Waterton Parks & Gardens

Established in 1895, the park joined with Montana’s Glacier National Park in 1931 to form the first International Peace Park. It is one of the most untouched areas in the province, ranging from prairie terrain to mountain wilderness. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, horseback riding, golf and interpretive programs, or visit the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site.

Huge herds of bison once roamed the plains of Alberta in numbers of up to an estimated 60 million in the 17th century. Due to excessive overhunting and a steady loss of habitat, they are now listed on the province's endangered list. Just a short distance north of Waterton Lakes Nation Park on Highway 6 is the Waterton Bison Paddock, where a protected herd of rare Plains bison is kept for viewing as a reminder of their legacy as well as in attempt to aid in increasing their population size and advance their species.

The Oldman River Dam Provincial Recreation Area is located just north of Highway 3, 10 km west of the town of Pincher Creek. The recreation area includes several campgrounds, day use areas, and a group camp. At 1,620 ha (4,000 acres), it is the largest provincial park in Alberta, and offers canoeing, sailing, fishing and other water sport opportunities, as well as historic sights and interpretive trails.