Blog

Welcome to this article about what to see in the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

Through our own experience of 21 days of travel through the Canadian Rockies, we tell you what you can do and what to see in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

On our route, this is our sixth National Park visited, of the seven National Parks of Canada which are located in the Canadian Rockies. We visited it after the visit to Kootenay National Park Canada and before crossing into the United States, where we will go to discover Montana's Glacier National Park In U.S.A.

AN IMPORTANT TIP: Don't travel to Canada without a good travel insurance, avoid big problems. It is one of the first requirements that they tell you on the Canadian government website along with the processing of the And so.
We recommend you the Iati Star We hired this insurance after a good comparison and study of the different ones on the market. It is the only one that exceeds one million euros of coverage. Without a doubt, it is the best for North America, where breaking a leg costs you €150.000, as happened to a friend of ours in the USA. Another positive thing is that Iati has an app for virtual visits.
I leave you here a link where you have a 5% off for any Iati travel insurance.

About us

A little history of Waterton Lakes National Park

Belonging to the province of alberta, from Canada, and near the United States border, Waterton Lakes National Park is also one of the oldest parks in Canada of the Rocky Mountains, created in 1895.

 It is one of the Rocky Mountain National Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which symbolically unite in peace Canada and the United States.

Its name comes from Charles Waterton, British naturalist and explorer from the 19th century that was instrumental in establishing this National Park of Canada.

The main attractions of Waterton Lakes to see are the Cameron Lake, Cameron Falls, Red Rock Canyon and Blakiston Falls. 

These places make this park, less known and visited in the Canadian Rockies, an impressive place that is well worth a visit. 

If you really want to see the Rocky Mountains in all their splendor, I recommend coming to the south of the Canadian Rockies and seeing this Natural Park together with Glacier National Park in Montana, USA, 30 minutes away. One of the most majestic places in the Rockies without a doubt.

Location of Waterton Lakes National Park

Al southern Alberta province of Canada we found the location of Waterton Lakes National Park.

You can see the exact location at Google Maps here

TIP FOR HAVING INTERNET IN CANADA: Internet in Canada is essential, although coverage outside the towns leaves something to be desired, I can tell you that in advance! We use a card with unlimited data Holafly and it was great for us. You can buy it with a 5% OFF through this link.

How to get to Waterton Lakes Canada

On our trip we arrived in Canada at the airport Calgary which is the closest to the Canadian Rockies.

Just 3,5 hours from Calgary you will find Waterton Lakes Natioinal Park. 

The best way to access is with your own rented vehicle, there are very few options for public transport, if not to say that there are none that are direct and easy. There is no transportation to Waterton Lakes from Calgary direct and it is very complicated if it is not a private vehicle.

Where to stay in Waterton Lakes National Park

Surely, Waterton Park, you will want it to be yours base for visiting Waterton Lakes National Park It is without a doubt the best place to visit the National Park, it is right in the middle of the park and is the only town within. In addition, it is on the shores of Upper Waterton Lake and has all the services, with many small shops and very nice restaurants.

The bad thing about Waterton Park is that it only has 7 accommodations available and only one public campground. Of these 7 I definitely recommend staying at the mythical and historic Prince of Wales, where we were even able to see a beautiful piano concert.

That makes you have to book well in advance Or like us, you will have to look for something outside the park, which is also complicated due to the remoteness of the towns in this area.

Best time to visit Waterton Lakes National Park

The climate in Waterton Lakes is like that of most Rocky Mountain destinations. Generally cold weather and mild summers, with even hot days for swimming in the lakes. 

If you're looking for bathe in the lakes and do water activities, the ideal is Visiting Waterton Lakes National Park in Summer during July and August, which are the warmest and best weather months.

En spring and fall You can still go hiking, wildlife watching and water sports, but with the added bonus of colder weather and possible rain with strong gusts of wind and even snow that hit this area. We went at the beginning of September and apart from rain and wind, there was also snow on the mountain tops!

On winter, Snowy landscapes and cross-country skiing This is what predominates in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

It depends on your tastes and preferences for activities, you may prefer one time of year or another. Your budget can also affect your preferences. July and August are high season and everything is more expensive and difficult to book, but if you travel in spring or autumn you can find better prices and fewer people.

Ideal 2-day route through Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada

The route I propose is based on the 12 essentials described below and is to help you plan your route through Waterton Lakes National Park.

Day 1 through Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada

El Day 1. What I would do is go park in the parking lot of Red Rock Canyon and from there visit the red canyon and the Blakiston Falls making about 4 km of circular trail. Then I would go down to the Waterton Park area, the central population center of the National Park. There I would first stop to see the Linnet Lake and the Middle Waterton Lake, then I would climb to the top from Bear's Hum Trail to see the sights and would visit the Prince of Wales hotel making a 2 km trail around from the picnic area of Emerald Bay where I would have a picnic.

