Waterton Goat Haunt Hike

Trailhead: Two options. Boat shuttles depart from the boat dock in the town of Waterton or hike the lake shore starting on Evergreen Street at the southwest edge of the Waterton townsite in Waterton National Park. Boat there and hike back or Hike and boat back.

Description: The Waterton Lake Shore hike offers two options. The favorite is catching a tour boat to Goat Haunt located in Untied States Glacier National Park then hiking back one way to the Town of Waterton. Or the exact opposite by hiking to Goat Haunt and then catching a tour boat back.

If you park at the marina in Waterton, elevation is the same for either direction. I prefer taking the tour boat to Goat Haunt then hiking back to Waterton. You don’t have to worry about missing the return boat and you can waste the day away on the hike back.

Catch the early morning tour boat to Goat Haunt located at the Waterton Marina. Enjoy the 1 hour cruise down upper Waterton Lake. Once you arrive at Goat Haunt in Glacier National Park you’ll have to check in and provide US customs your passport. After you’re cleared to go, locate the signed trail behind the customs building and follow it back towards the Waterton town site.

You’ll notice right away that there is more humidity here. The undergrowth is much more dense and lush than the north end of Waterton Lake. You’ll also notice that in Glacier National Park they groom the trail by cutting down the vegetation a meter or so on both sides of the trail. Something I’ve never seen in Canada.

Cross the suspension bridge across the Waterton River and stay on trail as it passes by the Waterton River back county campsite. Although the trail seems to follow the lake shore, views of Waterton Lake are not often seen. Once you reach Boundary Bay the location of the Canada/US border marker, there is an interesting view of a cutline in both directions defining the border.

Boundary Bay back county campground is located on the Canadian side of the border marker. Continue on to Bertha Bay back country campsite then Bertha Lake & Falls junction. From here, It’s all down hill until you reach the Waterton town site and your parked vehicle at the marina. You Are In Bear Country

Area Map PDF

Waterton Hikes Brochure PDF

Waterton Geology  & Landforms