Exploring Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada

The Waterton- Glacier International Peace Park is the first “international peace park” in the world and includes Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and Glacier National Park in America. Established in 1931 with support from Rotary Clubs in both Alberta Canada and the US state of Montana and then officially created in 1932, the goal was to combine some of the resources, as well as preserve and protect the land and over 300 species of animals, including bears, wolves, lynx, eagles, and falcons,  as well as the Blackfeet Indians, Kootenai, and Salish Indian tribes who have lived on the land for thousands of years.

Upper Waterton Lake, the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies, is glacier fed with average temperatures of 40 degrees. Named for English naturalist Charles Waterton, the lake is seven miles long, about ½ mile wide, and over 400 feet deep. The lake is home to twenty species of fish (trout is the most common) and there are very strict guidelines about boating and fishing privileges in order to protect the ecosystems and prevent over fishing. The Kenyon Wildfire of September 2017 destroyed about 70% of the forest and evidence of the fire still exists today.

 Today, the town of Waterton has less than one hundred year round residents, but swells with visitors in popular late spring, summer, and early fall seasons. While some parts of Waterton are limited during winter months (there are still plenty of outdoor activities for skiers, snowshoers, and hikers, with over 120 miles of trails), now is the perfect time to plan a visit for the spring or summer. Waterton is a wonderful place the whole family will enjoy. 

Accessing the park and crossing the border: There are several ports of entry, although some are only open seasonally, with limited hours:

• Aden, Alberta/ Whitlash, Montana- open year round with limited hours
• Carway, Alberta/ Peigan, Montana- open year round
• Del Bonita, Alberta and Montana- open year round with longer hours during summer
• Wild Horse Alberta and Montana- open year round
• Coutts, Alberta/ Sweetgrass, Montana- open year round with 24 hour services
• Chief Mountain in Alberta and Montana- open seasonally. This was the port of entry we used (coming from Banff area and going to Glacier) and it was super easy and efficient. 

Don’t forget your passport! More information on accessibility and transportation here and here. 

Where to Stay: We loved our stay at the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel, which sits high on the bluff overlooking Upper Waterton Lake in the township of Waterton. Built in the late 1920s with the hopes of attracting the Prince of Wales on his 1927 trip to the area (he never did come to visit) and middle class Americans exploring the park, the hotel was designed to mimic the already established Yellowstone and Banff National Park resorts. The hotel has five floors of traditional rooms that offer views of Waterton Lakes or the mountains, as well as a few suites with separate bedrooms and separate sitting rooms.

• Dining on site: The Royal Stewart Dining Room offers daily breakfast and dinner (make a reservation!), Windsor Lounge and Lobby Lounge both offer small plates and snacks, great drinks and beautiful views, and the Princess Café has quick service drinks and snacks available all day. 
• Activities: Traditional afternoon tea, nightly history talks about the hotel and area, plenty of board games and books in the main lobby, tons of nearby hiking trails.
• Amenities: On site parking (nightly charge), wifi, large gift shop on the main floor,
• Of note: No televisions, air conditioning, or refrigerators in rooms; small guest rooms and very small (but updated!) bathrooms; some floors are accessible only by stairs.

Where to Eat: We mainly ate at the Prince of Wales hotel, but did enjoy a quick lunch at Wieners of Waterton and Rocky Mountain Pop Shop. A great index of dining options in town here. 

What to do: The town of Waterton and nearby areas include tons of opportunities for outdoor exploration. A good visitor guide can be found here and here and here and a list of activities by season can be found here. Here are a few “must dos”:

1. Learn about the area at the Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre: The center includes interactive exhibits (determining “skat” animal poop and animal habitats, learning about the terrain and phases of the moon), on site park staff to assist with backcountry reservations and permits, tons of print materials and maps, restrooms, facilities, a gift shop,and outdoor spaces to picnic. Don’t forget to get National Parks Passport stamps.

2. See the views from the water on a Waterton Shoreline Cruise Company boat cruise: The M. V. International offers multiple daily cruises (during peak summer season) that includes stops at Goat Haunt Island (where hikers can walk to the US border and Customs house and even spend the day hiking). Knowledgeable guides share tons of fun history and trivia during the boatride. Goat Haunt Island is approximately 32 miles from the famous Going to the Sun Road of Glacier National Park. Visitors must have their passport to cross the border.  Note: No Facilities on board, but there are restrooms at Goat Haunt Island.

3. Get splashed by a waterfall at Cameron Falls: A short walk from the downtown area (there is also some limited parking for cars across the street), the waterfall swells in the post winter melt with water flowing down from Cameron Lake. There are two paths on either side of the waterfall to climb and see the view from the top. Note: the paths are quite steep and we don’t recommend bringing the stroller.

4. Shop and dine in downtown Waterton: There are dozens of dining, shopping, and lodging options right downtown. While some spots are seasonal, many stay open year round. 

• There are also tons of hiking trails, biking trails, horsebacking riding lessons, spots to canoe and kayak in Lower Waterton Lakes, and even Dark Sky tours. 

Looking for other adventures in (fairly) nearby Banff? Check out our index of posts here and our index of US National Parks here.