Waterton Lakes National Park

Along with Glacier Park, Montana on the US side, Waterton Lakes National Park is part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, an idea dreamed up in 1932 by Canadian Nobel prize winner and Lester B. Pearson, and his American counterpart in the Rotary Club.

It was rainy when we drove into the park and the mountains were shielded in mist. The fenced buffalo pen stood open, with a cattle guard to prevent the animals from leaving the enclosure. An invitation to see the herd.

We drove in and followed the rough track for miles and miles before seeing any animals; when we did, they looked chilly in the mist.

The village was beautiful. The smell of wood smoke from the campsites reminded us of our days in Girl Guides as mother and daughter. While we were there, the weather cleared and the sun shone on the lake and mountains.

 My daughter loved the place, and earmarked it as a likely destination for a future camping trip.

The castle on the hill gives the village a slightly Swiss flavour.

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a UNESCO Heritage site, as well as a Biosphere Reserve with a lot of different kinds of ecosystems.

Sadly, this area has not always been as peaceful as it is today. This link shows a chronology of the time after the Europeans came to the area with horses, smallpox and guns.