Beyond the OverlookWaterton Lakes National Park Travel Guide
A compact mountain park that earned much more than add-on status for us. Crypt Lake was one of the most distinctive hikes of our Canadian Rockies trip, and Waterton made it easy to combine a major hiking day with shorter viewpoints and scenic stops.
Is Waterton worth adding to Glacier?
Yes. We crossed into Waterton as part of a Waterton, Glacier and Canadian Rockies trip, and it did not feel like a lesser version of Glacier. The park is smaller and easier to navigate, but the scenery is dramatic and the townsite, lake and trailheads sit close enough together that you can do a surprising amount without spending the entire day in the car.
What we actually did
We stayed at Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort. Our big day was the full Crypt Lake Trail, about 11.5 miles for our route and reached by boat across Waterton Lake. The boat start is part of what made the hike feel so distinctive.
Later we walked Red Rock Canyon, then hiked Bear's Hump, a short, steep climb with broad views over the townsite and Upper Waterton Lake. We finished with drinks at the Prince of Wales Hotel and sunset from the overlook. That combination gave us a very full Waterton day without needing another long hike.
If you have one full day
If you are a strong hiker, we would build it around Crypt Lake. The boat, long trail and mountain setting make it the experience that most clearly justifies crossing the border for Waterton. Add Bear's Hump or Red Rock Canyon only if you still have energy and daylight.
If you have less time
Bear's Hump gives the best short-hike payoff from what we did. Red Rock Canyon is an easy scenic add-on. The Prince of Wales overlook also works well near the end of the day, especially around sunset.
How long would we stay?
Two nights worked well because it protected a full hiking day without making arrival or departure feel rushed. Waterton can fit into a Glacier trip efficiently, but we would not reduce it to a quick border detour.
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Crypt Lake guide · Best things to do in Waterton · How to combine Waterton with Glacier