Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada

A must-see gem. Waterton Lakes National Park is absolutely beautiful, offering plenty of activities for all kinds of visitors. Explore the charming town, take a scenic hike, or paddle across the stunning lake in a canoe. Don’t miss the breathtaking waterfalls! For a unique experience, visit the iconic hotel and enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea ceremony. A perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike!

Waterton Lakes National Park never disappoints. Stunning vistas, cool streams, wildlife, marshlands, and mountain peaks. Places to relax or go for a week long backpacking adventure. Good food at a number of establishments in town. Camping, biking, hiking, kayaking and so many more activities. Plenty of places for you to pull over and have a picnic lunch while enjoying the scenic grandeur all around. You won’t regret a visit to Waterton.

We spent three days at Waterton Lakes National Park and it was a delightful hidden gem. Our cozy cottage in Mountain View served as the perfect base for our daily park explorations. One highlight was a cruise on the lake to Goat Haunt, a part of Glacier National Park. We visited scenic spots like the Bison Paddock, Cameron Lake, and Red Rock Canyon. We also enjoyed kayaking on Cameron Lake; the rates were very reasonable. The charming town within the park offered quaint shops and cafes. Waterton Lakes National Park is truly a fantastic destination, especially on a sunny summer day. Don't miss out!

Amazingly beautiful little town set in an impossibly beautiful & awe inspiring location. Amazing iconic wooden hotel perched on a hill overlooking town & beautiful lake, surrounded by magnificent mountain vistas. Lovely shopping and dning options & don't miss out on the lake cruise options to Montana at the other end of the lake. Wildlife abounding - even at the edge of town ! Bears and Deer abundant in the area - lovely drives/hikes nearby - Red Rock Canyon & especially Cameron Lake are stunning. The effect of the catastrophic wildfire in 2017 is still evident everywhere, but has generated beautiful and dramatic vistas and photo opportunities. A fantastic location - not to be missed. Note: superb in-town lakeside campsite for RVs - full facilities - water, waste dump, power, toilets & showers.

My first national park I've been to in Canada! It's incredibly peaceful and beautiful. Stores are closed during winter time

I drove through this park on my way from Calgary to Montana, not knowing anything about it. It’s so incredibly beautiful. It was a holiday when I was there so it was really busy. I wasn’t able to visit the town or the visitors center due to parking, but I was able to park at other places along the way to put my feet in the lake, go to the overlooks, etc. It’s a great park for a day trip or to stay and explore more activities. I will definitely return if I’m in the area again.

This is a brilliant place to stay either as a destination or if you are going between the US parks and Canada parks. We were going from Banff to Glacier National Park in the US. This is actually the ideal place to stay the night if you are going to GlacierNP as you come in the St Mary’s entrance to Glacier, so do not need a pass for Going to the Sun Road. It would be an ideal place to stay going in either direction. The park itself is lovely, some amazing lakes and beautiful mountains. Its basically a Canadian extension to Glacier NP on the US side and the main lake crosses the border. You can hike for miles along the lake or just enjoy the village or maybe get a boat out on the lake. If you follow the hiking trail out of Waterton park, there are some astounding mountain peaks in vibrant colours such as Bertha Peak and Mount Carthew. If you are in the area, I would certainly recommend stopping here for a visit.

Beautiful Canadian park with lots of trails, hikes, nature and views to enjoy. Many wild animals. A quaint little town. Don't forget to see the bison just outside the park gates, they're worth a look!

Beautiful national park with waterfalls, lake and camping sites! Part of the park has the waterfalls and room for campers. The other part has small motels and stores and boat rides onto the lake. Prince of Wales is a historic, expensive hotel one can stay at.

Just across the border in southern Alberta, Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park makes up the 2nd half of the Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park. The Landmark Prince of Wales Hotel is perched above town overlooking the lake, it's a place as beautiful as it is charming.

Great National Park that partners with Glacier to form an international peace park. The main part of this park is a working town. Expect lots of traffic coming in and around that town. Enjoy hikes around the main lake or branch off to the mountains for excellent seclusion in nature. You must buy a park pass to reach this town either at the entry gate or in the main visitor center in town. Park police does check so don't try to get away without having one. Trying camping here if possible to enjoy the certified dark sky beauty on a clear night.

