Waterton Biosphere Region
Traditional Territory of the Blackfoot First Nation, consisting of the Kainai-Blood Tribe, Siksika, and Peigan-Piikani
The Waterton Biosphere Region showcases some of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in the world, from the Canadian Rocky Mountains to prairie grasslands, and holds one of Canada’s first National Parks – the Waterton Lakes National Park.
Statistics
Country: Canada
Province: Alberta
Established: 1979
Geographical Features: Rocky Mountains, Prairie Grasslands, Unique Rock Formations, River Gorges, Pristine Lakes, Subalpine Meadows and Wetlands
Best Ways to Explore: Hiking, Backpacking, Biking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Stand-up Paddleboard, Swimming
Best Time to Visit: End of June / Early July for the wildflowers
Closest City: Calgary, Alberta
Follow the Waterton Biosphere on all the below social links!
A map of the Waterton Biosphere Region (from google maps)
“Biodiversity flourishes in WBR – from grassland sparrows to high alpine flowers, from an isolated rare butterfly population to widespread and common deer”
Biodiversity Conservation
Building Resilience for Bats
Did you know that bats are incredibly important to our ecosystem and act as a natural pest control? Some bat species can even consume up to 600 mosquitos per hour! We should take them with us on our next camping trip…
Bat populations across Canada have been decimated in recent years by the introduction of “white-nose syndrome”, with many species now officially listed as a “Species at Risk”. In the Waterton Biosphere Region, the community has come together to keep an eye on their bat populations and ensure their habitat is safe and free of threats. This involves helping landowners identify and monitor maternity roosts for bats. The roost count window runs from early June to mid July, with community education programs run through-out the whole summer.
To date, the WBR has discovered 20 roosting sites through the project, mostly populations of the little brown myotis, an endangered species in Canada.
Read more about this project on the WBR website.
Regenerative Tourism
Contribute to Citizen Science
with iNaturalist
Get involved in citizen science and explore nature in a whole new way with iNaturalist! The app lets you record and share your observations of plants, animals, and fungi, contributing to global biodiversity research. Every photo you upload helps scientists track species and monitor ecosystems. It's a fun, interactive way to volunteer for conservation efforts while discovering the natural world around you.
Read our blogpost on Wildflowers in Waterton to see some of the species we saw while travelling in the region.
Follow Biosphere Bathing on iNaturalist to get live updates on species we see in Biosphere Regions across Canada.
Documenting wildflowers at Goat Lake
Spend a Day Volunteering in Waterton Lakes National Park
with Parks Canada
There are many opportunities to volunteer with Parks Canada year-round including bird counts, invasive species removal, native seed collection, and more!
In the summer you can participate in wildflower and native grasses seed collection and in the fall you can help to plant the seeds that germinated last year. There are also many opportunities to help remove invasive species in the Summer.
For a full list of opportunities, head to the Parks Canada website.
Native seed collection with Parks Canada
Please note that there is an entry fee for all Parks Canada sites in Canada. Head to the Parks Canada website to learn more.
Go on an adventure with Adventures for Wilderness
Participate in an adventure such as: birdwatching, night hiking, wilderness yoga, rock climbing, and many more!
Adventures for Wilderness is a local non-profit dedicated to engaging visitors in wilderness conservation. They regularly run wilderness adventures in the region, with cost of participation being a donation to the organisation.
While in the Waterton Biosphere we had the opportunity to visit the Waterton Reservoir and learn about watershed management within Alberta and why man-made irrigation canals are detrimental to the environment and local fish species. As part of this adventure, we also joined up with Kirby from You Betula, a biologist who specialises in cost-effective solutions to beaver flooding and foraging, while preserving the biodiversity of beaver created wetlands and preventing damage to infrastructure and property. Read our blog post about this adventure.
Check out the Events Calendar on AWA’s site for upcoming adventures
Photo Credit: Kirby England
Attend an event with the Waterton Biosphere Region
The Waterton Biosphere Region regularly hosts events aimed at educating the public on biodiversity conservation. You could learn about bat conservation, beaver co-existence, native grassland stewardship, and so much more!
