Alderson Lake

Alderson Lake is a deep alpine lake and designated backcountry campground beneath Mount Alderson’s high cliffs. It’s reached on foot, so save it for a day set aside for hiking rather than a casual scenic stop. A lake-only return from Cameron Falls in the townsite is about 14 km with 580 m of climbing, and takes around five to six hours. The full Carthew–Alderson traverse is a separate 19.2 km one-way hike, taking about eight hours and passing the lake between Cameron Lake and Cameron Falls. Plan how you’ll get between trailheads if you choose the through-route.

The aquamarine water sits below Mount Alderson’s steep cliffs and rocky slopes. The shoreline is rocky, so treat this as a mountain-lake stop, not an easy place to wander down from the road. For a photo, stand back from the shore and keep some water in the foreground with the cirque behind it; that shows the lake and its setting together.

Alderson is one of Waterton’s designated backcountry campgrounds. Overnight stays require a backcountry-use permit and reservation. Parks Canada’s backcountry campgrounds have tent pads, outhouses, food-storage bins and picnic tables. Water sources are available, but the water needs to be treated or boiled. Cooking requires a gas stove, and Alderson isn’t among the campgrounds where fires are allowed.

At 60 m deep, Alderson is the deepest of Waterton’s high-country lakes. The lake, Mount Alderson and Alderson Creek honor British Lieutenant General Edwin H. A. Alderson, the first commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in the First World War. He led the 1st Canadian Division into its first battles in France in 1915.