Smoky Day at Waterton National Park

With the last long weekend and Summer drawing to a close, we had time for one last trip......so, daytripping to Waterton Lakes National Park. As part of the Canada 150 celebration, Parks Canada provided free annual passes to all interested Canadians this year. Happy Birthday Canada.

After a two hour drive just to get to Waterton, first stop - High Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. This historic icon of Waterton Lakes NP was built in 1926. The pleasure of the High Tea experience is not free, but more affordable than a flight to the UK. The food and tea were very good. This day proved to be a very windy one, which either brought in the smoke from the wildfires devastating our western neighbours in British Columbia or the wind kept the skies just a bit clearer.

After we were all fueled up, it was time to get out and embrace the wind and capture some photos. Looking down the Upper Waterton Lake we notice the multitude of hills that come down to meet the lake and the smoke helps show the depth of those hills that is normally lost in a photo of this type. There will be no calm reflection photos today, too much chop on the water.

We did see an Osprey circling around, as well as, some Herring Gulls. It was a nice summer's day. Warm. Yes, windy, too. After enough time enjoyed on the shore we went into the Village of Waterton, just to see what was there. This is a very busy tourist town. Parking like most tourist traps is at a premium. But we found a spot and walked from there. On our way back to our vehicle we did snap a few good shots from the marina back towards the Prince of Wales Hotel.

On our trip home we found that we actually had a good day. Towns like Pincher Creek and High River were thickly blanketed in smoke. So, those will be my parting photos. First will be Pincher Creek and the final smoky shot is from High River. Hard to believe this is smoke from wildfires more than 300 km's away.

If I am given credit for my photos, you may borrow them.