Calgary 
You can find so many types of flowers in Waterton, in fact, that the National Park is dubbed the Wildflower Capital of Canada!
The townsite of Waterton is nestled between the mountain peaks and on a large sprawling meadow. The area marks the eastern start of the foothills and the end of the rocky ridges. It is at Middle Waterton Lake, where you can see the divide and the decorated grasslands, home to a wonderful and beautiful array of wildflowers.
What kind of wildflowers will you find?
From early to late June, the lower-lying areas of the park are in full bloom with their largest display of variety. In July, the flowers at the higher elevations bloom, which you are likely to encounter on moderate-challenging hikes. But just imagine all these colours:
Red – Wood lily, dessert paintbrush, crimson columbine, firewheel
Orange – hawkweed, scarlet globemallow, common fiddleneck
Yellow – glacier lily, nineleaf biscuitroot, smallhead arnica, yellow bells
Green – slender bog orchid, gooseberryleaf alumroot, Rocky Mountain chickweed
Blue – little larkspur, alpine forget-me-not, pleated gentian, germander speedwell
Purple – doubtful knight’s spur, silky phacelia, lewis flax, giant mountain aster
Pink – rocky mountain dwarf primrose, purple milkvetch, ragged robin, parry’s primrose
Where to go:
(Please stay on the trail.)
Cameron Lakeshore Trail: 3km out-and-back
Follow the Akamina Parkway to the end. There is parking and a lakeside trail covered in bright white beargrass flowers.
Bellevue Trail: 7.4km out-and-back
This a flat and easy trail, which takes you right through the fields of flowers.
The Horseshoe Basin: 21.3 km out-and-back
This area is recovering from wildfires, so the bright wildflowers reclaim the forest floor in certain parts, creating an eerily beautiful contrast to the dead trees.
Wishbone Trail: 6.6km out-and-back
Travels around both Lower and Middle Waterton Lakes and is great for both hiking and biking.
Guided Tour:
If you are an anthophile and want to learn about how to identify wildflowers or want to learn more about the stunning biodiversity of Waterton Lakes National Park, then plan a guided tour with Uplift Adventures (Ph: (403) 583-5884). Their guides, who specialize in the field of botany, will take you on a hike along the 3.4km roundtrip Crandell Lake Trail while stopping to look at several wildflowers.
Uplift Adventures also offers tours and hikes in Waterton Lakes and Crowsnest Pass.
For more information:
