Completed infrastructure projects

Waterton Lakes National Park

Through infrastructure investment in Waterton Lakes National Park, Parks Canada is ensuring this treasured place will be enjoyed by Canadians and visitors from around the world for years to come.

Approximately $167 million has been invested in projects through the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Road to Recovery Programs, supporting high-quality and meaningful visitor experiences and helping to protect the environment.

The following are Parks Canada infrastructure projects that have been completed in Waterton Lakes National Park since 2015.


2023


Crypt Lake trail hand guide and ladder

Upgraded Crypt Lake Trail hand guide and ladder

Replacement of the decades-old anchors, cable (now a chain) and ladder near the top section of the trail was completed in summer of 2023. The new hardware will aid visitors hiking the popular trail for years to come.


Red Rock Canyon rehabilitation

Upgraded Red Rock Canyon foot bridges and new paved trails

The four bridges at the Red Rock Canyon day use area have been replaced or rehabilitated. Upgrades include improved railings, decking and bridge abutments. Trails surrounding the canyon were repaved and a new central plaza was built as well.


2022


Visitor Centre

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
New Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre

The new Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre opened its doors to the public in 2022. The new facility is in the heart of Waterton village. The $25M dollar centre was made possible through the Federal Infrastructure Investment program. It features interpretive exhibits collaboratively designed with local Indigenous communities.


Day use areas

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
McNeely's day use area

McNeely's, Little Prairie, Coppermine, Lost Horse, Hay Barn and Knight’s Lake day use areas reopened to the public in 2022. These facilities or their surrounding area were damaged or destroyed in the 2017 Kenow wildfire. The new day use areas have upgraded washrooms, picnic enclosures and improved parking access.


2021


Bison Jump viewing area

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
Bison Jump viewing lookout

Bison Jump viewing lookout along the Red Rock Parkway was rebuilt with enhanced features. The new platform offers visitors safe and easy access for sightseeing and wildlife viewing.


Backcountry campgrounds - Goat Lake and Crandell Lake

Goat Lake and Crandell Lake backcountry campgrounds reopened with improved tent pads, new food storage lockers and upgraded backcountry toilets. The popular backcountry destinations were badly damaged in the Kenow wildfire.

Backcountry tent pad at Goat Lake
Backcountry tent pad at Goat Lake
Akamina Parkway culvert
Backcountry tent pad at Crandell Lake

Crandell Lake Trail

New foot bridge along Crandell Lake loop trail
New foot bridge along Crandell Lake loop trail

Drainage, rerouting and bridge rebuilding was completed on the Crandell Lake to townsite trail and the Crandell Lake loop trail. The upgrades help protect the popular hiking and cycling areas from erosion and enhance user experience. The trail was rebuilt with cyclists in mind and is a true multi-use trail, supporting hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.


Prince of Wales Hill and Linnet Lake trails

Extensive improvements have been made on the Prince of Wales Hill and Linnet Lake trail system. Enhancements include slope stability and drainage improvements on Prince of Wales Hill, as well as paving of Linnet lake trail and installation of new hand rails, benches and maps.

New paved walking trail at Linnet Lake
New paved walking trail at Linnet Lake
Prince of Wales Hill hiking trail
Prince of Wales Hill hiking trail

Hiking trail bridges, grading and drainage

New trail bridges have been installed on Bertha Falls, Akamina Pass, Snowshoe, Crandell Lake to townsite, along Dipper and Summit Lake trails. The new bridges replace aging bridges and others damaged or destroyed in the Kenow wildfire.

New foot bridge at Bertha Falls
New foot bridge at Bertha Falls
New foot bridge along Snowshoe trail
New foot bridge along Snowshoe trail

2020


Helipad

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
Helipad at Parks Canada’s Waterton operations compound

This new helipad was completed in 2020 and supports park operations, including rescues and wildfire patrols. The new helipad also accommodates multiple aircraft and includes a fueling station.


Backcountry toilets

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
Urine diversion toilet at Bertha Lake campground

Low impact urine diversion toilets have been installed at several popular visitor destinations including Bertha Lake, Boundary Bay, Goat Lake, Alderson Lake and Crandell Lake, as well as Marquis Hole. These toilets are designed for minimal environmental impact and are easier maintain than traditional backcountry toilets.


Park boundary fence

North park boundary fence line
New north park boundary fence line

Approximately 44 kilometres of new barbed wire fencing was installed along the northern and eastern park boundaries. The new fence replaces sections that were destroyed by the Kenow wildfire and other sections that were in poor repair.


Akamina Parkway

The parkway is now safe for vehicles and reopened in October 2020, following repaving the road surface, improving parking areas, rock scaling, and installing new guardrails and new culverts.

Akamina Parkway, Crandell Mountain
Akamina Parkway opened to vehicles in October 2020
Akamina Parkway culvert
Several new culverts were built along the parkway

Red Rock Parkway

Red Rock Parkway reopened to vehicles in 2020, following rock scaling, installing a rock-fall fence, new guardrails and road signage.

Work on the Red Rock Parkway in 2017 included pavement resurfacing, replacing culverts and rebuilding the lower Red Rock Canyon lot to optimize parking space. 

