Parking
Use the Rowe-Tamarack trailhead parking area on Akamina Parkway, about 10.5 km from Waterton town on the right when leaving town.
Overview
About Upper Rowe Lake Trail
Why go
- A varied day walk from creekside cascades to Rowe Meadow and a larch-ringed alpine lake.
Heads up
- The upper switchbacks are steep, and avalanche paths cross the route in snow season.
Upper Rowe Lake Trail is an 8-mile (12.8 km) out-and-back from the Rowe-Tamarack trailhead on Akamina Parkway to Upper Rowe Lake and back. Plan on about five hours. It is moderate overall, though the upper switchbacks are steep and the 575 m climb adds up over the full walk. It suits hikers who want a full mountain day with a mix of forest, water, meadow, and an alpine basin, not a short lake stroll. The published distance follows the main upper-lake route; the Lower Rowe Lake spur and a walk around the upper lake add distance.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Waterton Lakes map
Full mapElevation1,592–2,186 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Upper Rowe 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
Rowe Lakes Trailhead0:00 / 0:27
“You’re approaching the Rowe Lakes trailhead, where I’d choose Lower Rowe Lake for a moderate hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lineham Falls Trailhead
- First Oil Well in Western Canada
- Little Prairie Day Use Area
- Crandell Lake Trailhead and McNeely’s
- 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 Upper Rowe Lake Trail
Follow Rowe CreekThe lower miles hug Rowe Creek through lodgepole pine and mossy ledges where water runs over…
The lower miles hug Rowe Creek through lodgepole pine and mossy ledges where water runs over bright red argillite. Small cascades and waterfalls break up the walk. The forest gives way at a broad avalanche-path opening around 1.7 miles from the trailhead; Mount Lineham rises to the north and Mount Rowe to the south. This is a good place to pause for the view. From the established trail, frame the open slope with both peaks to show the scale of the mountains.
Choose the right branchThe Lower Rowe Lake path branches off before the upper route.
The Lower Rowe Lake path branches off before the upper route. It's a separate short detour, so skip it to stay on the stated Upper Rowe itinerary. Beyond the junction, the route stays near the creek through shady, mossy woodland with several cascades. A log bridge marks the approach to Rowe Meadow.
Cross Rowe MeadowA stream runs through the open meadow, with flowers among the grass and mountain slopes all…
A stream runs through the open meadow, with flowers among the grass and mountain slopes all around. This is the airy middle section after the woods; beargrass can bloom here in season. Find the junction beyond the meadow: turn left for Upper Rowe Lake. The other route continues toward Lineham Ridge and the Tamarack trail. Keep that branch out of your outing unless it's your planned destination.
Climb to the upper basinThe last approach climbs steep switchbacks, a much sharper effort than the early creek walk.
The last approach climbs steep switchbacks, a much sharper effort than the early creek walk. Leave time for a slower climb and a stop if you're pacing against the five-hour estimate. The path reaches larch forest and Middle Lake before Upper Rowe. On the way back, pause at Middle Lake and look behind you for a broad view down the route.
At Upper Rowe LakeUpper Rowe sits below Mount Rowe in a larch-lined basin.
Upper Rowe sits below Mount Rowe in a larch-lined basin. The trees turn gold in fall, and the lake is a satisfying end point after the long climb. A full shoreline wander is an optional add-on; it is not included in the published return distance. The meadow's flowers and beargrass are seasonal, so don't plan the hike around a guaranteed bloom.
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.
