Waterton Lakes National Park is Located in the Southwest Corner of Alberta, Canada!

Waterton Lakes National Park located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada is part of the International Peace Park with Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Named after Waterton Lake, in turn after the conservationist and Victorian naturalist Charles Waterton, Waterton was Canada's 4th national park, formed in 1895. The park contains 195 sq mi (505 sq km) of rugged wilderness and mountains.

Waterton Lakes National Park

The main tourist season is during July and August, but Waterton is open all year, operated by Parks Canada. Located at the Waterton Park townsite are the only commercial facilities available within the park. The park ranges in elevation from 9,547 ft (2,910 m) at Mount Blakiston to 4,232 ft (1,290 m) at the townsite. Including Crypt Lake trail, it features many scenic trails. Waterton Lakes National Park had 367,500 visitors, in 2004.

Mount Blakiston

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Park History

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park was formed from Waterton and Glacier, in 1932. On behalf of Rotary International, it was dedicated to world peace by Sir Charles Arthur Mander. Overlooked by the historic Prince of Wales Hotel National Historic Site, the main highlight is the Waterton lakes, the deepest in the Canadian Rockies.

Prince of Wales Hotel

Designated as World Biosphere reserves, in 1979, preserving freshwater wetlands, lakes, prairie and mountains ecosystems, were Waterton and bordering Glacier National park in the United States. Habitats in the parks' range include:

• lower subalpine forests
• aspen grove forests
• high meadows/alpine tundra
• prairie grasslands
• coniferous and deciduous forests.

Designated as World Heritage Site in 1995 for its distinctive triocean hydrographical divide, physiographic setting, mountain prairie interface, and climate, the park is part of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. They are areas of significant diverse fauna and flora and with abundant scenic values.

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park

Once you get finished with Waterton Lakes NP, you can cross over the United States border into Montana to see Glacier National Park. While you're there, check out the Highline Trail.

Highline Trail In Glacier National Park

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