From there I would visit the Park Visitor Center, the shore of the Upper Waterton Lake and the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, to end the day with the small Trail to Cameron Falls.

Day 2 through Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada

El Day 2. The first thing to visit would be the Bison Paddock and after seeing the beautiful bison I would arrive by the Akamina Parkway, an emblematic road, until Cameron Lake where I would rent a kayak and would eat a picnic in their area picnic.

What to see in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada

Next, I will finish detailing the Activities in Waterton Lakes National Park and the best places What to see in Waterton Lakes National Park, a park that the whole family fell in love with.

The first thing we recommend you visit, before anything else, is the Visitor Center at Waterton Lakes National Park, the first point to visit in Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada where you will be given maps and all the information about safety, bears, weather and everything you need to know during your visit.

Furthermore, If you are traveling with children to Waterton Lakes Remember to ask at the Visitor Center for the Explorer's booklet. Upon completion, you will receive your reward, a hanging badge, which will be a great souvenir of your family trip.

Seeing bison at the Bison Paddock, a must-see in Waterton Lakes National Park

Within from the Bison Paddock, like a very large fenced estate of about 100 hectares, you can see a large herd of bison in a National Park preservation project, where they are recovering the native plains bison. A species that has been declining drastically in recent years due to hunting and which is now being attempted to be preserved and recovered again.

To visit it you must do it inside your vehicle, a dirt road designed for slow driving. It is strictly forbidden to get out of your vehicle and we do not recommend it under any circumstances.

Linnet Lake and photo with the red chairs

Parking in this small parkng On the shores of Middle Waterton Lake, apart from being able to take a very nice photo in the typical red chairs of the National Parks of Canada, we can take a small circular marked trail around Linnet Lake, the goldfinch lake in Spanish. A route of only 1 km very easy to do that includes interpretive panels. 

Cameron Lake, a “must” to see in Waterton Lakes National Park 

On the same emblematic road as the previous point we can advance and park at the Cameron Lake day use area, on the shores of Cameron Lake. 

Cameron Lake is one of the iconic lakes in Waterton Lakes National Park. Its waters are crystal clear, there are Picnic and beach area, although the water is very cold, with kayak rentals.

Hike to the top of Mount Crandell, Bear's Hump Trail for the best views, Waterton Lakes must-do hike

Very close to the Prince of Wales Hotel, we can park in a small parking lot or at the Waterton Lakes National Park information point and make a route of less than 3 km round trip by the same place called Bear's Hump, which goes to the top of Mount Crandell. 

The route begins with a steep climb and wooden stairs, but the reward is a summit with spectacular views from all this side of the National Park. An essential route to see Waterton Lakes from a bird's eye view.

Prince of Wales Hotel, one of the attractions in Waterton Lakes and an icon of the National Park

If you never see a single photograph of this National Park, you will surely see this hotel as a character in the Waterton Lakes landscape. A hotel that It looks like something out of Disneyland Pariss.

It is a hotel located in a top tip of emerald bay, very characteristic and beautiful due to its location and construction.

It is worth making a stop at your parking lot and you contemplate it. It is open to the public its Hall where the hotel's spectacular antique chandelier is located and where there is also a souvenir shop. Being a historic place in Canada it has a lot of charisma and they usually make free summer music concerts.

Upper Waterton Lake Emerald Bay Picnic Area

Very close to the previous hotel and in a beautiful location in Emerald Bay you will find a picnic area with 16 tables great, 3 wheelchair accessible, with toilets and water taps and a beach in the bay to enjoy a nice picnic.

This picnic area is located in the bay of Upper Waterton Lake, the largest lake in the park and the most famous for its crystal-clear waters and surrounding mountain scenery.

From the picnic area comes a Prince of Wales circular route during 2 km passes around the iconic hotel overlooking Upper and Middle Waterton lakes. It's easy to do and very pretty.

Sculpture at the International Peace Park in Waterton Park

In the main inland town of Waterton Park National Park we find the world's first international peace park. This park was created in 1932 to symbolize the friendship between Canada and the United States.

You will find it very close to the Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre, north of Waterton Park on the shores of the lake.

Cameron Falls

Leaving the vehicle in the parking lot of Cameron Falls Trail We can start a small hiking route and end up seeing these beautiful little emerald-colored waterfalls. 

If we follow the circular trail indicated as Townsite, we can do a complete circular route of 3.5 km in total through different points of the town of Waterton Park apart from seeing the waterfalls. In addition, this Trail is signposted and has interpretive panels along the entire route.

There are several options on this hike. Here I leave you a track to see the waterfalls.

