Snowshoe Trail
Near Waterton Park · Waterton Lakes National Park
Trail score 58 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Snowshoe Trail is a 16.7 km out and back trail near Waterton Park in Waterton Lakes National Park. It runs 8.3 km each way. The route gains 365 m in total and tops out at 1,744 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 5 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Mount Glendowan Route at 2.3 km and Newman Peak Trail at 4.4 km, and passes one other mapped junction. Along the way you pass a campground and a backcountry campground. Much of the route follows Bauerman Creek. Also used for backpacking.
- Length
- 16.7km
- 8.3 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 365m
- Estimated time
- 5h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 1,744m
- Lowest point
- 1,493m
Elevation profile
1,493 m to 1,744 mHighest point 1,744 m, lowest 1,493 m, 365 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 13% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 89% of route
76% LTE · 14% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 0.6 km
- Model
- 2024 · Natural Resources Canada
Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.
Along the way
- 0.0 kmSnowshoe / BlakistonTrailhead
- 8.3 kmCampground
- 8.3 kmSnowshoeBackcountry campground
Good for
- Hiking, Backpacking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- River or creek, Camping
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 49.1309° N, 114.0271° W.
Waterton Lakes National Park admission
National park admission required
Pass details
Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.
Information checked October 21, 2026.
Before you go
Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:
Nearby trails
- Blakiston Falls TrailEasy · 2.3 km · 75 m gain · 0.1 km away
- Twin Lakes RouteHard · 17.5 km · 493 m gain · 0.9 km away
- Mount Glendowan RouteHard · 12.8 km · 1,735 m gain · 3.2 km away
- Anderson Peak RouteHard · 4.8 km · 838 m gain · 3.9 km away
- Newman Peak TrailHard · 14.1 km · 1,035 m gain · 4.2 km away
- Mount Galwey RouteHard · 5.9 km · 898 m gain · 5.7 km away
All 63 trails in Waterton Lakes National Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30