Traveling from Denver into southern Canada this park is exciting and varied! Allow at least 4 days to experience Wharton Village and the surrounding areas for sightseeing and hiking. The vast number of visible mountains makes for extraordinary excursions. The prince of wales hotel is a great place to stay and recommend the 4th floor facing the lake (south). But more economical lodging at many levels is available in the village right at lake level.

Drove from Calgary to visit this national park and it was worth the drive. The lakes are beautiful. It can get really windy in areas, so dressing in layers is a must. The ace ice drive to Red Rock Canyon is a can't miss with several viewpoints. Once you get to the canyon there's hiking to waterfalls and easy access to see the riverside red rocks.

This is a much smaller park on the northern tip of Glacier NP but the scenery is amazing. The mountains and lakes are majestic. We were going to Glacier but had an extra day and since we were coming from Roosevelt Park it was sort of on the way. Just before we came got an email from our lodge in the park telling us there has been heavy rain and landslides so all the scenic drives and hiking trails are closed. We were only going to be here for one night before going to Glacier so decided to stick to the plan anyway even if there are no trails to hike. However on arrival two days later the Red Rock canyon drive was open and so are a few other trails, the only part closed was the Akimina section. We ended up taking a couple of hikes - at the Red Rock Canyon, Lower Bertha Falls, the latter we didn't get back till around 8 pm and it was our favorite - the falls strong and rapid, not falling from a very high distance but attractive as the water rolls over many protruding rocks forming a nice pattern and scenic views of the lake at every turn. Watch out for the cyclists however especially when they are coming downhill as all hiking trails here seem to be shared with cyclists.

Fabulous location with majestic views, striking mountains, and rippling waters. Very windy here and the weather (at least in May) is crisp, ever changing. Highly recommended

We only got to spend a day here after we were on the Glacier side for a couple of days, but what we saw of the park was gorgeous. Unfortunately, most of the hiking we wanted to do was still closed from wild fire damage. Red Rock Canyon, Bear Paw, Cameron Lake, and many others were all closed. We did the boat tour of Upper Waterton Lake which was gorgeous and we got to see a bald eagle. We did a hike through a meadow that I believe was called Belluve. There were a bunch of wild flowers in the meadow which was pretty, but overall it was a bit underwhelming. I wish we would have hiked Bertha Falls instead. This park seems to have a lot to offer and I would want to come back when more of it was open.

Sort of the little sister to Glacier National Park - being so much smaller - Waterton holds its own and not just because it's full of Canadians. I first visited Waterton in 1986 as part of a GNP trip. We went up across the border and checked out the super cool Prince of Wales hotel and its awesome lake views. Plus a little hiking. The second trip (only two nights) was to WLNP as a primary destination but unfortunately, fires that season had ravaged the park, closing much of it to hikers. Bummer, but the forest must renew itself. So we made do with poking around the town of Waterton and making a side trip to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage site an hour and half away. The town of Waterton is small but quaint, as they say. There's plenty of shops to hit up, restaurants and drinking spots. Good pub: Thirsty Bear Good coffee shop: Larkspur Good chocolate/candy shop: Welch's Good trinkets and gift shop: Zum's Eatery and Mercantile Good hotel that isn't the P of W: Waterton Glacier Suites

