Name: Lakeshore Trail
Rating: 4.5

Toolbox

Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly An easy and pretty trail with views of the lake. Rest stops. One can hike it one way and take a boat between the Waterton Townsite and Goat Haunt (It is an 8.8-mile hike to Goat Haunt in the States.)

One can continue and cross the USA/Canada border at the end of this trail - be sure to have proper ID and any other required permits/paperwork if you plan to cross.

Need to Know

Camping along this trail is limited to the established trail camps. Permits and reservations are needed for the trail camps. They can be gotten online at the Parks Canada permit/reservation website: reservation.pc.gc.ca/.

Please review the Parks Canada website and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Description

Lakeshore Trail begins at a parking area on the southwest side of Waterton Townsite. The trail immediately enters the fir forest. It is a fairly wide, and fairly flat trail. The trail runs along Upper Waterton Lake, sometimes near the lakeshore, and sometimes a bit farther away from the lake. The lake can be seen through the trees, and there are viewing areas along the way to admire the views.

After about 4.2 miles, Lakeshore Trail reaches the USA/Canadian border. From here, the trail continues through the forest, along Upper Waterton Lake for about another 4.6 miles into the States. The trail ends at Goat Haunt. Goat Haunt has a boat dock, and there is a boat service that runs between Waterton Townsite and Goat Haunt for those that prefer to hike one-way on this trail. It is an 8.8-mile hike from Waterton Townsite to Goat Haunt.

Due to the international border, with different Land Managers that have their own trail rules, overnight camping systems, criteria for trail closures, and so forth, this trail mapping is for the Canadian side only.

This is a segment of the GDT (Great Divide Trail).