Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada
Hiking
Hiking Trails
Waterton Lakes National Park has 200 kilometres (120 miles) of hiking trails, ranging from easy strolls to strenuous wilderness hikes. Waterton is a particularly good place to enjoy a variety of shorter trails which can be easily completed in a few hours or a day. While appealing backcountry campgrounds are available, few trails require an overnight stay.
Waterton's backcountry trails can also be used to access hiking trails in
Glacier National Park
, Montana, and Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park in British Columbia.
Be Prepared!
Hikers need to take individual responsibility for planning their trips and hiking safely. Before setting out on your hike, stop by the visitor centre to receive current trail conditions, and any trail cautions or closures. You will increase your odds of a safe hike, decrease your disturbance to park wildlife, and lessen damage to resources.
Trail Guide
This trail guide will help you to select a hike that is suitable for everyone in your party. The time required to complete a hike will depend on conditions, ability and the speed at which your party chooses to travel. Check with the visitor centre for current trail conditions before setting out into the backcountry.
| Lengths |
Trail |
Trailhead |
Distance
(return) |
Time
(return) |
Elevation
Gain |
| Short Hikes and Strolls |
Townsite |
several points in
townsite |
3.2 km loop |
1 hour |
minimal |
| Prince of Wales |
Emerald Bay |
2.0 km loop |
45 mins |
minimal |
Linnet Lake
*barrier free access |
Dock area across from Warden Office |
1.0 km loop |
20 mins |
minimal |
| Cameron Lakeshore |
Cameron Lake |
3.2 km |
1 hour |
minimal |
| Akamina Lake |
Cameron Lake |
1.0 km |
30 mins |
minimal |
Red Rock Canyon
*hardened surface |
Red Rock Canyon |
0.7 km loop |
20 mins |
minimal |
| Blakiston Falls |
Red Rock Canyon |
2.0 km |
45 mins |
minimal |
| Crandell Lake |
Crandell Campground |
4.0 km |
1.5 hours |
150 m |
| Crandell Lake |
Akamina Parkway |
2.4 km |
1 hour |
100 m |
| Belly River |
Belly River Campground |
5.8 km |
2 hours |
minimal |
| Lower Bertha Falls |
Townsite |
5.6 km |
1.5 hours |
150 m |
| Bears Hump |
Visitor Centre |
2.8 km |
1 hour |
200 m |
| Half Day Hikes |
Forum Lake, BC |
Akamina Parkway |
8.0 km |
3 hours |
300 m |
| Wall Lake, BC |
Akamina Parkway |
11.2 km |
4 hours |
165 m |
| Summit Lake |
Cameron Lake |
8.0 km |
3 hours |
305 m |
| Lineham Falls |
Akamina Parkway |
8.4 km |
3.5 hours |
200 m |
| Lower Rowe Lake |
Akamina Parkway |
8.0 km |
3 hours |
250 m |
| Rowe Meadow |
Akamina Parkway |
10.4 km |
4 hours |
350 m |
| Upper Rowe Lake |
Akamina Parkway |
12.6 km |
5 hours |
500 m |
| Bertha Lake |
Townsite |
11.4 km |
4.5 hours |
500 m |
| Snowshoe |
Red Rock Canyon |
16.4 km |
5 hours |
150 m |
| Goat Lake |
Red Rock Canyon |
12.6 km |
5 hours |
400 m |
| Full Day Hikes |
Lakeshore Trail |
Waterton Townsite-can return by boat |
13 km (one way) |
3-4 hours |
125 m |
| Horseshoe Basin |
Bison Paddock |
21.3 km |
5-7 hours |
350 m |
| Wishbone |
Chief Mountain Hwy. |
21 km |
6-8 hours |
50 m |
| Crandell loop |
access from Akamina
and Red Rock Parkways |
20.6 km |
6-7 hours |
200 m |
| Crypt Lake |
Crypt Landing |
17.2 km |
6-8 hours |
700 m |
Carthew-Alderson
*Requires
transportation to, or back to, trailhead |
Cameron Lake or
Cameron falls |
18 km one way |
6-8 hours |
650 m |
| Blakiston Valley |
Red Rock Canyon |
20.2 km |
5-7 hours |
350 m |
| Twin Lakes |
Red Rock Canyon |
22.8 km |
7-9 hours |
300 m |
| Multi-Day Hike |
Tamarack Trail |
Akamina Parkway - Red
Rock Canyon
*requires
transportation to, or
back to, trailhead |
31.6 km |
2 days |
600 m |
Leave No Trace
Parks Canada encourages visitors who are planning to travel in the backcountry to practice "Leave No Trace" skills and ethics. "Leave No Trace" is a national program that promotes and inspires responsible outdoor recreation and stewardship of public lands. The program depends more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations. The time you spend in the backcountry can be safer and more rewarding if you strive to "Leave No Trace" of your visit on the resources, or on the experiences of other visitors.
Please practice the following seven principles of Leave No Trace:
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know and respect park regulations and the inherent risks of backcountry travel.
- Select terrain, distances, and elevation changes that are compatible with everyone in your group.
- Pack adequate food, clothing, maps and equipment.
Travel on Durable Surfaces
- Stay on maintained trails whenever possible. Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when muddy.
- Short-cutting switchbacks is destructive and illegal.
- When travelling off trail, walk abreast and choose the most durable surfaces available: rock, snow, dry grasses or gravel.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack out all garbage, never leave or bury food or garbage.
- Use pit toilets when available, for both urine and solid human waste.
- In lieu of pit toilets, deposit solid human waste in a hole 15 cm deep, at least 75 m from any water source. Fill the hole with soil and organic matter. Pack out your toilet paper.
- Urinate on any durable surfaces to reduce vegetation damage from salt-craving wildlife.
Leave What you Find
- Treat our natural heritage with respect and leave for others to enjoy. All natural and cultural resources are protected by law.
- Do not make alterations to campsites or natural features.
- Avoid impacting rehabilitated or closed areas.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Fire are restricted to designated fire pits only.
- When permitted, keep fires small and totally contained within the firepit.
- Collect down and dead wood only (size of wrist).
- Use a gas stove for cooking.
Respect Wildlife
- Enjoy wildlife at a distance. Never feed, disturb or intentionally approach wildlife.
- Travel in groups and make noise to avoid surprise encounters.
- Keep pets on a leash. Your pet may return to you with wildlife in pursuit.
More about Hazards and Safety in the Park