Waterton Lakes National Park is great. I'm a fan of it. I paired it with visiting Glacier National Park as well for a week long journey. Though, I only spent 2 full days here, which was actually more than enough time to get a feel for this place. I was expecting as good of scenery as Glacier, but it didn't quite measure up. Still, Waterton is very pretty and worthwhile considering it neighbors Glacier and the whole area in general is filled with beautiful scenery and plentiful hikes and outdoors exploring. Interesting to note, while entrance to Glacier NP was $35, it only cost $10 in Canadian to enter Waterton. Wow, what a difference! Good thing I'm American as when I visited last month, the value of the American dollar was worth much more than the Canadian dollar....I felt like activities, attractions, accommodations and eateries were a bargain! Quick tip for anyone...pay everything you do with credit card, as for me....my Visa credit card simply performed the exchange rate for me on my statement. For example, I charged a meal for $25 and only paid $18 when I got my bill. Onto the good stuff...First when arriving at Waterton, you come upon iconic PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL. Absolutely get photos of it. It's a throwback/rustic lodge and European looking chalet. Inside you can walk around and explore for free. The BEST PART about Prince of Wales Hotel is you can exit the lounge area and walk out onto the cliffs ledge for wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. Almost every tourist congregates here at this impressive overlook, enjoying the beautiful waters with 2 mountain ranges converging on each other making for 1 immaculate panorama! I recommend visiting in the afternoon as the sun will be at your back to help enhance picture taking. The town of Waterton is a quaint little village. It's roughly 2 full streets lined with dining options, gift shops and stores. It's pleasant to walk around and explore. There's even a pier where you can hang out and appreciate more terrific views of Waterton including looking out towards the Prince of Wales Hotel from the water. Lastly, there's a little "mom and pop" movie theater in town where at 7:30pm, I caught the Lion King film, only $10 cash Canadian. By the pier, a recommended attraction is taking a tour of the Waterton waters by boat. The "INTERNATIONAL" boat or "MISS WATERTON" boat takes you on a 7 mile, 2 hour journey of the area, crossing into the United States to Goat Haunt, Montana and returning while getting you up close perspectives of the surroundings. It cost $53 Canadian and I bought my ticket for the first boat tour of the day at 9:30am. For these boat tours, get in line early to nab a seat on the upper deck. There is a spot along the water's pier that signifies the coexistence of the US and Canada and Waterton and Glacier being recognized as one big International Peace Park. I'd say this monument sits right near the boat docks area. PAT'S OF WATERTON - situated in the center of town, they rent bicycles (a very popular activity - since Akamina and Red Rock Parkways were closed to cars for the 2019 season), offers gas, snacks, souvenirs. I did rent a mountain bike for unlimited day use for $60 - Canadian. They do offer motorized E-BIKES that help pedal you along for $30 for the 1st hour and $20 each additional hour. CAMERON FALLS - sits right at the southwest corner of Waterton Village. Literally, a roadside attraction where you can park, get out and take a few photos of these pretty falls. You can walk up a trail to get an overview of the falls from atop. But this waterfall was quite nice for a 15 minute stop. The Visitors Center is in town. A little tricky to find. I asked someone at Pat's to help guide me there. There were a few attractions that were closed and or closed to cars for 2019 due to a fire that damaged parts of the area.... AKAMINA PARKWAY - closed to cars, but you can bicycle it or hike it (hiking = tough). 9.4 mile drive - just south of Visitors Center. I biked it, uphill, against the wind and tiring! After 7 miles I turned around. Other tourists recommended I rent an E-BIKE instead of a plain ole mountain bike. Cameron Lake sits at the end of the parkway. Although I never made it, I read it's very picturesque. RED ROCK PARKWAY - (no cars for 2019) - 8.7 mile road ending up at Blakiston Falls Trail - a worthwhile hike at the end of the road. BEARS HUMP TRAIL - 9/10's mile each way gaining 700 feet overlooks all of Waterton from the peak. A favorite according to locals. One of the best hikes I did was right on the outskirts of town...BERTHA LAKE! I hiked 2.6 kilometers each way just to Bertha Falls. But, the sights and vantage points along the way were fantastic! I highly enjoyed this trail! The falls were okay but getting there, you pass multiple inspiring photo opportunities! In all, Waterton National Park is a fun, cool way to spend 1 - 2 days exploring a park so closely connected to 5 stars - Glacier. I recommend visiting.