While in the Waterton Biosphere we had the opportunity to attend the Starry Nights and Silent Flights event where we learnt about what’s happening regarding conservation of bats in the region from the Alberta Community Bat Program. We also learnt about the impacts of light pollution on human and wildlife health from the Dark Sky Guides Waterton. The best part was having the opportunity to listen to bats echolocation on a bat detector device! A bat detector is a device that translates the echolocation ultrasound signals produced by bats into sounds audible to humans. It was such a unique experience to hear bats as they hunted for food!
Follow the Waterton Biosphere Region on Instagram to get updates on upcoming events.
Listening to bats in the WBR
Outdoor Recreation
Visit the Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre
Get immersed in the culture of the Blackfoot People at the Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre.
“In the Blackfoot Language, Waterton is called "Paah-tó-mah-ksi-ki-mi" meaning Inner Sacred Lake”, Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre.
The cultural centre regularly hosts events such as art contests, bear safety sessions, and traditional plant workshops. Join them for “Trail Talks” every Wednesday from June through to August. Head to their Instagram page to get updated on new events.
Please note that there is an entry fee for all Parks Canada sites in Canada. Head to the Parks Canada website to learn more.
Hike across the border to BC’s Rainbow Mountain
You don’t have to travel all the way to Peru to see the famous Rainbow Mountain - you only need to hike the Akamina Ridge Trail in the Waterton Biosphere Region!
Rainbow mountains are formed through a combination of geological processes over millions of years. Layers of sedimentary rock, such as sandstone and siltstone, are deposited in a variety of minerals, each giving the rock a different colour. For example, iron oxide present in the rock creates red hues, while green colours often result from the presence of minerals like chlorite or other copper-based compounds. The striking colours are revealed when erosion from wind and water gradually wears away the surface, exposing the multi-coloured bands beneath.
This hike is decently challenging, roughly 20km in length with over 1,200m of elevation gain. There is some scrambling involved to get up to the ridge. The ridge walk itself extends for 5km where you have surrounding views of the mountains in British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana. As you near the end of the ridge walk you will notice that you are walking over the Rainbow Mountain portion of the hike, with more rainbow mountains in the distance.
Please note that there is an entry fee for all Parks Canada sites in Canada. Head to the Parks Canada website to learn more.
Horseback Riding in Waterton Lakes National Park
Looking for a different way to explore the Waterton Biosphere Region?
Why not take a horseback ride around the National Park with Alpine Stables. There are all levels of adventures available, from basic lakeside trails for beginners to climbing mountains for the serious adventurer! We spent an hour meandering through native grasslands with the incredible Rocky Mountains as our backdrop while our guide told us all about the local fauna and flora in the region.
Head to the Alpine Stables website to book your adventure.
Please note that there is an entry fee for all Parks Canada sites in Canada. Head to the Parks Canada website to learn more.
Paddle on the Spectacular Waterton Lake
Paddling here is like paddling in a dream. Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, you will truly feel at peace out on the water.
Before you pack up your paddleboard and head straight to Waterton, there is 1 piece of important information you need to know. In an effort to curb the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species, Parks Canada have announced a ban on the use of non-motorized watercraft that has been used outside of Waterton Lake. This means, that you won’t be able to use your personal watercraft to recreate on Waterton Lake. The good news is, you can still rent from Blakiston and Co., who operate right on the edge of Waterton Lake. They rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, so head to their website now to make a booking!
Invasive species cause devastating affects to local ecosystems and Parks Canada are working hard to keep aquatic invasives like zebra and quagga mussels, whirling disease, and Eurasian water milfoil out of Waterton Lake National Park. If you love recreating on the water, completing an aquatic invasives course is always a good idea! The Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council in BC offer a free Aquatic Invasives Course online that you can complete in less than 30 minutes and will send you a certificate upon completion.
Please note that there is an entry fee for all Parks Canada sites in Canada. Head to the Parks Canada website to learn more.
Discover a new way to explore
Make a meaningful contribution next time you travel by participating in local volunteer activities such as:
Documenting species in iNaturalist
Spending a day volunteering with Parks Canada
Adventuring with Alberta Wilderness Association
Attending an event hosted by the Waterton Biosphere Region
Can’t travel right now but still want to contribute? Consider donating to any of the above organisations to support their ongoing work!
We hope you feel inspired to visit the Waterton Biosphere!
Already been to the Waterton Biosphere? Tag us in your photos @biospherebathing for a chance to be featured on our account!
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