WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 416

This easy hike to a subalpine lake is popular with campers staying at Crandell Camp-
ground. Alternatively, the trailhead can be reached by noncampers along the Canyon
Church Camp access road.
The lake can also be accessed from a trailhead seven kilometers (4.3 miles) west of
town along the Akamina Parkway. This trail is shorter (0.8 km/0.5 mi) and follows a wag-
on road that was cut through the valley to Oil City.
Goat Lake
• Length: 6.7 kilometers/4.2 miles (2 hours) one-way
• Elevation gain: 500 meters/1,640 feet
• Rating: moderate
• Trailhead: end of Red Rock Canyon Parkway, 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) from Waterton
town site
The first hour of walking from the trailhead at Red Rock Canyon follows the Snowshoe
Trail along Bauerman Creek before branching to the right and climbing switchbacks
through a mixed forest. The steep gradient evens out as the trail enters the Goat Lake
cirque. After the uphill slog, the lake is a welcome sight, its emerald-green waters reflect-
ing the towering headwalls that surround it. Look for the lake's namesake on the open
scree slopes west of the lake.
Carthew-Alderson
• Length: 20 kilometers/12.4 miles (6-7 hours) one-way
• Elevation gain: 650 meters/2,130 feet
• Rating: moderate/difficult
• Trailhead: end of Akamina Parkway, 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Waterton town site
This hike linking the end of the Akamina Parkway to Waterton town site can be completed
in one long day or done with an overnight stop at Alderson Lake, 13 kilometers (eight
miles) from the trailhead. The trail leads through most of the climatic zones of the park and
offers some of the best scenery to be had on any one hike. Transportation to the trailhead
can be arranged through Tamarack Outdoor Outfitters (Mount View Rd., 403/859-2378,
$15 one-way), which operates a hiker shuttle service to this and other trailheads in the
park. From the Cameron Lake parking lot, the trail climbs four kilometers (2.5 miles) to
Summit Lake, a worthy destination in itself. The trail then forks to the left and climbs
steeply to Carthew Ridge. After rising above the tree line and crossing a scree slope,