I will be giving this review copying and pasting to both the Canada federal park system and specifically to the park staff and specifically to Blackistock kayak rentals who helped us out tremendously and also specifically to the ferry company at Waterton which unfortunately literally almost killed us so I highly don't recommend their company even though they have a monopoly on all ferry boat rides in Waterton national park. However I will tell you a way you can get around that and not give them any of your hard earned money because they have absolutely no clue about water safety or customer service or care for their fellow human beings. Killing tourists is really not good for business when you're in the tourism business, this is pretty basic -I shouldn't have to point this out.........Anyway long story short, a week ago I checked into the federal campground at Waterton national park. My friends and I planned to do some hiking and kayaking. We hiked so many incredible routes I can barely remember them all, Bertha peak, blackistock falls, red rock Canyon, Bears Hump three times, Boundry Bay along lower Waterton lake. Then on the last day before I broke camp and checked into the Prince of Wales Hotel my girlfriend Beth and I decided to rent kayaks from Blackistone and kayak across the border to Montana because neither of us had ever been to Montana. I should mention at this point we are both accomplished kayakers, I used to be a kayak instructor at camp and I've been doing it for over 46 years. Beth grew up on Vancouver island right on the beach and her family has many boats including kayaks and she's been doing it her whole life as well. The staff at Blackstock Kayak Rental's were wonderful and gave us a double kayak for the cost of $100 for a five hour rental. We walked the kayak to a nearby beach and jumped in. Unfortunately when we had decided to kayak for the day in the lake was like glass and not a breath of wind which is very unusual for Waterton. Of course by the time we dipped our paddles in there were whitecaps and large waves. However we powered through it and within about an hour and a half we were very close to Montana. I'll add some pictures here, there is a cutline through the trees that shows the border between USA and Canada which shows what lovely friendly neighbours we are that we don't need a massive fence or wall....... Anyway we were hugging near the west coast because the waves were high enough I realized if we accidentally dumped into the water we'd be dead within five minutes definitely because this is a glacier fed lake and unbelievably freezing cold. Perhaps 1°C. At that point I looked over to my left to the east side of the lake which was so far away it was barely a speck in the distance but I saw a large white power boat that looked to be pointing right for us and sure enough we watched across the entire lake and it deliberately cut us off and missed our kayak by less than 10 feet. The boat was called the Connie Marlene. It was very clear because it was a massive boat and the name was printed in huge letters. I certainly got a good luck because it was close enough to kill us. The tourists on the back of the boat thought the whole thing was hilarious. Fortunately Beth and I knew we had to point our kayak very quickly perpendicular into the massive wake or else we would've been swamped for sure. The boat captain obviously had no idea if we were any good and if he had tried this maneuver with neophytes who didn't know what they were doing they would've been swamped and dead for sure because he was travelling at a high speed and certainly didn't turn around to look to see whether or not we were alive. Even though we avoided being swamped the height of the massive wake was big enough to send a huge wave over top of our kayak and because we had no skirts the kayak was immediately filled with unbelievably freezing cold water. Fortunately we had a bailing bucket and we were able to get to shore and dump out some of the water. When we returned we called Michael the owner of Blackstock and he was able to send staff, Jamie who was super helpful to bail out our kayak and return it to the store because we were both suffering hypothermia and I was so worried about Beth who is extremely thin and she was so pale her hands for white and she was shaking shaking uncontrollably..... I called the Canada Parks warden named Ron who was super helpful and calmed me down because I was furious and shaking and I must admit I dropped a few F bombs while swearing about that boat captain who I hope if there is a hell he ends up there...... Ron got my details including my name and phone number and I also mentioned that we were camping and I was furious because now everything we had was soaking wet and it's not like I could go home and throw

If you've seen the Alberta Rockies in Jasper and Banff, you might think that you've seen it all, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Waterton is an incredibly beautiful place full of lakes, mountains, and views for days. Every time I come down, I'm blown away by the natural beauty of the park and love hiking and exploring to see more. I can't wait to tackle Crypt Lake sooner than later!

