Lone Lake Trail

Lone Lake is a 28 km (17.4 mi) out-and-back from the lower Red Rock Canyon lot, following Blakiston Valley and the marked connection to the lake before returning on the same corridor. Parks Canada lists it as a two-day hike. The distance includes both legs; the route line represents the physical path once. Plan for an overnight with a full pack and long walking days. This is a hard backcountry trip, not a short lake stroll.

From the lower lot, pass the kitchen shelter, cross Red Rock Creek and Bauerman Creek, then follow Blakiston Valley. The route passes the Blakiston Falls access and follows the creek through a mostly wooded valley to a junction. From there, keep to the marked Lone Lake connection; the linked trail network also leads toward Twin Lakes, Snowshoe and Rowe Lakes. A 2017 walk of this same lower-lot approach measured about 14.3 km to camp, close to half the official return distance.

The final four to five kilometres rise more steeply and open into meadows before the lake camp. With overnight gear, this is the main effort of the approach; pace it and leave enough time for the return or your reserved campsite. Wildflowers have been reported in the meadows in early summer, but the display varies by year and conditions.

Lone Lake is a backcountry campground, so reserve a site and carry your permit. Facilities include tent pads, an outhouse, food-storage bins and picnic tables. Water is available at backcountry campgrounds but must be treated or boiled; bring toilet paper and all food you need. The kitchen shelter at the trailhead is not a food stop for the hike.

Use the campground food lockers and follow bear-safe practices; this route enters Waterton backcountry, where phone service may be unreliable. Do not count on untreated stream water: carry enough for the longer stretches and treat or boil any water you collect. Dogs are allowed on park trails only on leash and under control. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats use Waterton's mountain country, but sightings on this route are never guaranteed.

The lower creek corridor is known for Waterton's red and green argillite. Red tones come from oxidized iron; green argillite contains iron that has not oxidized. The park's ancient sedimentary foundation began as material on a seabed about 1.5 billion years ago, later shifted northeast by the Lewis Thrust. The red walls along the approach make that geology visible at walking pace.