Day 18: Waterton National Park

We enjoy our breakfast outside in the sun and start our tour to Waterton National Park. After a short drive, we reach the park and drive the 16 kilometers to Red Rock Canyon. The small canyon with its red color is only a few meters deep, but its color impresses us. A small stream flows through the middle of it. The children throw stones into the stream at a suitable spot and are delighted. Then we walk one kilometer to Blakiston Falls, which is about 20 meters high. The hike leads past many wildflowers of different colors. Then we quickly reach the waterfall and enjoy the view from 2 platforms.
Then we head back to Red Canyon. By now, the tourists are climbing down the canyon with a baby and 2 toddlers in hand, which we find incomprehensible. Back at the car, we head to the town of Waterton. On the way, we see a brown black bear searching for food at the roadside. It lifts the large stones and eats the insects underneath. We observe and photograph it extensively. In Waterton, we visit the information center with its exhibition and participate once again in the Junior Park Rancher program. We noticed during our visit to the canyon and the drive through the national park that a forest fire had recently raged. We now learn that a strong fire destroyed almost 40% of the park in September 2017. The trees have died and only the trunks remain. We see young trees and suspect that the reason for the many wildflowers is the new sources of light on the forest floor. Then we have our lunch at Upper Waterton Lake and start our hike to Berta Falls. The trail is challenging, initially uphill to a viewpoint of the lake, then along a river. After almost 3 kilometers, we reach the waterfalls. The special feature of the waterfalls is the stones that have been smoothed by plate tectonics. They are square and oriented in opposite directions. As a reward, we cool our feet in the river valley downstream. There, the water also falls. It is now so warm that René and Erik take a shower in the mini waterfall. The water temperature is a maximum of 10°C and cools well. Unfortunately, there are many horseflies on the way, so we start our return journey after half an hour. The way back is easier. We quickly reach the parking lot, pick up the Junior Park Rancher badges at the visitor center, and make a short detour to Cameron Lake. We lack the energy and desire for another hike. We spend some time by the lake and the children once again dip their feet in the water. We see the American border directly in front of us, 11 kilometers away. Shortly before 6 p.m., we start the return journey. We quickly set up our dinner and relax with the setting sun.