Becareful where you turn in. You don't want to end up crossing the boarder without a passport. Well I made sure I turned into the park. So came here with a friend to check out this National Park since its Canada 150 Anniversary and its free admission. This park is known for Cameron Fall and Red Rock Canyon. Don't get confused this is just the same name as the one in Nevada and not the same park. Its beautiful to come here. There is also a small little village here similar to Banff. But of course, not as big as Banff. If you have a full day and the weather is looking good. It would definitely be fun to hike. You can see Montana from Cameron Lake. May not be a good idea to paddle across to the boarder. Also you can see BC from some parts of this Park. I didn't go there, since I know how BC looks like and I am from there.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. We were on a 2 week road trip visiting a bunch of the National Parks in the western part of the US. We wanted to make it up to Canada but didn't think we had the time to go all the way to Banff (I believe Banff is about 2 hours further than Waterton Lakes). My husband found out about Waterton Lakes online and we decided we could make this work for our trip, since it's only about an hour from Glacier National Park, which we were already planning to visit. In my opinion, if you are visiting either Glacier National Park in MT or Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, you should also visit the other one since those 2 are only an hour apart. Crossing the border between Glacier NP and Waterton Lakes is a remote border crossing so there was no wait, no hassle, etc. It was very easy in both directions. Watertown Lakes National Park has a very reasonable entry fee. I cannot remember what it was, maybe around $25, but whatever it was I remember it was significantly less than many of the National Parks in the States. The girl at the gate provided us with maps and information. We did not have reservations so didn't think we'd get a camp site at the very nice camp ground. Especially because we were rolling up in the evening when it was so full already. But we really lucked out and the very nice guy at the entrance of the camp site gave us a great camp site that was an "emergency site" that was open. The campground was beautiful. We had gorgeous views of the lake and mountains. We had electricity at the camp site, there was a dishwashing station nearby, and the showers were included which were very clean. Speaking of cleanliness, the entire park was very clean and well-maintained. Along the lake, there were adirondack chairs, benches, etc. It was such a beautiful setting. We were so impressed and pleasantly surprised and really glad that we came. On our second day we ended up doing a gorgeous hike with beautiful views of the mountains, lake, and we even found a waterfall. We had bear spray with us, but everyone we talked to said the'd been coming for years and never once had to use the bear spray. We also did a scenic drive that looked like Heaven on Earth. This place is seriously so beautiful. Inside the park, there is an adorable little village with lodging, restaurants, a laundry mat, etc. We ate at 2 of the restaurants and the food here was SO DELICIOUS and it was very reasonably priced for a national park. We were very impressed with how reasonable all of the prices were throughout the park. Another great thing about Waterton Lakes NP is that it is super dog friendly. I did not see a single sign anywhere in the park that prohibited dogs in any area. This is drastically different from the national parks in the US, where dogs are not allowed on trails. It was so nice to be able to hike with our pooch. It is a breath of fresh air how clean, dog-friendly, and also people-friendly Waterton Lakes is! We met some very nice folks. Everyone was so nice. I'm sure Banff is absolutely beautiful as well, but I think Waterton Lakes is a lesser known secret gem. It was not at all crowded like many of the other National Parks we visited were. I think this was my favorite stop on our entire 2 week journey. I cannot wait to go back some day!

We stayed in the main campground at Waterton for 3 days. The park itself is beautiful and obviously had a lot of thought put into offering one of Canada's best kept secrets to the people passing through. A great variety of trails and views- the lake, the mountains, the waterfalls.... However, the campground was just okay. I am used to BC Parks and the trees and privacy most of them offer. There were no trees but lots of grassy areas. The campground is between rangeland and a buffulo pasture so there was a huge amount of flies. The lawns in the campground were riddled with large ground squirrel holes so one had to be careful when walking through. There was lots of space so a small off leash dog park would have been nice to let the dogs run contained after the evening meal.

when the ski is blue the red in the canyon is even more amazing. it was very small just took a few moment to walk around and see it. This a must stop if your visiting Waterton lake National Park. Red Rock is pretty small but the colors make it just stunning.Most of the time you can see bears along the way, DON'T FEED THE BEARS as they say a feed bear is a dead bear, Look at them enjoy them and take pictures from a distance and move on. We hoped to see bears ... especially grizzly but had no luck that day .. did see a couple deers and moose but not at the canyon.

I really like the forest here. It is always a pleasure to come here to smell and see! The town is also very nice with a great feel to it. I am still sad about that fire in September 2017. Come here in the summer! It is awesome!

Was told about this park by a friend. "All the beauty of Banff, half the commercialism". The town definitely has a more rustic feel to it, and I love that about it. Hiked a few trails around the park, Bear's Hump was the highlight of my stay. Red Rock Canyon and Blakiston Falls were great to see. Nice small town, I camped at the Townsite Campground. Easy to leave the car at the campground and just walk around town, and hike the trails. Definitely would come here again.

Best vacation my husband and I have ever had . Wonderful hiking . Went to bears hump, blakiston falls and red rock canyon ! Saw 4 bears , so carry your bear spray . We noticed no one carried it . The view at top of bears hump was unforgettable and worth the climb . Take it slow as we did and it only takes 1 1/2 hour to go up and less to come down . Great hike ! Can't wait to go back!

