Waterton Lakes National Park May 20, 2026

This is what it looked like today when I went wandering in Waterton Lakes National Park.

The weather conditions today were mixed yet my emotions when I am in Waterton are never mixed no matter what. Joyful is how I feel anytime I visit this wild and beautiful National Park. From cloudy to sunny from rain to snow from cold to warm, that’s what today called for. All of it was worthy to be out and about in.  

Before even having breakfast, I hit the walkways around the townsite.  In total I covered just over ten kilometres and was back at my home away from home by 8:30am. I dressed for cold, cloud and drizzle.  These are a few photos from when I enjoyed the beauty along with peace and quiet during the early morning.

flowers along the Prince of Wales Hill trail 

Upper Waterton Lake

Yellow-rumped Warbler along the Linnet Lake trail

a fox dashing through the campground 

A late breakfast hit the spot!  A little bit of laziness kicked in so I went with it.  Lunch would be late too today.  After beating the laziness then packing a lunch, it was time to drive up the Akamina Parkway again. After checking out Cameron Lake to see all the ice from yesterday was gone, I walked the short trail to Akamina Lake.  The flurries started which quickly turned to full on heavy snow.  

female and male Barrow’s Goldeneyes in Akamina Lake

Canada Geese at Akamina Lake

Akamina Lake

After savouring my late lunch, with no scenery, in a picnic shelter, I left the Akamina Parkway behind and aimed for the Red Rock Parkway.  By now, I was under lots of blue sky and some sunshine.  Instead of walking the loop around Red Rock Canyon, I hit the Blakiston Falls trail. 

Townsend’s Solitaire 

White-crowned Sparrow

trail to the waterfalls 

view of Red Rock Canyon

driving back along the Red Rock Parkway

entertainment along The Parkway

By the time I arrived back at my home away from home, the rain started.  I was quite content to stay inside now after a very fulfilling day wandering in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park May 19, 2026

This was how I ended my last blog post! 

Be sure to check back to see what it is like when I go ......

Stay Tuned!

So, here I am and this is what it looks like when I go wandering in Waterton Lakes National Park!

While Waterton has been on my mind for quite some time, this trip was a last minute booking when I saw the weather was going to be OK and accommodations were available for the exact days I wanted.  After the three hour drive here, I was only up for wandering around and not for an actual hike.  Rain and a thunderstorm were forecasted for late afternoon. I  was grateful to have a beautiful drive south and a few hours to enjoy after arriving.

view as I am getting closer to Waterton

Welcome to Waterton Lakes National Park

Before driving through the official monitored National Park Gate, 

I drove through the gate to the Bison Paddock.

taken through my windshield 

Next it was time to drive a portion of the Red Rock Parkway.  I stopped at the Bellevue Trail pullout and walked a few kilometres along the wide open path.  It was quite cool and of course windy.  I came prepared. The ground squirrel at bottom right looks so tiny in this big world.

While I  had not planned on finishing knitting my Norwegian mittens so early, I was happy I did.  

Today I broke them in, in mid May in Waterton.

It was windy!  It may not look like it but all those wisps of hair are still attached.

a Shooting Star

Mountain Sheep

Osprey

Violet Green Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Cameron Lake at the end of the Akamina Parkway

This view played with my mind!

Shoreline Cruise returning from a tour

a photo op at the Red Chairs 

view along Upper Waterton Lake

So that’s a taste of Waterton Lakes National Park.  

I was happy to finally check into my home away from away.  

from one day to the next

from one day

There are days when my fairy light tree is turned on for hours on end and Saturday was one of those days!  Once I got back home from running numerous errands, I settled in for the balance of the day while the snow fell outside.  I could see the tree and my vehicle out the window but nothing else.  Surely all this moisture will turn the fire danger rating from high/extreme, which it has been at for quite some time, to much less.  

While the weather outside was frightful, knitting inside was delightful!  After completing the first mitten with the Norwegian yarn I bought in Bergen a few weeks ago, I stated in a blog post that I planned to put the knitting supplies in the basement until late autumn at which time I would then knit the second mitt. The yarn never did make it to the basement.  Today was the perfect time to be knitting the second mitten. I will have enough wool left over to knit something else and that something else will be knitted in autumn! 

While the weather outside was frightful, painting inside was delightful!  The bears are now out of their dens and wandering in search of food.  I let my thoughts wonder what that picture might look like in a creative mind.  This is where that wondering wandered to! It was an enjoyable time putting this idea on paper.

to the next

I woke to delightful weather this morning!  Yesterday's snow had melted!  I wondered would the birds be out & about at Carburn Park with hopes they were not scared away from yesterday's frightfulness.  Upon arriving at The Park, I saw how all the moisture did a world of good.  The green, the glow, the bright oh what a delight!  

The forest was filled with Yellow Warbler melodies.  

They were everywhere! This is one of many that I saw.  

Chipping Sparrow

Do you see what I see?  To capture this photo, I had my camera close to full zoom, I was scrunched down in bushes with my lens pointed up between branches.  I had heard a rustle in the bushes and surveyed the area to see what was going on. I was excited to see this! 

One Gosling! I wondered where the others were! A few days ago I dropped by The Park and saw a group of three Goslings, a group of five Goslings and a group of eight Goslings all with their parents. Today one set of adults had this one Gosling with them. The other pairs of parents were Goslingless! 

For the entire time I was at The Park this morning, this Osprey was either soaring or hoovering over the river.  The only time it was out of sight was when I went deep into the forest.  It never did dive down to catch a fish, unless it did when I was in the forest.  At one point another Osprey joined it for a short period of time.  

The Carburn Eaglets appear to be thriving!  They are growing so fast!  One parent sat on a branch at the edge of the nest while the other parent perched guard on a tree a very short distance down river. They were entertaining to watch as they flapped their wings. Also they appeared to be pecking at each other. Once again because they are so far away, I have to use full zoom, then when I get home I crop the photo a bit and sharpen it a tad. 

Be sure to check back to see what it is like when I go ......

Stay Tuned!