Parking
There is no vehicle access at either endpoint. Reach Fifty Mountain by a connected backcountry trail; Goat Haunt is accessible by trail or boat from Waterton. Arrange a through-route or return before setting out.
Overview
About Waterton Valley Trail
Why go
- A wide alpine meadow and views toward the Citadel Peaks reward the long approach.
- The point-to-point route links meadow, rocky slope and river valley in one backcountry leg.
Heads up
- Neither endpoint has road access, so the approach and return take planning.
- The reverse direction includes a long, steep climb from Goat Haunt to Fifty Mountain.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Glacier map
Full mapElevation4,203–6,926 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Glacier alert
- ClosureTwo Medicine Campground closed for 2026 constructionTwo Medicine Campground is closed throughout 2026 because of construction in the Two Medicine developed area.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Glacier Tour Guide
Your drive to Waterton Valley Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Glacier National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Glacier audio tour- 204 audio storiesacross Glacier’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Wolverine, Mountain Goat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 157 trails, 91 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Our first time to glacier and we used the audio portion for Going to the Sun Road. Wonderful information with perfect advice of what to see and do along the road.”
Trail guide
Hiking Waterton Valley Trail
A remote one-way crossingWaterton Valley Trail is a 10.
Waterton Valley Trail is a 10.5-mile point-to-point backcountry route from Fifty Mountain Campground to Goat Haunt Ranger Station. Allow about 6 to 8 hours for the crossing, with extra time for a side trip. This is one leg of a longer wilderness itinerary: neither end is a roadhead, and Fifty Mountain is reached on foot. From Fifty Mountain toward Goat Haunt, the trail loses about 2,400 feet overall; travel the other way and it becomes a long climb.
From meadow to valleyThe route starts beside the broad subalpine meadow at Fifty Mountain, with the campground…
The route starts beside the broad subalpine meadow at Fifty Mountain, with the campground tucked near Kootenai Creek. It crosses the open basin, then drops through forest, avalanche swaths and rocky outcrops. Views open toward the Citadel Peaks as you descend. At the meadow’s north end, look for the remains of an unfinished stone shelter. The meadow is the route’s signature view; include a strip of trail or camp edge in a photo to show its scale.
Follow the valley northThe steep descent eases near the Waterton River valley.
The steep descent eases near the Waterton River valley. On this section you pass the Pass Creek patrol cabin and footbridge, then the Stoney Indian Pass junction. Near Goat Haunt, the Kootenai Lakes Trail branches west toward the largest lake and its backcountry campground; that spur is separate from the 10.5-mile route. The Waterton Valley Trail continues to Goat Haunt Ranger Station at the south end of Upper Waterton Lake.
Plan the accessThere is no vehicle access at either endpoint.
There is no vehicle access at either endpoint. Reach Fifty Mountain by a connected backcountry trail and plan a through-route or a very long return; Goat Haunt is accessible by trail or boat from Waterton. Boat arrivals at Goat Haunt involve an international border, and hikers going beyond the ranger station must follow current entry procedures. Overnight camping in Glacier requires a wilderness permit. Pets are not permitted on park trails or in the backcountry. This is bear country: carry bear spray where you can reach it and follow food-storage rules.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Glacier
404 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
11 sightingsWolverineMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
1,173 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
1,000 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
395 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
506 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Glacier. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
