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Waterton Lakes Itinerary: How to Spend 1, 2 or 3 Nights in Waterton Lakes National Park
- andrewsco3
- Apr 22
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Are you thinking about visiting Waterton Lakes National Park and need help planning your itinerary?
Maybe you’re planning a road trip through the Canadian Rockies and want to include a few days in Waterton along the way. Or perhaps you’ve already read our guide to The Best Things to do in Waterton Lakes National Park and are looking for tips to make the most of your time.
Whether you have one, two, or three days to explore, there’s no shortage of great things to experience – and we’re here to help you plan a trip you won’t forget.
.... and if you’re wondering whether it’s worth adding Waterton to your itinerary, the answer is yes - and here’s why. Waterton Lakes isn’t as busy as other parts of the Canadian Rockies and that’s part of what makes it so special.
The park is small enough that you can see a lot in just a few days without feeling rushed, unlike places like Banff that can be overwhelming at times. Almost everything is either walkable from town or just a short drive away.
It’s an easy place to explore - and a great way to experience mountain scenery with fewer crowds.
You Require a National Park Pass to Visit Waterton Lakes
IMPORTANT: You will need to purchase a Park Pass to enter Waterton Lakes National Park. Make sure to read our comprehensive Q&A blog post, that answers all of your questions, and helps make sure you get the right Park Pass for your trip.
Waterton Lakes Itinerary Options
In a rush? Here's a quick glance at the activities we suggest in each of our itineraries. Whether you have a day, a full weekend, or longer, we suggest starting here.
1 Day Itinerary Overview - for when you only have 24 hours
Red Rock Canyon
The Bear's Hump Hike
The Prince of Wales Hotel
Cameron Falls
2 Day Itinerary Overview - enough time to see most of the highlights
All of Day 1, plus:
Cameron Lake
Bison Paddock
Boat Tour
Stargazing
3 Day itinerary Overview - enough time to explore at a more relaxed pace
Hike the Crypt Lake Trail (epic all day hike)
Horse Riding excursion
Wildflower hikes / wildlife watching
Lower Bertha Falls
Want more details? Keep reading for a more detailed itinerary, or read our complete guide to The Best Things to do in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Waterton Lakes National Park Map
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We’ve added all the sights and attractions to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own itinerary.
To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
One Day in Waterton Lakes Itinerary
for when you only have 24 hours
If you only have 1 day in Waterton you will want to make the most of your day.
In the Morning
Start your day with a drive to Red Rock Canyon along the scenic Red Rock Parkway. Aim to arrive by 10am if you're coming from Calgary, or earlier if staying in Waterton, as the canyon can get busy. You can walk along the canyon floor, let the kids climb and splash around, or follow the short Red Rock Canyon Loop for views of the canyon from above.
We've written an entire blog post on the Red Rock Canyon that you can read here.
Another short hike is the Blakiston Falls trail, a 2.6km kid-friendly route that starts from the canyon and leads to a viewing platform over the falls.
Late Morning to Lunch
Head into town, but stop on your way at Driftwood Beach, just off the main road near the Parks Canada Operations Building. It’s a quiet pebble beach with great views of the Prince of Wales Hotel. If you are bringing a dog, this is a great beach to let them play in the water.
Early Afternoon
Make your way up to the Prince of Wales Hotel for stunning views over Upper Waterton Lake. Even if you’re not staying the night, it’s worth going inside to view the historic lobby or browse the gift shop. You can even book afternoon tea if you feel like a treat.
From the hotel grounds, cross the road and climb the Bear’s Hump - one of Waterton's 'must do' hikes. It’s a short but steep 2.7 km return trail - but you are rewarded with some of the best views in the Canadian Rockies, and on a clear day, you can see as far as Montana in the United States.
Late Afternoon to Evening
Spend the rest of your day exploring the Waterton Townsite. It’s a small, walkable town, so you can easily take your time wandering between the shops and lakeshore, rent a paddleboard or relax by the water at Emerald Bay.
Then grab an ice cream from Big Scoop on Waterton Avenue, enjoy dinner at one of the town’s many great restaurants, or keep it casual with a hot dog or poutine on the beach from Wieners of Waterton.
In the evening you can wander along the marina and through the International Peace Park, or take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore.
End your day with a quick stop at Cameron Falls, just a short walk from Waterton Avenue. With its layered rock and cascading water, it’s one of the most scenic waterfalls in Alberta - and is a perfect final stop before heading back to your hotel or home.
Two Days in Waterton Lakes Itinerary
Plenty of time to hit the highlights
If you’ve got a second day in Waterton, you’ll have time to slow down a little - and check off a few more of the park’s highlights.
