The notebook of Parc national des Lacs-Waterton
Keep the peaks in sight.
Prairies, lakes and mountains meet brutally around a compact village close to the American border.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 7 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Mountain · Lake · Countryside · Nature
Variable accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Parc national des Lacs-Waterton
Prairies, lakes and mountains meet brutally around a compact village close to the American border.
The discovery of Waterton Lakes National Park is built around Upper Waterton Lake, Prince of Wales Hotel and Red Rock Canyon. The stay thus alternates between mountain reliefs, shores and lakes, the countryside and natural spaces, giving a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 7 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Upper Waterton Lake
- Prince of Wales Hotel
- Red Rock Canyon
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Nature and landscape
Upper Waterton Lake
Upper Waterton Lake between steep mountains and the American border, with the village of Waterton lying on its shores. The wind is often present there, ripping the water and strengthening the impression of an open valley; from the shore, the gaze goes far towards the tops of the nearby park.
Place indismissible
Prince of Wales Hotel
The Prince of Wales Hotel Upper Waterton Lake dominates from an exposed hill, with its silhouette of a large chalet beaten by the wind. Even seen from the outside, it strongly marks the landscape: dark wood, steep roofs, razed meadows and panorama diving on the lake and the mountains.
Nature and panorama
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon The contrast between coloured stone, cold water and alpine vegetation gives an easy but very visual visit, especially beautiful when the sun highlights the strata.
Nature and panorama
Crypt Lake Trail
Crypt Lake Trail is a demanding and famous Waterton hike, combining approach boat, sustained climb, tunnel, ladder and cornice before reaching the lake. It attracts experienced walkers who are looking for more than a panorama: a full day, varied, sometimes dizzying, in a decor of walls and waterfalls.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
