Waterton Lakes
and Vicinity

For a relatively small park, Waterton supports a diverse array of plants, wildlife, and landscapes, leading to varied opportunities for hikers. Long before they were protected as an international peace park, these mountains and valleys were frequented by people of the Kootenai and Blackfoot tribes, who hunted bison and gathered wild plants here. The first visitors of European descent to take in these breathtaking landscapes were undoubtedly fur traders and missionaries, who came in the late 1850s. In the late 1800s, the discovery of oil in the Cameron Valley drew speculators to establish a drilling operation, which flourished only a short time and is remembered today at First Oil Well in Western Canada National Historic Site. A portion of the present-day park was protected in 1895 as Waterton Lakes Forest Park and later called Kootenai Lakes Forest Reserve.

Protection of this natural treasure was increased in response to the urgings of conservation-minded local residents such as Frederick Godsal and John “Kootenai” Brown. The park was expanded in 1914, then reduced to its present size in 1921. In 1932 an international accord with the United States established the Waterton-Glacier complex as the world’s first international peace park. The ensuing years have seen extensive development, highlighted by a complex network of trails, roads, and campgrounds. However, the land beyond the roads retains its wild character.

Waterton township provides most services found in large towns, including a variety of hotel accommodations, restaurants, and stores. There are automobile campgrounds at the townsite and along the Red Rock Parkway; developed picnic facilities exist along all major roads. Motorized boats are allowed in Upper and Middle Waterton Lakes, and all lakes have facilities for launching unpowered boats. In addition, a water taxi on Upper Waterton Lake provides daily service to Crypt Landing and Goat Haunt Ranger Station across the border. Passports are now required to cross the international boundary between the United States and Canada.

No registration is required for day trips, but overnight expeditions into the backcountry require a special permit, which can be purchased at the visitor center outside Waterton townsite. Backpackers must stay in established campgrounds, although minimum-impact camping in some remote areas may be allowed by special permit. Fishing in the park requires a special license, available for a small fee at the visitor center.