Waterton Lakes
Waterton Lakes National Park is where the Rocky Mountains end - abruptly. The peaks don't taper off gradually into foothills; they simply stop, meeting the prairie in a single dramatic step. The effect is striking: you can stand in grassland and look up at mountains rising 5,000 feet directly above you. In 1932, Waterton and Glacier National Park across the U.S. border were combined as the world's first International Peace Park, symbolizing friendship between Canada and the United States. The two parks share wildlife, watersheds, and landscapes, though they're administered separately. Waterton is smaller and less visited than Glacier, but its unique geography - mountains plunging to prairie, wind scouring everything in between - creates a character all its own. A devastating 2017 fire burned 80% of the park; the regenerating landscape adds another dimension to the story.
The Geography
Waterton's dramatic landscape results from geology. The same thrust faulting that created Glacier's mountains pushed ancient rock over younger sediments, creating peaks that rise directly from the plains. Unlike most mountain ranges that transition through foothills, Waterton's mountains simply stop. The result is relentless wind - with no buffer, prairie winds slam into the peaks and accelerate through the valleys. Waterton is one of the windiest places in Alberta. The wind shapes everything: trees grow bent, snow accumulates strangely, and visitors learn to lean into the gusts.
The Lakes
Waterton Lake itself is the centerpiece - a glacier-carved lake that crosses the international border into Montana. At 150 meters, it's the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies. The historic Prince of Wales Hotel perches on a bluff above the lake, a 1927 Great Northern Railway hotel designed to lure tourists from across the border. Upper Waterton Lake can be explored by boat; a tour crosses into the United States at Goat Haunt, where passengers clear customs on the dock. Red Rock Canyon, Cameron Falls, and smaller lakes offer additional destinations.
The Fire
In September 2017, the Kenow Fire swept through Waterton, burning 80% of the park's forested area. The town of Waterton was evacuated; some facilities were destroyed. The fire was devastating - but fire is part of the ecosystem. The park has regenerated remarkably fast, with wildflowers and young trees carpeting the burned areas. Visiting today offers a unique opportunity to see forest succession in action, to understand fire's role in mountain ecosystems, and to witness resilience. The burned areas are hauntingly beautiful in their own way.
The Peace Park
In 1932, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park became the world's first international peace park, recognized by Rotary clubs on both sides of the border. The designation symbolizes the long, undefended border between Canada and the United States. While the parks are administered separately, they share research, wildlife management, and the 'Peace Park' designation. The International Boundary, marked only by a cleared swath through forest, is one of the world's most peaceful borders. The designation was partly promotional - a tourism draw - but the symbolism has endured.
Visiting Waterton Lakes
Waterton Lakes National Park is located in southwestern Alberta, at the international border with Montana. The town of Waterton offers lodging, restaurants, and services within the park - unusual for a Canadian national park. Popular activities include hiking (numerous trails, from easy lakeside walks to strenuous mountain climbs), boating on Waterton Lake, and wildlife watching (bears, elk, deer, bighorn sheep). The Crypt Lake hike - involving a boat ride, tunnel, and ladders - is considered one of Canada's best. The Prince of Wales Hotel is worth visiting even for non-guests. The park is open year-round but most facilities close October through May. Calgary International Airport (YYC) is 270 km north.
From the Air
Located at 49.05°N, 113.90°W on the Alberta-Montana border, in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. From altitude, the abrupt meeting of mountains and prairie is dramatic - the peaks simply stop at a distinct line. Upper Waterton Lake extends south into Glacier National Park. The Prince of Wales Hotel is visible on its prominent bluff. Evidence of the 2017 Kenow Fire is visible as color changes in the vegetation. The cleared International Boundary swath marks the border. Chief Mountain, a sacred site for the Blackfoot, rises to the south.