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Suggestions To Get More From Your Visit To Waterton Lakes National Park

Published Date

May 31, 2019
Hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park/Parks Canada

Hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park/Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, is open year round and ready to welcome visitors this 2019 season. There’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone in the park this spring and summer. This year there is a range of recreation activities, special events, volunteer opportunities and interpretation programs available for visitors from youngest to wisest as they discover and connect with the park.

If you love quieter experiences in Waterton Lakes National Park, consider visiting during the early mornings, evenings, weekdays and shoulder seasons. To have the best time possible during your next visit, here are some tips to make the most of this Parks Canada place:

* Get moving in the valley bottom - Bike, walk or run along the paved Kootenai Brown trail and enjoy the scenic vistas and unique plants and animals that call this place home.

* Look for wildflowers along the Wishbone Trail - Take a jaunt along the trail, either by foot or bike, and try to spot the early-spring blooms of prairie crocus and glacier lilies.

* Visit the International Peace Park Plaza - Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. 

* Take part in a volunteer event. Events listed on our website include controlling invasive plant species, counting wildflowers or exercising your green thumb in the native plant garden.

* Visit Waterton’s townsite - The flowers are opening and so are the shops and restaurants in the Waterton townsite. Grab a bite, indulge your sweet tooth, update your wardrobe or explore your artistic side. Take a wander through town and see what catches your eye … or your stomach!

The Parks Canada Discovery Pass provides unlimited admission for a full year to Parks Canada’s places across the country. Canadians are encouraged to order their 2019 Discovery Passes online, or visit Parks Canada or partner retailer locations.

To make the most of your Parks Canada experience, visitors are encouraged to plan their trip in advance by visiting the Parks Canada’s website and signing up for the e-newsletter, to be among the first to find out about new and noteworthy events and activities, special offers, trip planning ideas and much more – all delivered directly to your inbox. Visitors can also download the Parks Canada’s mobile application, and follow Parks Canada on social media for destination inspiration and to help plan their perfect visit.

Parks Canada’s places belong to all Canadians. That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada’s places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover nature and connect with history, we can help to inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places.

In celebration of diversity, Parks Canada continues to offer free admission to new Canadian citizens for one year through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Canoo mobile app. Visiting Parks Canada’s national heritage places is a great way for Canadians to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment and heritage.

Some areas of Waterton Lakes National Park remain closed due to safety hazards and infrastructure damage from the 2017 Kenow Wildfire.

"After the Kenow wildfires of 2017, it’s great to see Waterton Lakes National Park continue to reopen trails and facilities throughout the park. This is a special place to connect with wilderness and learn about the area’s rich culture and history. I encourage Canadians and all visitors to experience one of the places Canadians love best," said the Honourable Catherine McKenna, minister of environment and climate change and minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Waterton Lakes National Park was Canada’s fourth national park, originally protected in 1895. It represents the southern Rocky Mountains Natural Region - where some of the most ancient mountains in the Rockies abruptly meet the prairie. It is a landscape shaped by wind, fire, and flooding; with a rich variety of plants and wildlife.

Canada’s network of protected areas play an important role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.

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