Picnic area · Waterton Lakes National Park
An easy picnic beside Upper Waterton Lake, just outside town.
Overview
Map
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
Townsite Campground and Lakeshore“You’re approaching Townsite Campground and the lakeshore at the south end of the village. If you’re camping, this is a convenient base for walking into town or down to Upper Waterton Lake.”
Plays as you drive up to Lakeshore 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
Lakeshore Day Use Area is a public picnic spot on the shore of Upper Waterton Lake, just outside Waterton townsite. It works best as a short meal break beside the water.
Parks Canada warns that access to day-use areas may not be maintained in winter, and heavy snow can make some sites inaccessible. This is park-wide guidance, so check conditions before counting on a winter stop here.
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
ModerateBertha Lake Trail10.3 km · 4.5 hr · 0.7 km awayA waterfall warm-up before the climb to Bertha Lake.
ModerateLower Bertha Falls Trail5.1 km · 1.5 hr · 0.7 km awayA short waterfall hike with a big view of Waterton Lake.
ModerateLakeshore Trail13.5 km · 4 hr · 0.7 km awayOne way lakeshore hike from Waterton to Goat Haunt, crossing into Glacier.
EasyTownsite Loop3.2 km · 1 hr · 0.7 km awayA gentle paved loop links Cameron Falls, the village, and lakeshore.
ChallengingAlderson Lake Trail14 km · 5.5 hr · 0.7 km awayA forest climb ends at a blue lake beneath Mount Alderson's cliffs.
ModerateCrandell Lake-Townsite Trail12.4 km · 4 hr · 0.8 km awayA steady climb from town through renewing forest to a lake.
EasyPrince of Wales Loop2 km · 45 min · 1 km awayA short circuit below the historic hotel, with two lakes in view.
ModerateBear’s Hump Trail2.9 km · 1 hr · 1.4 km awayThe short, steep climb to Waterton’s broad town-and-lake panorama.
Store · 0.3 km awayWelch’s Chocolate ShopNostalgic sweets, ice cream, and a jumbo cinnamon bun.
Visitor center · 0.3 km awayWaterton Lakes Visitor CentreGet trail updates, then explore Blackfoot-focused exhibits.
Restaurant · 0.3 km awayZum’s Eatery & MercantileFried chicken, license-plate walls, and a patio over Upper Waterton Lake.
Food · 0.3 km awayWindflower Corner CoffeeCoffee, quick bites, and mountain views from the patio.
Sight · 0.3 km awayWaterton Lakes Opera HouseA working 1930s cinema with live events and fresh hot popcorn.
Food · 0.3 km awayBig Scoop Ice Cream ParlourA Waterton tradition for generous scoops and handmade waffle cones.
Sight · 0.3 km awayPaahtómahksikimi Cultural CentreMeet Waterton through Blackfoot stories, language, and living culture.
Restaurant · 0.3 km awayThe Taco BarTacos, burritos and house-made salsa in Waterton village.Parkwolf’s Waterton Lakes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