Have to admit, I'm amazed Waterton Lakes hasn't been reviewed on yelp. Granted, there's not much around here for foodies, but for anyone who loves scenery and fewer crowds this is a must-go place! Highlights from a trip in the summer of 2008: Crypt Lake Hike: Admittedly, I was kind of amused and skeptical when I was told this hike was rated "Best Hike in Canada 1981", but afterwards I'm a convert. It's about a 10-11 mile hike out and back, and there's plenty of variety: forest-y areas, 4 waterfalls, a 60-ft natural tunnel(!), and Crypt Lake itself. The main annoyance is you have to take a boat to and from the trailhead, but can't really blame the park for geography =P Campsite at Waterton Township: Being used to the campsites at national parks in the US, I was in for a surprise. The campsite at Waterton Township was well maintained, organized, and had CLEAN restrooms! I guess it's not a fair comparison between a campsite in the wilderness and one inside a small town, but for this versus the facilities at Curry Village in Yosemite, this wins out. Waterton Lakes: The namesake lakes themselves are large, clean, and so very very blue. If you're into photography, you're in for a treat, especially around sunrise and sunset. The Prince William Hotel overlooking the lakes is also pretty neat, and makes for a nice "prop" in landscape shots. In a nutshell, what was originally a "minor detour" during a trip up to Glacier National Park turned into one of the major highlights. So, if you're in in the area, definitely stop by and take a peek!

I spent a few days at Waterton Lakes National Park and loved every minute! Despite a chilling Chinook wind, the outdoor alpine scenery was spectacular! I hiked for miles and enjoyed all of the wildlife sightings (many elk, three black bears, several bighorn sheep and several mule deer) and all of the beautiful mountain scenery. Highly recommended!

Liked the Prince of Wales, pleasant rangers, and Lake Bertha hike. Sorry to say Prince of Wales missed out when he refused to visit the hotel. Thankfully park entry was free for 150th anniversary of founding of Canada.

A bit resort-y for a national park, but calm enough to retain appeal. Similar to Bar Harbor, outside Acadia, or the small towns of the Lake Michigan Bays in Door County, Wisconsin. Lovely vistas, ample trails, many restaurants, cute place overall. One day was enough, though we'd planned two. We were going to camp at Townsite and had a lovely site reserved, but the wind was gusting up to 50, and so we took our tent back down and moved on.

Strap yourself in and feel the G's. == Let me preface this review by saying I had an AH-FREAKING-MAZING time in Glacier National Park and Canada, and this was just a mere hiccup on an otherwise awesome trip. One sole lowlight on a trip full of highlights. == As my 'Merican pal and I rocked into the Waterton Border Crossing, hungover as fuck sporting 3-day growths, nonchalant moods, in a non-descript white Ford Ranger truck with a camo tarp covering the luggage. We thought we were bad ass. When we pulled in to the checkpoint we soon realised how wrong we were. As we rolled to a stop at the checkpoint my friend greeted the *operator* courteously with a "How is your morning?" The response was a stunner followed by a tombstone piledriver as the operator said "It'll be great when you remove your sunglasses". That was when we knew we were going to get cavity searched... 5 minutes later the truck was surrounded by 6 burly men with carbine rifles. When I say burly, let me put it in perspective for you. I'm 5'7, my buddy is 6'1 and fit. These guys dwarfed us. One of the guys had bigger biceps than my thighs. They were total units. All with buzz cutts and the same "if u run we shoot" look in their eyes. We were called into an office, asked to wait, then separated in an attempt to have us "tell the true story". I had a *nice guy* talking to me, he reminded me of Arnie in Commando, except bigger. He calmly said "Dan, just tell me the truth. You are here to work. Tell me the truth and we'll let you go". Like the rocker I am I fired back "Dood I am just here to party. You wanted the truth now let me go". He wasn't convinced, and he asked... "Whose Char?" (Char was the mutual friend in Canada who my buddy and I were on our way to meet). I said "A good friend in Canada" He asked what her number was... When I said it was in my phone, Arnie decided he had heard enough and brought my mate back into the same room to turn the screws... Then he cold called Char. *ring ring* When she answered, he identified himself as a border patrol officer and then asked her if we were there to work (Me a dirty Aussie, and my mate a dirty Boisean). When asked about work we had both already told him an emphatic no. Char's first words were "Hell yes I am gonna make them work. They'll be farming, cleaning this, doing that" and with those words Char just bought us another 2 hours with border patrol. Unbeknownst to her these guys were real, and she thought we were ringing her fucking around in a prank.... Um no Char, these guys wanna poke things inside us and find drugs or something... Help. Upon returning to the carpark we were in full realisation that the truck had been tossed. Everything that was *on* the truck, was now *off* the truck. There wasn't a nook or cranny that hadn't been infiltrated. Luckily I'd told Pat to proffer his Rambo knife to the gents when they'd asked for weapons. He said it was a fishing knife, but I knew better... Dood, It's a weapon, no matter what, just volunteer that sucker and we are sweet. So he did, before we went inside, and he difused that bomb. After handing over my t-mobile nokia phone, I was greeted with many chuckles. As the officer handed me back the phone he said "you are no doubt enjoying the party"... given that my last half a dozen messages revolved around bikinis, barton springs and a gaggle of females he was surely satisfied... if not amused. With that, we were on our way... What can I tell you about the border crossing? It's strict. We rolled through early morning when there was llittle to no traffic and were hauled over the coals. A good 3-4 hours was chewed up in interrogation. Am I ok with that? Hell yes! Why? 1. They were doing their job 2. They were damn good at doing their job 3. I feel like if these guys are protecting the borders we might actually be safe 4. I am happy to be inconvenienced every day of the week and twice on Sundays if our country's can still maintain their freedoms 5. When they realised we were no threat we were let loose What I have is a great story to tell my grandkids, but the most important thing here is that these guys were doing their jobs, and they did them well. My stars may not reflect that, but I would gladly go through that inconvenience again to have access to a great country like Canada. Keep up the good job boys!