Red Rock Parkway 2017
Red Rock Parkway opened to vehicles for Canada Day 2020
Red Rock Parkway 2020
A freshly paved Red Rock Parkway with its signature wildflowers (2017)

Townsite infrastructure

Waterton Townsite’s roadways, parking, landscaping and utility infrastructure received extensive upgrades between 2015 and 2020. This included:

  • New pavement and some new sidewalks on Bertha Lane and Trailhead parking lot, Cameron Falls Drive, Clematis Avenue, Evergreen Avenue, Fountain Avenue, Mount View Road, Vimy Avenue and portions of Windflower Avenue and Waterton Avenue, along with other alleys and lane-ways.
  • Expanded and resurfaced parking lots and street parking in the Waterton townsite. Upon completion of the Visitor Centre, a total of 177 new parking stalls will have been added in town.
  • Extensive utility replacement throughout the townsite, ensuring safe and reliable services for residents and visitors.
  • Installation of dark sky-friendly street lighting
Mount View Road
A freshly-paved Mount View Road
Evergreen Avenue
Evergreen Avenue with paving complete

Townsite Campground

Extensive utility and surface upgrades were completed in the Townsite Campground from 2018 to 2020. Work on Loops B and H was completed in 2019, while work on the loops east of Cameron Creek was completed in 2020. This work added utility hookups to more sites, concrete pads, new trees and utility lines throughout the campground.

Townsite Campground Loop B
Townsite Campground loops B and H opened in late 2019
Townsite Campground Loop A
Sites in Loop A, ready to welcome campers

Bear's Hump trail

Bear’s Hump trail has been rehabilitated with a new surface. The trail reopened to the public in July 2020 after damage as a result of the 2017 Kenow Wildfire.

Bear's Hump trail
Bear's Hump trail's wooden steps were replaced with stone
Bear's Hump
Views from the top are as magnificent as ever!

Cameron Falls area

New fencing, improved trails and viewpoints on both sides of the falls, and new sidewalks and fencing at the base area provide a safe and accessible visitor experience.

Cameron Falls
New sidewalks and fencing at the base area
Carthew Alderson trail
New fencing and an improved trail surface on the Carthew-Alderson trail

Alpine Stables

Alpine Stables has resumed operations. Construction on new residences, barn and stable facilities is now complete.

Alpine Stables
Alpine Stables’ barn is ready to welcome visitors
Alpine stables residence
One of the new residences at Alpine Stables

Marina Washroom

This washroom, located in the marina parking lot, is the park’s first inclusive washroom facility, featuring open common areas and private stalls.

Marina washroom exterior
The washroom is located in the marina parking lot
Marina washroom interior
This inclusive washroom has open common areas and private stalls

2018-2019


Salamander fence replacement

Salamander fence above Entrance Road
Salamander fence above Entrance Road

Approximately 750 metres of guardrail fencing was installed just above the Entrance Road near Linnet Lake to replace a special wildlife road crossing damaged in the Kenow wildfire. The fence system protects the long-toed salamander by providing a safe route across the busy park entrance highway.


Dock replacement

Seasonal docks and permanent landings on upper and lower Waterton Lake have been replaced. New docks at Linnet Lake, Boundary Bay, Crypt Landing, Bertha Bay and Wishbone Landing offer lake users safe and secure access to popular trailheads and backcountry campgrounds.

New foot bridge at Bertha Falls
New floating docks at Middle Waterton Lake boat launch
New foot bridge along Snowshoe trail
New floating dock at Bertha Bay Landing

Blakiston Falls viewing platforms and trails

The Blakiston Falls trail and viewing platforms have been rebuilt and are now open to visitors.

The Blakiston Falls trail leading to the platforms
View of the boardwalk from the viewing platforms

Peace Park Plaza / Marina Seawall and Parking Lot

The Peace Park Plaza has been redesigned and rebuilt with enhanced visitor opportunities to celebrate the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site as the world’s first International Peace Park

Entrance to the Peace Park Plaza
Waterton marina and the Peace Park Plaza in fall

Community Kitchen washroom relocation

This washroom was relocated from the site of the new Visitor Centre to the Community Kitchen along Waterton Avenue.

Washroom building being moved from the playground to the Community Kitchen site
Washroom successfully relocated to its new location

Staff Housing

Staff housing has been built in the Waterton townsite to replace the aging bunkhouse units, formerly located at the Parks Canada compound.

Staff housing building on Clematis Avenue
Staff housing on Windflower Avenue

2015-2017


Townsite campground, Cameron Bay and Cameron Falls washrooms

Four washroom buildings were completed in the Townsite campground, replacing ones in poor condition. The Cameron Bay and Cameron Falls washrooms have been redesigned and refurbished.

New washroom in the Townsite Campground
Cameron Bay washroom

Townsite garbage bins and pads

New garbage bins and pads have been installed throughout the townsite.

Pouring a concrete pad outside the fire hall
New garbage and recycling bins at the marina parking lot

Highway 5 and Highway 6

Highways 5 and 6 have been rehabilitated to ensure longevity and increase safety through resurfacing, guardrail replacement and drainage improvements.

Chief Mountain Highway
Highway 5 and Highway 6 intersection

Belly River crossing

A redesigned stream crossing provides reliable access to the group camp area by increasing the culvert size to eliminate washouts.

Newly completed culvert and crossing in fall 2016
Water flowing through culvert on a rainy day

Cameron Lake Day Use Area

The Cameron Lake Day Use Area has new visitor facilities including shelter, interpretation, docks, washrooms and parking.

Visitor facilities at Cameron Lake Day Use Area
Interpretive display at Cameron Lake

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