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A one-hour cruise is a great way to feel the wind in your hair while enjoying Waterton Lake. The Canada-USA Border Cruise offered by Waterton Shoreline Cruise Co stays close to the shoreline, with local guides who provide informative commentary. The boats cruise into U.S. waters but don’t make a landing, so you won’t need your passport.
The company also offers a two-hour sightseeing tour. Cruises operate from mid-May to early October.
Give yourself a full day to hike to Upper Rowe Lake. The trail begins alongside Rowe Creek and winds through a forest that often has wildflowers in bloom. The first stop is Lower Rowe Lake, about 8 km (5 mi) down the trail. Beyond the lake, you’ll hike through Rowe Meadow. It’s a good place to catch your breath before tackling the last bit of the trail, which gets fairly steep as it winds through the forest to Upper Rowe Lake. The full hike is 12.8 km (8 mi) one way and is particularly beautiful in the fall when the larch trees change colour. If your legs still feel good at the end of the trail, you can walk the nearby ridge.
A visit to Waterton Lakes National Park isn’t complete until you get out on the water. Blakiston & Co. Adventure Rentals has been helping people float their boats for more than 10 years. Blakiston rents paddle boards, canoes and kayaks. The staff knows the area well and can also offer tips on where to paddle. Blakiston also rents e-bikes for those who prefer to explore the shoreline from dry land.
Fish are wily creatures, so you might need a little help hooking a big one. Aspiring anglers can find all the local knowledge they need at Alberta Fly-Fishing Adventures. The company’s knowledgeable guides know the Crowsnest Pass and the Oldman, Castle and Waterton rivers like the backs of their hands.
The company offers lessons, walk-and-wade adventures and customized guided float trips. Its Crowsnest Café and Fly Shop is a great place to grab breakfast and some tips on where the trout are biting.
AdaptABLE Outdoors is dedicated to a mission that is both simple and profound: “We believe that outdoor recreation should be accessible to people of all abilities.”
Everything flows from that. The company is based in Pincher Creek and offers adaptive fishing, adaptive hiking and adaptive paddling. TrailRiders, an all-terrain wheelchair and adaptive fishing canoes and kayaks open up the great outdoors to people with disabilities. It offers programs for kids, adults and seniors all summer long.