This park is just beautiful! Good 3.5 hour drive from Calgary if you take a coffee break along the way but absolutely worth it. Stayed in a great guesthouse that is only open in summer and loved the small town feel - although it is strange to be where most of the restaurants close by 9pm on a Friday night! Walked through the campsite which was quite lovely and green, good space for camps. Only hit up 2 trails as was with my mom who is a lot older. Both of them were excellent and will definitely be back to try longer routes. Red Rock Canyon is a must see. Very short loop trail up to see the higher points and the rocks. Recommend going early and heading to the lower part of the loop where the bridges and you can climb down onto the rocks. Totally missed this ourselves and when we came back later there were a lot of people down there so harder to have a good picture of look around - thinking we missed the path down because no one was down there when we walked past. We also took on the walk to Blakiston falls which is intermediate but really walkable to the falls and very easy to walk in any type of trainers - even saw someone in flipflops. Falls would be quite low by the end of summer but had a good flow of water at this time of year. We went on the walk earlier in the day and continued on the path further onto the next walk until we got tired and saw some great wildflowers. Would really like to do the whole loop but we weren't prepared for that. On the way back to the car we past a lot of people and think the walk to the falls can get pretty crowded. Only note, as with most small towns far from anywhere the restaurants are a little more expensive and would hate to think what the prices were in the convenience store. There is a Walmart in Pincher Creek and would recommend getting your food there before driving in. Absolutely going back for a weekend to explore more!

I have been visiting this park since I was a young child and every time I come here it's just as good as I remember. From the gorgeous waterfalls to the beautiful town area, there's never a lack of sights to see in this lovely area. You're sure to find lots of wildlife and natural beauty in this little park right near the US border!

International Peace Park Hike This hike led by a U.S. & Canadian park ranger was tremendous. Starting on the Canadian side of Glacier National Park in the lovely town of Waterton, Canada and ending at Goat Haunt, Montana, this hike is a must do for anyone visiting Glacier National Park. A truly memorable experience bar none. Hiking 8.5 miles with some elevation changes, this hike is labeled by the Park service as moderately difficult. However, given that it's 8.5 miles over 7 hours, the pace is more than doable. The hike ends at lower Waterton Lake and participants enjoy a boat ride back on scenic Lake Waterton. The rangers selected are passionate about the program. Sharing a plethora of information: topography, flora, fauna, and most importantly the history of how the world's first peace park came into creation. All of this was delivered with a sense of humor, a keen understanding of their audience and subject, and a warm and welcoming attitude. This dynamic delivery ensured that all who attended were engaged AND entertained. A winning combination. The International Peace Park hike; experience Glacier without the crowds, learn how the world's first peace park was created, see some amazing scenery, and take a boat ride back on scenic Lake Waterton. A must do when seeing Glacier National Park! Special Notes: The length of the hike ensures that participants have plenty of time for: water, snacks, and having lunch on the shores of Lake Waterton. Don't forget to pack your snacks & lunch. There are two composting toilets along the trail. So, you can't beat that! The hike requires attendees to bring their passports and purchase their return boat tickets. Pre-registration is required at either the St. Mary Visitor Center in Glacier (406-732-7750) or the Waterton Lakes Visitor Information Centre in Waterton (403-859-5133). Unfortunately, this hike is only offered select date(s) during the Park season (the last hike for this year was 8/29). Contact Glacier for the 2016 schedule.

