Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta, Amanda Dias @aminniedee
Eight Fun Things To Do
It’s breezy atop Prince of Wales hill, but the bighorn sheep don’t seem to mind. The herd grazes placidly as lambs chase and headbutt each other. Far below, the M.V. International sails across Upper Waterton Lake, stand-up paddleboarders ply the calmer waters of Emerald Bay, and deer roam the streets. It’s a typical summer afternoon in Waterton Lakes National Park, but the experiences to be enjoyed are far from ordinary. Check out these eight fun things to do in Waterton this year.
1. Waterton Shoreline Cruise & Crypt Lake Trail From Crypt Landing, it is a moderately strenuous 8.6 km hike, with a 675 m of elevation gain to Crypt Lake. If time allows, make a side trip to Hell Roaring Falls. Full story on pg 18 For a more leisurely exploration of the area, take a sightseeing cruise on the historic M.V. International. Waterton Shoreline Cruise Company’s crew are as knowledgeable as they are 14 | mywaterton.ca
engaging. They’ll give you the scoop on local history, geography, and where to view wildlife. Some tours include a short stop at Goat Haunt ranger station, Montana so you can get out and stretch your legs. Cruises are offered multiple times a day from early May through early October.
2. Canoe or Kayak on Lower Waterton Lake Lower Waterton Lake, is known locally as Knight’s Lake. In honour of Herbert Knight who was Waterton’s park superintendent from 1932-1939. Smaller than Middle and Upper Waterton Lakes, Lower Waterton Lake is 2 km long and tends to have calmer water for paddling. Put in at Hay Barn Day Use Area – a fun wading spot – then paddle down the Waterton River to Lower Waterton Lake. Prevailing winds are from the southwest, so going north is easy. For a longer paddle (add 1 km one way), take a side trip to the Maskinonge, a reed-lined lake that is prime bird habitat.
