EXPLORING WATERTON - Photos Steve McGean - Content by Sarah Clark

EXPLORING WATERTON

Photos by Steve McGean Content by Sarah Clark

“I feel as if I have died and gone to heaven.”

Waterton, Alberta is this stunning little gem, tucked away in the Southern end of the province. The pictures I saw of sapphire blue skies and rolling mountains just didn’t do it justice. It is truly heaven on earth and a place you should detour to if you are participating in this winter, spring or Summer Rumble Alberta Tour.

Rumble Alberta is an amazing opportunity to see a part of the beauty that makes up this wonderful home we call Alberta. See the province through the eyes of a tourist and take in sites that are not only new and wonderful but truly Canadian. While participating in this unique and fun event, you don’t have to strictly follow the route maps. A little deviation is encouraged. Go check out local communities, their people, and more importantly, their businesses. Since Covid hit, local business have been hit hard. Offer them some of your support while having fun exploring great communities like Waterton.

‘Why go off the beat path’ to visit Waterton, of all places? Well, aside from its outstanding beauty, there is plenty to do. The locals are friendly and really want tourists in their town and in their businesses. Imagine a small community, of about only 100 people, welcoming others in with open arms. You don’t want to miss it.

Waterton is home to Canada’s fourth National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park. At this beautiful park, the prairies of Alberta run to meet the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the National Park. Picture clear lakes, rainbow-coloured streams thundering waterfalls, colourful rocks and amazing mountain vistas that treat hikers and sightseers with breathtaking views. There is an exceptional diversity of wildlife and wildflowers, plus a cozy little waterfront town to serve as a home base. There is no doubts that Waterton packs a big natural punch into a relatively small and accessible area.

There are so many amazing places to see in Alberta aside from Waterton and the Waterton Lakes National Park. Check out www.RumbleAlberta.com to participate in contests, find route maps and find places to stop. Learn about local businesses you can visit and things you can find just off the route that others don’t know about. Nothing beats seeing your country as a tourist, through new eyes that are open to new sites, sounds, and experiences

Here are some fun facts about Waterton and Waterton Lakes National Park, so you are prepared when you take your journey to explore the beauty!

1. Waterton Lakes National Park is the smallest in the Rockies at 505 sq. km 2. The area was first protected by the government in 1895 3. Waterton has a proud tradition of military service on behalf of both the women and men of the town 4. Waterton has some of the oldest, exposed sedimentary rock in the Rocky

Mountains 5. The park is part of the Crown of the

Continent ecosystem - a place with unusually diverse physical, biological, and cultural resources.

No matter what you are looking for, you will find it along the route of Rumble Alberta or just off the routes in places like Waterton, where you will have your pick of local businesses to shop at and a small-town community feel to enjoy.