Alberta’s Hidden Gem
Posted on September 04, 2011 By Joseph
Waterton Lakes National Parks makes up one half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
It is a little known, little used (it gets 400,000 visitors a year as opposed to Banfff National Park which gets 4 million) resource that should not be missed on your next trip to Southern Alberta. Now that I have experienced some of the simple, quiet, natural pleasures of the park, I would suggest that visitors to Calgary think about adding an excursion to Waterton to their itinerary. It’s about a three-hour drive from Calgary along the Cowboy Trail which offers stunning views of prairie ranchlands and the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Once in Waterton you can take the 1927 cruise ship International on a short narrated trip from Alberta to Montana. The boat stops in Goat Haunt, Montana for 35 minutes, but passengers only need to show a passport to be permitted by U.S. customs to spend more time in the area. While there are a number of hikes available from the Goat Haunt dock, I suggest you climb back aboard the vessel and head back to Waterton Township where you’ll find trailheads to more than 200 kilometers of walking. There are hikes for every level of fitness and expertise. Additional pleasures include taking a stroll through the two-road town and stop in for a bite to eat or a drink in one of the many colorful watering holes or heading to the picturesque Prince of Wales Hotel for a formal dinner. While the view is better than the food, the people are friendly, the local beers chilled and the view down the lake from the bar, lobby lounge or restaurant breathtaking. For more information on Waterton Natonal Park and Alberta, Canada go to http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index.aspx.
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