The short answer
If you are already planning a trip to Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes is a great add-on. You still get huge mountain views, beautiful lakes and memorable hiking, but the park feels noticeably quieter.
Two nights worked really well for us. We had enough time for a full Crypt Lake day plus Bear's Hump, Red Rock Canyon, the Prince of Wales Hotel and time in Waterton town. We could also easily have stayed longer. There are several major hikes we did not have time to do, so hikers should not think of Waterton as only a one or two day park.
Build one day around Crypt Lake
Crypt Lake was a super memorable day and one of the experiences we would build a Waterton trip around. The hike combines a boat ride, waterfalls, wildflowers, a ladder, a tunnel, a cable section and a bright blue alpine lake.
The standard route is officially about 10.6 miles, but we took the Hell Roaring Falls route and ended up closer to 11.5 to 12 miles. The distance and sustained climbing were more challenging than the famous ladder, tunnel and cable.
Read our full Crypt Lake hiking guide →
Hike Bear's Hump before a drink at Prince of Wales
This was one of our favorite combinations in Waterton. Bear's Hump is short but steep, and the overlook gives you a beautiful view over the mountains, water, Waterton town and the Prince of Wales Hotel.
After the hike, head over to the Prince of Wales Hotel for a drink. The hotel sits high above the lake, so you get another incredible view with considerably less effort. Doing the hike first made the drink afterward even better.
Walk through Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon was much more fun than simply stopping for a view. We brought water shoes and walked right through the little canyon. The water was cold, but the red and orange walls were beautiful from below.
It felt like an experience instead of another scenic stop. If you want to walk in the water, bring water shoes and be prepared for very cold water.
The canyon is roughly a half-hour drive from Waterton town, depending on conditions and where you start.
Leave time for Waterton town
The town itself is part of the appeal. It is small, cute and easy to wander around. We stopped for ice cream, walked through the little downtown area and checked out the general store and food options.
We also saw deer casually walking around town. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but it added to the relaxed mountain-town feel.
The ice cream stop was especially good, with some more unusual flavors than we expected. We would absolutely leave a little unstructured time just to walk around town rather than scheduling every minute.
How long should you stay in Waterton?
For a Glacier add-on, we think two nights is a very good starting point. That gives you one full day for Crypt Lake and enough additional time for shorter experiences such as Bear's Hump, Red Rock Canyon, Prince of Wales and the town.
That does not mean two nights is enough to exhaust the park. We skipped several of Waterton's other major hikes simply because we ran out of time. If hiking is the focus of your trip, three or four nights would not feel excessive.
Why Waterton works so well with Glacier
The biggest reason is that Waterton gives you a different feel without giving up the scenery. Glacier is spectacular, but it can also be busy. Waterton felt calmer and easier while still giving us the mountains, lakes and hiking we had come for.
It also makes the trip feel more varied. Crossing into Canada, spending time in the little town, taking the Crypt Lake boat and visiting the Prince of Wales Hotel gave Waterton its own identity rather than making it feel like more of the same.
Would we add Waterton again?
Definitely. If we were planning another Glacier trip and had the time to cross into Canada, we would include Waterton again. We would probably stay longer next time so we could tackle some of the bigger hikes we missed.
If you only have a few days for Glacier, we would keep the trip focused there. But once you have enough time to build a broader trip, Waterton is one of the first additions we would make.