Right: Waterton Lake, Alberta, Canada.

1. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.
2. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, CANADA (this page).

Americans should bring their USA passport to Canada. Recommended hiking guidebook: "Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park", from The Mountaineers Books (2003 edition).

Hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park

• Carthew Traverse (12 miles one way, 2300 feet gain, car shuttle) We loved this so much in 2002 that we may hike it again. High alpine lakes, colorful rocks, meadows, waterfalls and ptarmigan. (This trail stays within Canada, and no boat is required.)
• Bertha Lake (8.6 miles round trip, 1542 feet) "Beautiful subalpine lake"; falls. I have not hiked this yet.
  
• Goat Lake (8 miles, 984 feet round trip) "Pretty area". This trail starts at the exceptionally colorful Red Rock Canyon, where we enjoyed walking the short nature trail in 2002.
  
• Crypt Lake (10.8 miles, 2080 feet gain) "Reputed to be the best day hike in Canada." Requires a 15 minute boat ride from Emerald Bay boat dock on Waterton Lake. "The trail leads past 4 spectacular waterfalls: Hell Roaring Falls (1 km), Twin Falls (3.5 km), Burnt Rock Falls (5.6 km) and Crypt Falls (8 km)." Some people may not be comfortable with the exposed, narrow trail on a cliff, ladder, and some long steps entering the 60 foot tunnel crawl, but others may find this exciting.I have not hiked this yet.
• Goat Haunt (Hike 2-12 miles round trip, 1000 ft gain). Requires a boat ride on Waterton Lake from Canada to Gaunt Haunt in the USA, then back to Canada, which is a travel novelty to a remote corner of the USA accessible only by boat or foot. Americans must bring USA passport. In 2002, Carol and I felt the boat ride to Goat Haunt was not very exciting compared to our previous day traversing Carthew Pass -- you probably need to hike or backpack into the mountains from Goat Haunt for better views; but non-hikers may enjoy the scenery from the boat. To stay overnight, you must get your backcountry permit in Glacier NP, not Waterton NP. You must leave Waterton dock by 4pm sailing to enable check in to US customs at Goat Haunt between 9am-5:30pm. Click here for latest Goat Haunt trail info from Glacier NP. At Goat Haunt you can do any or all of the following:
• Day hikes from Goat Haunt: several "excellent hikes" 2-12 miles.
• Camp overnight at open-sided shelters at the Goat Haunt boat dock, without having to carry a pack.
• Backpack from Goat Haunt: Lake Francis 12.4 miles round trip, 1000 feet, plus optional 8 mile round trip day extension to Brown Pass where "views are tremendous".