Parking
Start at Red Rock Canyon’s upper parking lot. Cross the bridge over Red Rock Creek and continue straight on Snowshoe Trail; take the signed Goat Lake branch to the right at about 4.3 km.
Overview
About Goat Lake Trail
Goat Lake Trail is a difficult out-and-back from Red Rock Canyon’s upper parking lot. The full return route is 14 km (8.7 mi) and takes about five hours. It follows the Snowshoe corridor before turning onto a steep signed branch that climbs to Goat Lake, then returns the same way. Expect a long, steady approach followed by sustained uphill switchbacks and the same descent on the way back.
Why go
- An alpine lake beneath steep mountain walls rewards the sustained climb.
Heads up
- The broad approach gives way to a long, steep climb and descent.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Waterton Lakes map
Full mapElevation1,507–2,015 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 Goat 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
Red Rock Canyon0:00 / 0:32
“You’re coming up on Red Rock Canyon, where a creek cuts through red and green rock. This is a good stop for a close look at the landscape without a long hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lost Horse Creek Day Use Area
- Older Rock on Top
- Coppermine Day Use Area
- A Squirrel's Cone Store
- 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 Goat Lake Trail
Start at Red Rock CanyonFrom the upper lot, cross the bridge over Red Rock Creek and continue straight onto Snowshoe…
From the upper lot, cross the bridge over Red Rock Creek and continue straight onto Snowshoe Trail. The broad former fire-road corridor rolls gently for roughly four kilometres. It is shared with cyclists and horseback riders as well as hikers, so stay alert, give others room and follow posted trail etiquette. Some open stretches show fire-scarred trees among grasses and seasonal flowers.
Take the signed lake branchAt about 4.3 km, turn right at the Goat Lake sign.
At about 4.3 km, turn right at the Goat Lake sign. The grade changes quickly: a steep series of switchbacks climbs through forest toward subalpine terrain. The turns make the route easier to follow, but the ascent is sustained; views open between them as the trail gains height. Parks Canada rates this hike difficult, which fits the long uphill followed by a demanding descent.
Reach the cirqueThe path reaches the lip of a hanging valley and the lake outlet before a short final walk to…
The path reaches the lip of a hanging valley and the lake outlet before a short final walk to Goat Lake. The water sits beneath a steep rocky cirque, with conifers along the shore and mountain walls above. Take a break at the lake, then retrace the same route to the upper lot. The mapped Goat Lake route ends at the lake; it does not continue along the longer Newman Peak extension.
Plan for the returnKeep the five-hour round trip in mind when choosing a start time, and leave energy for the…
Keep the five-hour round trip in mind when choosing a start time, and leave energy for the descent over the same steep switchbacks. Snowshoe’s lower approach is multi-use. Dogs are allowed on park trails when leashed and under control. Check current park notices and crossing conditions before setting out, since trail access and creek crossings can change.
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.
