Sight · Waterton Lakes National Park
The red chairs look straight across the water to Vimy Peak.
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
Linnet Lake and Middle Waterton Shore“Linnet Lake is ahead, a good stop if you want a picnic and an easy walk. The paved loop circles the small lake in about twenty minutes, with very little climbing, benches and interpretive panels along the way.”
Plays as you drive up to Middle Waterton Lake Boat Launch 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
Middle Waterton Lake Boat Launch is a small lakeshore stop off AB-5. The red Adirondack chairs and open view across Middle Waterton Lake toward Vimy Peak are the reason to pause; it is a quick scenic stop rather than a full beach outing. Parking is mapped just west of the chairs. For a photo, put the red chairs in the foreground with Vimy Peak across the water.
Despite the name, this is not a general boat launch for visiting watercraft. Parks Canada’s current rules bar non-motorized boats brought from outside the park and direct motorized or trailered craft to Waterton Marina after a 90-day quarantine. Check current watercraft rules before planning to launch.
The red-chair program began at Gros Morne National Park in 2011 and has since spread to more than 100 locations. These Adirondack chairs are made from recycled plastic recovered from Canadian landfills.
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
EasyLinnet Lake Loop1 km · 20 min · At the trailheadA paved 20-minute loop with lakeside views and interpretive stops.
ModerateBear’s Hump Trail2.9 km · 1 hr · 0.5 km awayThe short, steep climb to Waterton’s broad town-and-lake panorama.
EasyPrince of Wales Loop2 km · 45 min · 0.7 km awayA short circuit below the historic hotel, with two lakes in view.
ModerateCrandell Lake-Townsite Trail12.4 km · 4 hr · 1.3 km awayA steady climb from town through renewing forest to a lake.
ChallengingAlderson Lake Trail14 km · 5.5 hr · 1.6 km awayA forest climb ends at a blue lake beneath Mount Alderson's cliffs.
EasyTownsite Loop3.2 km · 1 hr · 1.7 km awayA gentle paved loop links Cameron Falls, the village, and lakeshore.
ModerateBertha Lake Trail10.3 km · 4.5 hr · 2.1 km awayA waterfall warm-up before the climb to Bertha Lake.
ModerateLower Bertha Falls Trail5.1 km · 1.5 hr · 2.1 km awayA short waterfall hike with a big view of Waterton Lake.Picnic area · At the trailheadLinnet Lake Day Use AreaA quiet picnic stop beside an easy, paved lake loop.
Sight · 0.6 km awayPrince of Wales Hotel National Historic SiteA 1927 railway hotel set high above the lake and town.
Beach · 0.6 km awayDriftwood BeachA driftwood-lined pebble shore with a sweeping Waterton Lake view.
Picnic area · 0.8 km awayEmerald BayA picnic by the marina, with a cool dip or paddle nearby.
Lodging · 1 km awayKilmorey LodgeA lake-view room or a patio dinner gives this stay its edge.
Sight · 1.1 km awayBear’s HumpA steep climb opens a view from the lakes to the prairie.
Lodging · 1.1 km awayCrandell Mountain LodgeA 1940 lodge in Waterton with family rooms and suites.
Sight · 1.1 km awayWaterton MarinaLakeside walks, red chairs and boat cruises on Upper Waterton Lake.Parkwolf’s Waterton Lakes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
