The Wonders of Waterton Lakes

Waterton Lakes National Park is a soaring wonderland. It is a remote corridor of Canadian wilderness where everything untamed comes together, from playful cub bears rolling in the huckleberries; silent mountain lions that watch on from a distance, to deer that press their noses against your bedroom window early in the morning. To explore this wild frontier is to start a conversation between your soul and a living planet on the move.

When it comes to the Canadian Rockies, Banff and Jasper get most of the glory and almost all of the tourists. Waterton tends to be Alberta’s forgotten and less commercialised National Park. Don’t let its size turn you away. Waterton is renowned for its pristine nature, packing in more wilderness per square metre than anywhere else in Canada. This makes it a prime destination for wildlife viewing — especially in August and September when the berries ripen and the bears come out to munch and fatten up for the winter ahead.

The steep mountains and sparkling lakes hug the borders of Montana and the Province of British Columbia. No matter what time of year you visit, I recommend packing your best wind stopper jacket, as the wind sweeps across the plains and through the mountains with considerable gusto yearlong. Don’t let that deter you – I had many calm summer days in my three months spent at Waterton.

If you’re seeking an unobstructed union with nature, lace up your sturdy hiking boots. Waterton offers an exhaustive list of hikes for all ages, tastes and fitness levels, ranging from stroller-worthy walks to multi-day epics. No matter which walk you choose I promise it will not disappoint. From encounters with the easy going wildlife to the picturesque wind-raked trees, sparkling lakes and craggy peaks, Waterton is a hiker’s oasis and photographer’s paradise.

On one hike in the National Park, after five hours of scrambling over big boulders, I was rewarded with the sparkling waters of Crypt Lake, where the water glistens in a rainbow of colours ranging from emerald green to dark blue and indigo. The dramatic backdrop of sheer mountains and the colourful hues of wildflowers, this is the perfect spot for a picnic for one.