Red Rock Canyon, a “must” to see in Waterton Lakes National Park

In Waterton Lakes National Park, there is one of those places a little different from what is usual in the Canadian Rockies where green and blue dominate. There is a canyon formed by a small river that gives a glimpse of the Reddish colors above the other colors of the water and mountains from around.

From the Red Rock Canyon Parking Lot There are different hiking routes. The easiest one is a circular route that doesn't even reach a kilometer very easy to do.

Bertha Falls

In a 5,2 km round trip route that takes approximately 1,5 or 2 hours Depending on what you like, you can take a lovely hike to see Bertha Falls.

A little further along from the Cameron Falls parking lot is the Bertha Falls Parking Lot where this route starts.

Blakiston Falls, another must-see in Waterton Lakes National Park

Parking in the same parking lot as Red Rock Canyon we have a 2 km trail there and back to visit the Blakiston Falls. An easy trail that can be done in less than an hour and with beautiful views.

If we want we can make one 4km loop route from Red Rock Canyon where we can see both Red Rock Canyon and Blakiston Falls.

Canada's first oil drilling along the Akamina Parkway

As a historic site, we can take the iconic Akamina Parkway in Waterton Lakes National Park and see the first oil well in Western Canada.

It can park on the side of the road and see this historic place with information panels today.

Map of what to see in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada

Below, I show you the map we made to plan our entire route through Waterton Lakes National Park with all the places to see in Waterton National Park of Canada.

Where to eat in Waterton Lakes National Park

There are many restaurants in Waterton Lakes village, all of them good and with a very welcoming Canadian alpine atmosphere.

Most are located on the same street and the parallel one and close to the Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Center and near the lake shore.

The best restaurants and souvenir shops in Waterton Lakes can be found in Waterton Lakes. Just down the street I can recommend a restaurant where we had a great meal with a great Canadian mountain atmosphere: Trappers Mountain Grill.

Tips for visiting Waterton Lakes National Park

Apart from the 30 tips for traveling to Canada that you have in this post that we wrote, for Waterton Lakes National Park I would give you the following tips:

• Be very careful with the Bears. Always carry bear spray. When we went there were many signs of recent sightings on busy trails.
• When planning your trip to Waterton Lakes, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance. There is very little available and it sells out quickly. Outside the National Park, there are many miles to other towns with more accommodation.

Waterton Lakes National Park with kids: Activities and tips

Traveling to Waterton Lakes with children is ideal. In our case we traveled with our two children and found many family activities in Waterton Lakes National Park. From doing canoeing on the lakes, boating or simply taking short hiking trails ideal with them, are some of the activities with children that you can do in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Finally, if you travel with children, don't forget to ask for the book Explore at the Visitor Center. A educational program for children Waterton National Park that you'll all love to do. When you complete it, take it back to the Visitor Center and they'll give you a cool souvenir badge.

Waterton Lakes National Park FAQs

Next, I will try to answer you. Some questions about Waterton Lakes and some Questions about traveling to Waterton Lakes National Park that you have been asking us. I hope they are helpful to you:

• How much does it cost to enter Waterton Lakes National Park? When entering the Park you must pay the park pass or show the Discovery Pass Annual if you have one, which is valid all year round and in all 48 national parks in Canada. Without a doubt, at €100 it is the most worthwhile, especially if you are going to visit more than one national park. Otherwise, passes for just one park can be annual or day passes and the price varies.
• Is it safe to camp at Waterton Lakes with bears? It is safe to always do it in a Parks Canada public campground and always keep food in one of the bear-proof boxes or inside the motorhome, camper or vehicle. Parks Canada has a lot of control over the bear population and euthanizes aggressive bears.
• What are the best hiking trails in Waterton Lakes? The most iconic and must-do hiking trail is to the summit of Mount Crandell, from the Bear's Hump Trail, a short but quite steep route where you'll find the best views of Waterton Lakes National Park.
• Can you visit Waterton Lakes in winter? Waterton is generally covered in snow in winter. It is best to bring Nordic or mountain skis and you can visit almost the entire park with them.

Conclusions from our visit to Waterton Lakes National Park Canada

Despite spending a day and a half of the 3 we were there with heavy rain and wind, visiting Waterton Lakes National Park was a great success on our route through the Rocky Mountains. 

Journalist Jorge Méndez was One of the national parks in Canada that we liked the most. First of all, because of the few people that we found and the tranquility that was breathed.

Secondly, for its different landscapes to the rest of the national parks of northern Canada. Reddish tones, blue lakes of better temperatures, pastures and Choral lands full of ranches with cows… 

The assembly Waterton Lakes National Park landscape it is pure harmony, peace and beauty.

If you have any doubts about coming, don't do it, go. When you arrive, enjoy it and remember our recommendations.

Good route friends!