Waterton National Park is situated in Alberta, Canada, bordering onto Montana, USA, to the south. Together with the Glacier National Park in Montana, it forms the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
Comprising of 505 km2 of trails, wilderness, and mountains, it’s a perfect place to go hiking. It mixes not only beautiful trails but also the beautiful mountain Waterton Village that is set against the Upper Waterton Lake and mountains behind it.
Hiking the Crypt Lake Trail
In terms of hiking, one of the best hikes in Waterton Park is the Crypt Lake Trail. You’ll start off by taking a boat from Waterton Village in the morning. You cross over the lake to the start point of the Crypt Lake Trail.
Crossing the Waterton Lake to the trail start point
It’s recommended to start early in the morning, as you’ll want an entire the day for this challenging hike. The trip up and back is just over 17 kilometers with an elevation gain of 700 meters.
The work is rewarded, however. As you climb up the gradual ascent, you’ll get stunning views of the Crypt Falls on your way up:
The final part of the Crypt Lake trail is one of the most stunning, yet challenges parts: you’ll have to walk along a ledge with a sheer drop to your right, then climb through a tunnel before clambering along another ledge holding onto a steel rope to guide you.
It’s not for the faint of hearted, but the view is magnificent:
Once you get to the top, you’ll be rewarded with the Crypt Lake, a beautiful, if icy-cold, lake surrounded by mountains. Perfect for swimming in to cool off after the hike!
Finally, it’s important to not spend so long enjoying Crypt Lake that you miss the last boat back at 5:30 pm. In all, the hike takes about 3 hours to get up there, and a little less to come back down.
Bear Spotting Around Waterton
Waterton is home to some of the highest densities of bears worldwide, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of black bears or even a grizzly. Driving up to Crandell Mountain Campground just outside of Waterton, we saw a black bear and her two cubs playing on the hillside above the road.
In August, it’s peak berry season, so bears spent most of their time eating berries, ignoring humans. However, it’s highly recommended to keep a can of bear spray with you at all times.
Camping Opportunities and Hotels Nearby
In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Waterton National Park is to camp in one of the several well-equipped campsites around Waterton Village. We stayed at Crandell Mountain Campground, as the campsites directly in Waterton Village tend to fill up quickly.
While we were camping in August, it still got cold at nights, so be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing. I’d highly recommend some merino wool clothing for hikes, as they keep you cool in the heat, and warm at nights.
From Crandell Mountain Campground, you can also go on some challenging hikes up to Mount Crandell, including the famous “Bear’s Hump” trail.
If camping is not your thing, and you have a larger budget for accommodation, staying at the historic Prince of Wales Hotel is an unforgettable experience thanks to location.
Waterton Village
The village is situated directly on the lake, so you can enjoy the restaurants, going shopping or just go for a stroll with an ice cream with a view of the lake and mountains. Inside the village, you’ll find campsites very close to the shore, but you’ll have to act quickly to get a spot in the peak season.
Even if hiking isn’t for you, the village is well worth a visit for its mountain vistas and cozy shops. In many ways, it’s similar in feel to the much larger mountain resort town of Banff further north.
Bison Paddock Loop Road
On our trip down from Calgary, Alberta, we stopped off at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, where indigenous people used for 5,500 years as a site to hunt bison by driving huge herds of bison over the cliff. The site and associated museum are situated just over 100 km north of Waterton.
Once in Waterton, you can take a drive along the Bison Paddock Loop Road, which you can see wild bison grazing from the safety of your car. You shouldn’t get out of your car, however, as bison can be unpredictable.
Getting to Waterton National Park
You’ll need about three hours to drive from Calgary down to Waterton, although I’d recommend making a stop at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump on your way down, which is about 2 hours from Calgary.
You can hike into Waterton from Goat Haunt in Montana and vice versa or take a boat over. However, you’re crossing an international border, so it’s important to remember to bring your passport.
Have you visited Waterton? Is there anything you’d add to this guide? Please chime in via the comments section.
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