Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada
Sightseeing and Wildlife Viewing - Waterton's Scenic Parkways
The Entrance Parkway
The Entrance Road runs from the entrance gate to the townsite. The road provides scenic views overlooking the Waterton Valley. It starts out on the prairie and follows the Waterton Lakes chain past the Prince of Wales Hotel before ending at the townsite. It is also one of the best roads in the park for viewing wildlife.
The Red Rock Parkway
Open first weekend in May to October 31
The Red Rock Parkway travels 15 km up the Blakiston Valley through rolling grasslands and ends at Red Rock Canyon. It is the best place to experience Waterton's classic prairie meeting mountain landscape. At the end of the parkway, a short self-guided trail loops around the canyon. In June, the wildflowers are spectacular along this road. It is also a great place for wildlife viewing. The parkway is narrow and may not be suitable for larger motorhomes.
The Akamina Parkway
Open first weekend in May to October 31 - Closed from Little Prairie picnic site to Cameron Lake for rest of year.
The Akamina Parkway is a winding mountain road which runs 16 km along the Cameron Valley and ends at Cameron Lake. Along the way, stop at the national historic site commemorating Western Canada's first oil well. Cameron Lake has an interpretive exhibit and a boat rental concession. A pleasant trail follows the western shore of the lake for 1.6 kilometres.
The Chief Mountain Highway
Open May 15 to September 30 - Maintenance variable and closed at Belly River Bridge from October 1 to May 14.
The Chief Mountain Highway is the primary route between Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks. The highway climbs from the grasslands near Maskinonge Lake to a viewpoint which offers a magnificent panorama of the Waterton and Blakiston valleys. En route to the international border crossing, the highway passes through wetlands and the site of the Sofa Mountain fire. Travellers can continue across the international border past Chief Mountain to the community of St. Mary, on the boundary of Glacier National Park.