Picnic area · Waterton Lakes National Park
A shaded picnic clearing beside the Waterton River.
Overview
The name points to hay barns once used for Parks Canada horses at this location. Today it’s a simple picnic spot beside the river, with a name that carries a little of the park’s working history.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s called Hay BarnMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Waterton Lakes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Waterton Lakes 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 Waterton Lakes audio tourRecorded for this place
Hay Barn Day Use Area“You’re approaching the access road for Hay Barn Day Use Area. The picnic clearing is farther along a gravel road, in the woods beside the Waterton River.”
Plays as you drive up to Hay Barn Day Use Area in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Hay Barn is a forested picnic clearing beside the Waterton River, near where Middle Waterton Lake flows into Lower Waterton Lake. Bring a packed meal and take your time by the water: nine picnic tables, two fire pits and dry toilets make it a straightforward day-use stop.
Turn off the entrance road just beyond the Red Rock Canyon turnoff, then follow the gravel road to the clearing and picnic spots. The way down to the river follows informal paths through grass; it isn’t a built trail, and it can be unmarked and overgrown. The river is cold and has a current, which can be strong early in the season, so don’t assume this is an easy swim stop.
Wildlife
83 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
563 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
146 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
113 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
55 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
53 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Waterton Lakes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyKootenai Brown Trail13.8 km · 3.5 hr · 3.2 km awayA smooth paved path links the park gate and townsite.
ChallengingWishbone Trail28 km · 8 hr · 3.7 km awayA long out-and-back through open country to Crypt Landing.
ChallengingVimy Trail24.3 km · 8 hr · 3.7 km awayA long prairie approach ends in a steep climb below Vimy Peak.
ModerateBellevue Prairie Trail7.6 km · 2.5 hr · 3.8 km awaySpring wildflowers brighten the open prairie below Bellevue Hill.
EasyLinnet Lake Loop1 km · 20 min · 4.3 km awayA paved 20-minute loop with lakeside views and interpretive stops.
ModerateBear’s Hump Trail2.9 km · 1 hr · 4.7 km awayThe short, steep climb to Waterton’s broad town-and-lake panorama.
EasyPrince of Wales Loop2 km · 45 min · 4.7 km awayA short circuit below the historic hotel, with two lakes in view.
ModerateCrandell Lake-Townsite Trail12.4 km · 4 hr · 5.4 km awayA steady climb from town through renewing forest to a lake.
Picnic area · 2.3 km awayPass Creek Day Use AreaA creekside picnic with a shelter and six fire pits.
Sight · 2.6 km awayWaterton Lakes Golf CourseA historic public course with mountain views through the round.
Picnic area · 2.6 km awayKnight’s Lake Day Use AreaA sheltered picnic beside mountain-framed water.
Sight · 2.8 km awayAlpine StablesGuided rides range from lakeside loops to mountain scrambles
Entrance station · 3.3 km awayWaterton Lakes Entrance GateThe quick threshold between prairie and the lakeside road.
Picnic area · 3.4 km awayMaskinonge Day Use AreaA quiet picnic stop in a sacred Blackfoot landscape.
Scenic pullout · 3.5 km awayMaskinonge OverlookA quiet roadside view over wetland, lake and the Waterton peaks.
Beach · 3.6 km awayDriftwood BeachA driftwood-lined pebble shore with a sweeping Waterton Lake view.Parkwolf’s Waterton Lakes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
