Waterton Lakes National Park

Facilities and Services

Visitor Centre

Waterton Lakes National Park is open year-round

Our peak visitor season is during July and August. If you are planning a trip to Waterton during these months, be sure to book your accommodation in advance.

From late fall to early spring, most park facilities are closed and few services are available in the village.

Most services are located in the Waterton Park community. There are eight hotels, several restaurants and lounges, a variety of church services, one fuel station, camping supplies, groceries, pool and spa facilities, bank machines, gift shops, tennis courts, playgrounds, a post office, launderette and theatre.

Interpretive guides, bicycle rentals, golf course, horse stables, boat tours on Upper Waterton Lake and canoe or rowboat rentals at Cameron Lake are also available.

For further information, contact the Waterton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Association

Park Facilities and Services (2012)When Open (subject to weather)
Visitor Information Centre May 5-June 21, 9.00am-5.00pm
June 22-Sept. 3, 8.00am-7.00pm
Sept. 4-Oct. 8, 9.00am-5.00pm
Park Reception (year-round) Mon-Fri, 8.00am-4.00pm
Townsite Campground May 1 to Sept. 23 (if weather allows, campground on self-registration to Thanksgiving, Oct. 8)
Crandell Mountain Campground May 17 to Sept. 2 (campground on self-registration from May long weekend to June 17)
Belly River Campground May 11 to Sept. 9
Pass Creek (winter campground) Oct. 9 to April 26
Park Interpretive Programs TBD
Heritage Centre (museum and bookstore operated by the Waterton Natural History Association) Summer months
Red Rock Parkway – including picnic sites First weekend in May to Oct. 31

Akamina Parkway - entire road

Akamina Parkway - to Little Prairie Picnic Area only

First weekend in May to Oct. 31

Nov. 1 to just before long weekend in May

Chief Mountain Highway - open 

Maintenance variable and closed at Belly River bridge

May 15 to Sept. 30

Oct. 1 to May 14

The nearby communities of Pincher Creek, Cardston, Mountain View and Twin Butte also offer a variety of services including hotels, motels, bed and breakfast and ranch vacations Tourism Links 

Please Reduce and Recycle When You Visit!
Person putting paper in the recycling trailer © Parks Canada / Janice Smith
Go Green in Waterton!
© Parks Canada / Janice Smith

The Waterton Park and Community Green Team provides recycling services in the village. This includes:

  • Recycling trailer facility for glass, tin cans, #2 plastic, magazines, newspapers and cardboard
  • Re-use center to take or leave 'still useful' household items
  • Large green bins for commercial corrugated cardboard
  • Blue bins throughout the community and campgrounds for refundable beverage containers

The Green Team also sponsors educational programs and an annual community 'tree-planting' day.