Waterton Lakes National Park
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Prince
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Contact Information:
Waterton Lakes National Park
Box 200
Waterton Park, AB
Canada T0K 2M0
403-859-2224
Size: 525 sq. km.
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park is situated in the southwest corner of Alberta, 270 km south of Calgary and 130 km southeast of Lethbridge. From Calgary take Highway 2 south to Fort Macleod, then west on Highway 3 to Pincher Creek, then south again on Highway 6 (a 3-hour drive). From Lethbridge, drive south to Cardston on Highway 2, then west to the park via Highway 5 (a 1.25-hour drive).
Description: Park features some of the oldest rock in Canada's Rocky Mountains and Upper Waterton Lake, the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies. Its physical and biological diversity, partly resulting from the overlap of habitats found in the park, provides an abundance of wildlife. In fact, no other national park in Canada protects so much wildlife within such a small area. The park includes more than 60 species of mammals, 250+ species of birds, 24 species of fish, and 10 species of amphibians and reptiles.
Activities: Camping, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, boating, boat tours, sailboarding, scuba diving, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, bicycling, mountain climbing, golfing (May-October), winter sports, interpretive and educational programs.Places to Stay: Waterton Park Village, located inside the park, offers complete services including hotels, dining, and shopping. For further information, contact the Waterton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Association.
Operating
Hours:
Waterton Lakes National Park is open year round,
with the peak season in July and August. From late fall to early spring, most park facilities are closed, and very few services are available in the village.
History: Established in 1895.
In 1932, the Waterton Lakes National Park was joined with Montana's Glacier National Park to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. The International Peace Park, the first of its kind, symbolizes the peace and goodwill between the United States and Canada as exemplified by the world's longest undefended border. Although the two halves are administered separately, the parks cooperate on environmental initiatives and in protecting the alpine backcountry.
Both Glacier and Waterton Lakes have been designated as Biosphere Reserves and together were recognized, in 1995, as a World Heritage Site.
See other Canadian
National Parks
See other Alberta National Parks
