Canada · Alberta
Waterton
Where Mountains Meet the Prairies
Where the Canadian Rockies rise abruptly from open prairie, Waterton offers a landscape unlike anywhere else.
Discover the destination
More than a destination
Where the Canadian Rockies rise abruptly from open prairie, Waterton offers a landscape unlike anywhere else.
Dramatic peaks descend toward crystalline lakes and windswept valleys, creating an intimate wilderness defined by striking contrasts, solitude and understated beauty.
LEGENDARY ADVENTURE
THE CRYPT LAKE EXPEDITION
Rated among the world's most thrilling day hikes by National Geographic. Board a private boat shuttle across Upper Waterton Lake, hike beside cascading torrents, crawl through a 60-foot natural rock tunnel, and scale a secured cliff ledge to reach a pristine sapphire cirque.
HERITAGE VISTA
PRINCE OF WALES HIGH TEA
Step inside the majestic 1927 Swiss-chalet hotel perched dramatically atop a windswept promontory. Savor traditional British high tea while overlooking the vast southern reaches of Upper Waterton Lake into Glacier National Park.
The essentials
A place to understand before you wander
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
- Best time
- June — September
- Ideal stay
- 2 — 3 days
- Known for
- Architectural Icon · Glacial Fjord · Townsite Falls
- Climate
- Chinook winds where peaks meet prairie
- Protected since
- 1895
In the landscape
Things to do
Lake Navigation
Waterton Lake Cruise
Explore Upper Waterton Lake by boat beneath dramatic mountain walls.
Signature Expedition
Crypt Lake Adventure
Take the boat shuttle across Waterton Lake before beginning one of the park’s most famous hikes.
Watercraft
Canoeing & Paddling
Experience Waterton’s lakes from the water, subject to current watercraft regulations.
Eco Safari
Wildlife Viewing
Watch for bears, deer, bighorn sheep and abundant birdlife across the park’s unusual prairie-to-mountain ecosystem.
Cycling
Explore quiet roads and designated cycling routes through the park.
Scenic Biking
Horseback Riding
Discover Waterton’s landscape on guided horseback excursions.
Equestrian
Winter Exploration
Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and peaceful winter landscapes transform Waterton after the summer season.
Quiet Season
On the trail
Walks and climbs
01Linnet Lake Loop
easy · 1 km loop
A short and relaxing walk close to the townsite.
02Prince of Wales Loop
easy · 2 km loop
An easy walk around one of Waterton’s most recognizable landmarks.
03Bear’s Hump
moderate · 2.8 km return
Short and steep, with one of the best panoramic views in Waterton.
04Lower Bertha Falls
moderate · 5.2 km return
A scenic forest hike leading to a beautiful cascading waterfall.
05Crypt Lake
challenging · 17.2 km return
One of Waterton’s signature adventures, combining a boat shuttle, waterfalls, a natural tunnel and dramatic mountain terrain.
06Alderson–Carthew
challenging · Approx. 19 km one way
A spectacular full-day alpine journey past mountain lakes, ridges and expansive views.
07Bertha Lake
challenging · 10.4 km return
A sustained mountain hike beyond Lower Bertha Falls to a beautiful alpine lake.
Must visit
The landmarks that define Waterton
Architectural Icon
In pictures
Scenes from the park
The story of the place
A landscape shaped by mountains, water and time
Established in 1895 after local rancher John George 'Kootenai' Brown urged the Canadian government to protect the area's rich ecology. In 1932, Waterton joined with Montana's Glacier National Park to form the world's very first International Peace Park, celebrating international friendship and borderless conservation.
Located in southwestern Alberta along the Montana border, Waterton is characterized by the sudden juxtaposition of flat prairie grasslands and near-vertical Rocky Mountain peaks with no foothills in between. Upper Waterton Lake is the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies (148 m).
Wildlife of the park
Plains Bison · Grizzly Bear · Black Bear · Bighorn Sheep · Mule Deer · Cougar · Golden Eagle · Osprey
Find it
Where is Waterton?
Waterton sits in Alberta, Canada. The panel marks the park until a live map is connected.
National park
Alberta
Canada
- Coordinates
- 49.0833° N, 113.9167° W
- Elevation
- 1,274 m (4,180 ft)
- Protected area
- 505 km²
- Established
- 1895
- UNESCO
- UNESCO World Heritage Site & Peace Park (1995)
Practical notes
Travel with the mountain, not against it
Arrival
Getting there
Airport
Calgary or Lethbridge, then a scenic drive south through ranch country.
Road
Highways 5 and 6 both end in the Waterton townsite, beneath the peaks.
Train
Passenger rail does not serve the park. The approach is by road.
In the park
The townsite is walkable. A seasonal boat crosses the international lake.
The year
Weather
Summer
Late June through August offers calm summer mornings, full boat cruises, and vibrant wildflower displays. Autumn brings crisp air, glowing aspens, and rutting elk bugling across the grasslands.
Autumn
Clearer trails and thinner crowds around Waterton, with frost arriving first on the summits.
Winter
Snow settles over Waterton. Daylight is short, the air is dry, and the landscape feels newly emptied.
Spring
Waterfalls run full as the snowpack releases. Higher routes around Waterton open late.
Before you go
Travel tips
What to pack
Layers, a rain shell, broken-in shoes and sun protection. Mountain weather turns inside an hour.
Safety
Stay on marked routes, carry water, and read the day’s trail and road alerts before leaving town.
Wildlife awareness
Give Plains Bison, Grizzly Bear, Black Bear plenty of room. Never approach or feed an animal.
Park rules
A valid national park pass is required. Drones, off-trail travel and feeding wildlife are restricted.
Through the year
Experience the destination
Spring
Meltwater fills the rivers around Waterton. Lower trails open while the high country is still waking.
Suggested · Linnet Lake Loop
Summer
Late June through August offers calm summer mornings, full boat cruises, and vibrant wildflower displays. Autumn brings crisp air, glowing aspens, and rutting elk bugling across the grasslands.
Suggested · Waterton Lake Cruise
Autumn
The light softens over Waterton. Crowds thin, and the high country turns gold before the first lasting snow.
Suggested · Prince of Wales Loop
Winter
Waterton settles under snow. Days are bright, cold and made for a slower kind of mountain travel.
Suggested · Winter Exploration
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