Connect with nature through exceptional new Parks Canada winter programs
Waterton Lakes National Park – Parks Canada invites visitors to experience winter like never before at Waterton Lakes National Park. With new guided snowshoe hikes and backcountry accommodations, Waterton Lakes offers outstanding programs for winter enthusiasts of all levels.
In addition to classic winter activities including wildlife watching, walking along the shores of Waterton Lake and picnicking at our enclosed shelters, visitors can also explore the park on snowshoe with a Parks Canada interpreter. Guided snowshoe hikes to Crandell Lake or Cameron Lake are available every Saturday, starting January 16th for participants aged 10 and up. Registration opens December 16th and the fee includes the cost of snowshoes. Reserve soon as groups are limited to 10 participants. Private bookings are also available on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday for groups of six or more. For additional information, visit our website, phone 403-859-5133, or email watertoninfo@pc.gc.ca.
For those seeking adventure, Waterton Lakes National Park offers winter camping at Pass Creek, ice climbing along the Akamina Parkway, and excellent opportunities for ski touring. Visitors looking to experience the tranquility offered by the backcountry can spend the night at the former warden’s cabin within the park, recently restored by the Alpine Club of Canada. Only a short ski or hike from Little Prairie Picnic Area will take winter enthusiasts to the oldest existing backcountry cabin in the park. Bookings are available from December 1st – April 30th at the Alpine Club of Canada website.
Anyone carrying out backcountry activities should carry and know how to use avalanche probes and beacons, have knowledge of avalanche conditions and route evaluation, and be capable of self-rescue. Visit our website for avalanche, weather and road conditions before you plan your trip.
On weekends, Parks Canada staff are available at the entrance gates to provide information on conditions and park facilities. Day passes are discounted throughout the winter. During the week, visitors can obtain day passes and bulletins at the Operations Building.
Quick Facts
Waterton Lakes National Park receives some of the highest average annual precipitation levels in Alberta. This varies greatly throughout the park with annual precipitation around the gate averaging at 76 cm, while the community receives 107 cm and Cameron Lake receives 152 cm. This all adds up to great snowshoeing conditions.
The Cameron Lake Cabin is the first hut in Waterton Lakes National Park to be operated by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). The ACC operates the largest network of back country huts on the continent, including several other cabins in the mountain national parks.
Associated Links
Source Parks Canada Agency