Parking
Akamina Pass Trailhead parking area on Akamina Parkway, above Cameron Lake. The Parkway closes to vehicles seasonally in winter; winter access ends at Little Prairie Day Use Area.
Overview
About Forum Lake Trail
Why go
- Colourful ancient limestone along the lake shore
- Small meadows break up the forest approach
Heads up
- Most of the approach is a steady forest climb
- Seasonal winter road closure limits vehicle access
Forum Lake is a 9 km (5.6 mi) out-and-back from Akamina Pass Trailhead, crossing the pass into British Columbia’s Akamina-Kishinena Park. Allow 3–4 hours and about 350 m (1,150 ft) of climbing. It suits a longer half-day walk: the approach is mostly forest before small meadows and an alpine lake. The current BC-side trail condition was not confirmed here, so check the provincial trail report before setting out.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe lake is worth the climbMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Waterton Lakes map
Full mapElevation1,686–1,984 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Waterton Lakes alerts
- ClosureBelly River Campground closedBelly River Campground is closed to all traffic and travel because a carcass is in the area. - Violators may be charged under the Canada National Parks Act, with a maximum penalty of $25,000.Official details
- ClosureBlakiston Fan closed to protect rutting elkThe Blakiston Fan area is closed to traffic and travel to prevent disturbance of elk rutting there.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Waterton Lakes Tour Guide
Your drive to Forum Lake Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
Akamina Pass and Wall Lake0:00 / 0:27
“Up ahead is the Akamina Pass trailhead, the start of a moderate hike to Wall Lake beneath sheer cliffs.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Cameron Lake
- Little Prairie Day Use Area
- Rowe Lakes Trailhead
- Lineham Falls Trailhead
- 51 audio storiesacross Waterton Lakes’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Black Bear, Elk, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 47 trails, 70 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Forum Lake Trail
Up the old roadbedThe first 2.5 km climbs steadily on an old roadbed, then eases near the pass.
The first 2.5 km climbs steadily on an old roadbed, then eases near the pass. The road was built in the 1920s toward Kishinena Creek and the Flathead Valley. Beyond the pass, the trail continues through forest, with a short steeper stretch before small meadows open near the lake.
At the lakeForum Lake sits in a rocky cirque.
Forum Lake sits in a rocky cirque. The shore is paved with colourful limestone that BC Parks estimates at 1.3 billion years old. For a photo, get low beside the coloured slabs and frame the water with the layered cliffs behind it.
Access and rulesStart at the Akamina Pass parking area on Akamina Parkway, above Cameron Lake.
Start at the Akamina Pass parking area on Akamina Parkway, above Cameron Lake. The Parkway closes to vehicles seasonally in winter, with winter access ending at Little Prairie Day Use Area; check the road before driving up. Forum Falls is a short optional side trip near the ranger station and is not included in the lake distance. Dogs are allowed on leash, though BC Parks advises that backcountry areas are not suitable for pets; horses are not allowed on the Forum Lake route.
Wind and footingWaterton’s narrow mountain valleys can funnel sudden, extreme winds.
Waterton’s narrow mountain valleys can funnel sudden, extreme winds. The route climbs steadily and has a short steeper section; check conditions before crossing the pass and be ready for wind on the open ground.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Waterton Lakes
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.
