Be a wildflower
“Wildflowers can’t be controlled. That’s what makes them so beautiful.”
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Waterton Lakes National Park is a Canadian park in Alberta known for the dramatic transition from prairie to mountains, its unique foothills parkland ecosystem with rough fescue, and being the fourth national park established in 1895. The park, located in the southwest corner of the province and is part of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve. It shares a border with Glacier National Park in the United States, forming the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. In 1995 was designated as World Heritage Site.
In 2017, the Waterton Lakes National Park underwent a drastic transformation when the Kenow wildfire swept through, scorching nearly 40% of the park with high-intensity flames in a short period, dramatically altering the landscape and providing researchers with a unique chance to study post-fire ecology, particularly under the context of a changing climate, especially with regards to the resurgence of wildflowers and vegetation recovery following the blaze. The post-fire environment has also presented a unique opportunity for photographers to capture the blooming of various wildflowers that thrive in newly burned areas.
“Both modern iPhones and Android phones can take excellent close-up flower photos, with the "better" choice depending on user preference and specific features. Newer iPhones excel at auto-switching to macro mode for extreme close-ups, while many Android phones offer similar dedicated macro capabilities”.
Wildflowers are returning to Waterton Lakes National Park in the years following the 2017 Kenow Wildfire. These fires created opportunities for new wildflowers to grow, especially in recently burned areas. The park is home to more than 400 flowering plant species. Wildflower season is always so magical in fact, the Waterton National Park is dubbed the Wildflower Capital of Canada!
Beargrass is a showy and unofficial emblem of the park, with torchlike clusters of white flowers that bloom in some years on entire slopes and Fireweed often blooms at higher elevations. Found on lower elevations in late spring, Glacier Lilies become the Queen. The open fields and protected habitats are dominated by the Silky Lupin. Wild Bergamot, Penstemon and Balsam Root are common along the trails. Wildrose the symbol of Alberta can be found can be found throughout the park. Wood lily, dessert paintbrush, crimson columbine, firewheel...you name it!
[ booking details ]2026 Trip Departure Dates
June | July | August | September
Tour Dates: Contact us and provide the specific dates of your planning trip.
Trip Duration
1 day
Tour Operator: Elite Brands Culture Discovery Tours | Certified to Operate in Canadian Rockies National Parks
Pricing
$750 CAD | Limited to 1 couple
Included
Transportation: Free Calgary and area Pickup/Dropoff from Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Vrbo
Booking: Minium 2 | Maximum 2 Participants
Couples +21 Welcome
1 Day Tour: Discover the beauty of the winding way
The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the world's first International Peace Park, combining Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, and Glacier National Park in Montana, United States. Established in 1932, it commemorates the goodwill and lasting peace between the two countries.
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Many people don’t have this Canada's National ark on their travel radar, mostly because it gets eclipsed by its celebrity sisters, Banff and Jasper. Created in 1895, Waterton Lakes National Park joined forces with Glacier National.
Waterton is part of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem and has four ecoregions: foothills parkland, montane, subalpine, and alpine. This creates habitat for more than 1,270 species of plants and a wide array of wildlife. The park sits on the Lewis Thrust Fault, where ancient Precambrian rock (1.5 billion years old) was pushed horizontally over younger rock. This is dramatically visible in features like Red Rock Canyon, where the colorful, oxidized rock is exposed. International Peace Park unites Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada with Glacier National Park in Montana. The park features over 80 lakes and ponds. Upper Waterton Lake is the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies, and the Waterton Lakes chain is a dominant feature of the park.
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The Red Rock Parkway travels 15 km up the Blakiston Valley through rolling grasslands and ends at Red Rock Canyon and the Akamina Parkway is a winding mountain road that starts in the Waterton townsite and runs 16 km along the Cameron Valley, ending at Cameron Lake which borders Montana.
The falls are found at the end of the Red Rock Parkway. A relatively flat, wide trail and accessible viewing platforms make it a good option for an easy short walk when visiting this area.
The Akamina Parkway is a 16-kilometer scenic mountain road in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, that starts in the Waterton townsite and ends at Cameron Lake. The parkway is a winding mountain road that offers breathtaking views. -
Ranch
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6.30AM - 1.30PM
Jerzy Maslanka
Alberta, Canada
Responsible Tourism is the mindset that guides me to offer these tours and workshops, and I believe in promoting sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact for the benefits of tourism with the imperative to protect the park's natural resources and character. I prioritize conservation over commercial interests.
All tours are designed in ways which reflect the natural, cultural and the geological character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and people who live there. I am hoping that while I can offer these exclusive private tours, true passions and purpose will be presented to those who decided to support mine and these hospitality providers that are collaborating with 55plusTravel and Elite Brands Culture Discovery Tours.
As a small tour operator, I face genuine challenges due to Parks Canada's restrictions (access to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise), which favor larger-capacity commercial vehicles. This situation can disadvantage smaller businesses and affect the visitor experience, even if the regulations are intended to manage overcrowding and protect the environment.
Travelers often feel gratitude and satisfaction after a Canadian Rockies tour with a knowledgeable and thoughtful guide and for many, booking a tour creates a mix of excitement, anticipation, and occasional anxiety. Reading the reviews below, it may help you when thinking of booking, going for a tour and support me.
Jerzy Founder 55plusTravel