Morning
Start your day with a drive up to Cameron Lake - a beautiful spot with views that are a little like Lake Louise, but with fewer crowds. The mountain in the background is actually in the US!
You can rent a canoe, paddleboat, or kayak from the boathouse and spend some time on the water, or simply enjoy a peaceful walk along the lakeshore.
Late Morning
On your way back, stop at the Bison Paddock Loop Road - a gravel road that winds through the bison’s natural grassland habitat. The bison roam freely here, a little like a safari, so some days you might spot them up close near the road, while other you might hardly see them.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, head down to the marina and take a scenic Waterton Shoreline Cruise on Upper Waterton Lake.
You can choose a 1-hour non-landing cruise that travels to the Canada–USA border, or a 2-hour cruise that crosses into the U.S. and stops at Goat Haunt, where you can stretch your legs and visit the interpretive centre.
Evening
After dinner, end your day with some time under the stars. Waterton is part of a designated Dark Sky Preserve, and if the skies are clear, you’ll be treated to incredible stargazing. Head to a quiet spot, or just simply look up to enjoy the night sky - no telescope required.
Three Days in Waterton Lakes Itinerary
take the time to explore further
With three days in Waterton, you can take things at a slower pace - or set out on one of the park’s most iconic adventures.
Option 1: Full-Day Hike to Crypt Lake
If you're up for a challenge, spend the day hiking the Crypt Lake Trail, one of the most thrilling hikes in the Canadian Rockies.
You'll start by catching the morning boat shuttle from the marina across Upper Waterton Lake to the trailhead. From there, it's a full-day hike packed with everything from waterfalls to tunnels to cliffside cables and some crazy exposure - and the views are absolutely unforgettable.
This is a demanding hike (about 17 km round trip), so it’s best suited for experienced hikers or families with older kids who enjoy a challenge. Be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and bear spray!
Option 2: Slower Pace – Choose Your Own Adventure
If you’re not up for a full-day hike, there are still lots of ways to fill your third day at a more relaxed pace. You could:
Take a guided horseback riding excursion through Waterton’s grasslands and foothills. If you enjoy horse riding, it doesn't get much better than this.
Hike to Lower Bertha Falls, a scenic kid friendly (5km) trail that starts right from town, or you can continue on to Bertha Lake which adds an extra 5km. Hiking to points of interest like this are one of our top tips for keeping kids engaged on a hike.
Spend some time wildlife watching - early morning or evening are great times to spot deer, mountain goats, and even bears. I think we have seen a bear every time we have gone to Waterton so far.
Between May and July, keep an eye out for wildflowers in bloom across the park. Some of our favourite wildflower hikes are:
Bellevue Trail (our favourite)
Horseshoe Basin
Blakiston Fan
Where to Stay in Waterton Lakes
We highly recommend camping in Waterton as there are some fantastic options available and it's a great way to see the stars! The most popular site is the Waterton Townsite Campground, which is close to the shore of Upper Waterton Lake. It's a great central location and you can walk to pretty much everything, but due to this, it often sells out during peak times, so be sure to book ahead.
Another site we've stayed at on a few occasions is the Crooked Creek Campground, which is located outside of town. As the name suggests, there is a creek that runs through the site and if you have young kids, they will enjoy splaying in the creek while you have some downtime! The most incredible stars we've ever seen were during a stay here a few years ago.
In terms of hotels, we haven't stayed in many (as we usually camp), but there is a great list on the Waterton tourism website here. Just bear in mind that Waterton is a small town, and accommodation options are fairly limited, and often sell out quickly.
One day we would love to stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel, but it's certainly not cheap!
Where to Eat in Waterton Lakes
We've eaten at most places in town over the years. Here are a few of our recommendations for the best places to eat in Waterton:
Pizza of Waterton – Tasty pizza and a nice heated patio .
Waterton Park Cafe – Good food at reasonable prices and a dog-friendly patio.
The Thirsty Bear Kitchen & Bar – Great food, excellent craft beer, and often has live music in the evening.
Red Rock Trattoria – Really good Italian food.
The Prince of Wales Hotel – A great spot for afternoon tea with a view you won’t forget.
Wieners of Waterton – Quick, affordable, and perfect if you’re just looking to grab a hot dog on the go to eat at the beach!
Waffleton – 2025 Update: Unfortunately Waffleton is permanently closed.
Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlor – The best place to get ice cream in town
Before You Go.... About Our Family
We are a family of four that moved to Alberta in 2012 and have explored extensively throughout Alberta and British Columbia. We love hiking and exploring the Canadian Rockies! We write travel guides with families in mind.
We've decided to take a career sabbatical in October 2025 to travel through Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for 100 days.