruises and the Crypt Lake Trail; together with Glacier National Park in the US it forms an International Peace Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park lies in the southwestern corner of Alberta, Canada, bordering Glacier National Park in Montana to the south. In 1932 the two were united as the world's first International Peace Park, and in 1995 they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where the Rockies rise abruptly straight from the prairie; though only about 505 sq km, the park packs in lakes, canyons, waterfalls and alpine meadows, along with abundant wildlife. The park's only settlement, Waterton Park townsite, sits at the north end of Upper Waterton Lake, and lodging, restaurants, the marina and the visitor centre are all in town. The main areas fall into three parts: around the townsite (the Prince of Wales Hotel, Bear's Hump, Cameron Falls, the Bertha Lake Trail and cross-border boat cruises); the Akamina Parkway and Cameron Lake to the southwest; and the Red Rock Parkway and Red Rock Canyon to the northwest. Near the north entrance there's also a Bison Paddock and wetland birding spots. The best season is June–September, when boat cruises, trails and hotels are fully open; wildflowers peak in July, and in September the aspens turn gold and crowds thin out. Most facilities close in winter. It's about a 3-hour drive from Calgary; from the US side, you can enter via Montana Highways 89 and 17 (the Chief Mountain border crossing is open in summer only). There's no public transit in the park, so you'll need a car. Plan to stay 2–3 days. A Parks Canada pass is required for entry. Bears are common, so hike in groups and carry bear spray; some trails may still close temporarily following the 2017 Kenow Wildfire, so check official notices before setting out.

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Where to eat

Itineraries