Experience Waterton Lakes National Park
The summer 2017 Kenow Mountain Wildfire burned 19,303 hectares within Waterton Lakes National Park – just over onethird of the park’s area. As a result, about half of Waterton is presently closed to public access. Fire is a natural and required element in this landscape. While Parks Canada regroups and nature rejuvenates, you still have opportunities to enjoy time in Waterton, where mountains and prairie meet. Bison Paddock - To reach the viewpoint, follow Hwy 5 and Hwy 6 to the north boundary of the park. The 300 m viewpoint trail is wheelchair accessible. The fescue grass and wildflowers of the Bison Paddock prairie are a remnant of the natural vegetation of the northern interior plains where, in 1790, as many as 60 million bison roamed. The accounts of white explorers describe having to wait days for migrations of the animals to pass. When horses and rifles appeared on the bison’s range, the species was subjected to a senseless slaughter. Settlers burned habitat and ploughed it. Diseases imported by domestic cattle also took a toll. By 1890, the population of the plains bison had dropped to 1090. The
decimation was a tragedy unparalleled in Canadian history. Coupled with white settlement and the creation of reserves, the eradication of wild bison spelled the end of traditional ways for First Peoples of the plains. Walking Coyote saved the plains bison from extinction when he captured animals in southern Alberta in 1874. He sold some of these bison to two ranchers in Montana. In 1907, the Canadian government purchased 716 bison from the captive Montana herd. Descendants of these animals now constitute the exhibition herd at Waterton, established by Parks Canada in 1952. The herd typically numbers between 12 and 20. As the Kenow Mountain fire advanced in September 2017, Parks Canada evacuated the bison. The fire destroyed the handling facility. It is not known when the bison will be returned, but the grasslands, naturally regulated by fire and in full view from the viewpoint, will soon recover. Kootenai Brown’s Grave - John Kootenai Brown epitomized the “wild west” of the 1800s. He served with the British Army in India and prospected for Cariboo gold. He ran whiskey,
The 2017 Kenow Wildfire impacted Waterton Lakes National Park areas and facilities. To find out what is currently open and closed in the park, please visit pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/visit/ideale_best 10 | Enter Our Photo & Selfie Contests
