Driving information

Waterton Lakes National Park

For Alberta road conditions, visit 511 Alberta or call 1-855-391-9743 (toll-free).
For British Columbia road conditions, visit Drive BC
Note: In the winter months, the nearest service stations are in Pincher Creek and Mountain View.

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Driving safety

  • Call 911 in case of emergency.
  • Always obey speed limits and reduce your speed at night.
  • Make allowances for other drivers who may be in a hurry, lost, or distracted by wildlife and scenery.
  • If you see wildlife on the side of the road, slow down and be prepared to stop.
  • Report all wildlife collisions to Parks Dispatch: 1-888-927-3367.
  • Cell reception on the parkways and Chief Mountain Highway is unreliable.
  • Cyclists may be difficult to see, especially from an RV. Do not drive on the road shoulder.
  • In wintertime, equip your car with a shovel, flashlight, blanket, food, and extra warm clothing.
  • Be prepared for a variety of conditions; it may snow in summer at higher elevations.
  • Slow down when visibility is poor. Consider stopping somewhere safe to wait it out.

Seasonal road information

Seasonal opening and closing dates

Entrance Road

  • Open year-round

Akamina Parkway

  • Open year-round but closed to motor vehicles between Little Prairie Day Use Area and Cameron Lake for winter recreation.
  • Parkway fully open: May 1
  • Partial closure for winter recreation: November 1

Red Rock Parkway

  • Remains open to pedestrian access year-round but closed to motor vehicles in winter.
  • Parkway fully open: May 1
  • Closed to motor vehicles: November 1

Chief Mountain Highway

  • Open year round, but only cleared to Waterton Valley Viewpoint (Two Flags) until early January.
  • Chief Mountain Border Crossing is seasonal. Open May 15 to September 30, weather dependent. Border crossing hours may vary, check Canadian Border Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites for current times and dates.

Bison Paddock Loop Road

  • Seasonal closure in effect November 1 to May 1

Please note that all opening and closing dates may change based on weather conditions and construction projects.


Winter driving

Winter driving can be risky, so be prepared. Parks Canada is committed to maintaining roads for pedestrians and vehicles.

Following a snowfall, roads around the park are maintained so that winter visitor experiences remain available, park operations can continue, and emergency services can access the townsite.

Parks Canada maintenance objectives:

  1. Highways 5 and 6
  2. Entrance Road
  3. Community primary streets
    • Mount View Road
    • Windflower Avenue
    • Fountain Avenue
    • Cameron Falls Drive
    • Harebell Road
    • Clematis Avenue
  4. Akamina Parkway and Chief Mountain Highway (maintained to Waterton Valley Viewpoint until January)
  5. Remaining community streets

During extreme weather events, staff may need to focus on maintaining the highways and entrance roads before starting on townsite streets.

Akamina Parkway is open to vehicles to Little Prairie Day Use Area. The road is plowed as necessary and morning closures are expected, giving snowplows space to operate safely. 511 Alberta is the best place to check current parkway status.

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