Blakiston Falls

Start at the lower parking lot and pass the kitchen shelter. Cross the bridge over Red Rock Creek, then turn left across Bauerman Creek and right toward the falls trail. The short walk passes through forest on its way to the viewpoints. Visitors have noted sections changed by the 2017 Kenow wildfire, with young lodgepole pines and more open mountain views; the forest is still growing back.

The elevated decks give you different angles on the waterfall and canyon walls. Take a moment at each rather than stopping at the first rail. For a photo, keep some of the rock around the cascade in frame so the falls have a sense of scale; a tight crop of white water loses the setting.

The wider Waterton landscape is built from layers of sediment laid down on an ancient seabed about 1.5 billion years ago. The Lewis Thrust later carried an older sheet of rock northeast over much younger Cretaceous layers. Erosion at Blakiston Creek and Red Rock Canyon has also built alluvial fans in the valley, a reminder that the water shaping the falls keeps remaking the land downstream.

The trail starts at the lower lot beside Red Rock Canyon, where there’s a kitchen shelter. A few visitors report busier conditions around midday, so an earlier start may feel quieter, though it’s no guarantee. Leave time to enjoy the platforms before heading back the same way.