Such a beautiful national park with a variety of hiking trails. We enjoyed the lake cruise and a lovely dinner while at the park. Beware it is a national park and you will encounter wildlife. It is a great park to park your car and enjoy a walk or bike ride around town.

I don't know how could anybody can give this place lower than a 5 star review. This is one of the most amazing parks I've been to so far here in Canada. I will definitely come back to visit and stay here for a couple of day to keep on exploring all its trails and its sites. You get to see amazing landscapes, wildlife (be cautious and keep your eye open), tranquility and amazing views is what I was looking for.

For 34 years on planet earth, I've had a shaky relationship with bears! For all the national and provincial parks I have been to in my lifetime, I've never seen a live bear. It always seemed like they were avoiding me for entertainment purposes. I would chat up other park visitors and in mid conversation they would excitedly explain their encounter with a Grizzly on the side of the road. One time during a white water rafting trip, I was focused on paddling my way to survival. At the end of the trip my fellow rafters would open the conversation by asking "hey did you see that bear on the side of the mountain?" I fought the urge to smash my paddle. I have planned weekend trips with the sole purpose of trying to spot a bear, but never had any luck. After having visited Waterton previously herself, my friend recommended that I accompany her to WLNP because "there is bear army that lives in the park." And so we were off! From what I could see of the park during an overcast day, it's beautiful. The mountains lack the scale of the Rockies, but wonderful lush vegetation envelop the mountains and makes for a gorgeous view. Cameron Falls is kind of neat, though small. And Red Rock Canyon is also a fun natural phenomenon to visit. The town of Waterton is quaint and allows for a nice trek at the side of the lake. We waited until about 6 pm and began to troll the road between Hwy 6 and Red Rock Canyon. This road, my friend assured me, was where the bears "hang out." They feed from about 6 - 8 pm on the side of the road. The first run we had no luck. However, during the second run my friend, with head out the window, spotted something. "Is that a rock?" she said. "I don't know, I'm driving." "I think it's moving." We stop the car and up out of the grass, about 20 ft away, pokes the head of a cute, mid-sized Grizzly. His ears perk up as both our jaws drop. Finally, the 34 year streak is over. I bagged my first bear. After one more sweep, we saw two more black bears that were 10 feet from us on the side of the road. They crossed the road right in front of us before disappearing into the woods. I think I might of taken like 40 pictures in a span of 5 minutes. After a 34 year drought, in 20 minutes I had seen 3 bears and I was the happiest man in Waterton. I would recommend Waterton to any visitor looking for their first encounter with a bear! They are cute creatures, I just wouldn't get out of your car!

Fantastic, I wanted to stay longer. As a Montana Native and a frequent visitor to Glacier, I can recommend this with confidence as a must see place, fantastic hikes and endless photo ops. Taking the boat tour is a must see. It was a great mini vacation.

Beautiful views and the town of Waterton is adorable! We stayed at Prince William Hotel and loved it. I still think of this place often...hmmm...

Just beautiful! We loved the scenery, wildlife, lakes, the town of Waterton and the red rock canyon...definitely worth a visit! We are planning our next trip back, so we can spend some more time and take the boat tour as well as the hike to Crypt Lake.

So much AWESOME wild life! We saw a huge Buck, bears, deer, squirrels, and incredible nature. On one hike we got caught up in a hailstorm. If you're in one, hide underneath a sturdy tree and protect your head. Also wear hiking boots that are waterproof.