Hike Alberta
Middle Waterton LakeUpper Waterton Lake 2 km N
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Wishbone Trail

Near Waterton Park · Waterton Lakes National Park

Hard · Out and back

Upper Waterton Lake from the north; the trail reaches its east shore
Upper Waterton Lake from the north; the trail reaches its east shore. Photo by R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 66 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Middle Waterton LakeUpper Waterton Lake 5 km Open the map

About this trail

Wishbone Trail is a 26.3 km out and back trail near Waterton Park in Waterton Lakes National Park. It runs 13.1 km each way. The route gains 551 m in total and tops out at 1,363 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 8 hours of moving time. It meets Vimy Peak Route at 6.6 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass Middle Waterton Lake and Upper Waterton Lake and a stream crossing. Also used for backpacking.

Length
26.3km
13.1 km each way
Elevation gain
551m
Estimated time
8h
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,363m
Lowest point
1,280m

Elevation profile

1,280 m to 1,363 m
1,3631,280 0 km13.2 km

Highest point 1,363 m, lowest 1,280 m, 551 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 22% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 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

  1. 5.0 kmStream crossing
  2. 7.0 kmMiddle Waterton LakeLake
  3. 11.6 kmUpper Waterton LakeLake

Good for

  • Hiking, Backpacking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 49.1089° N, 113.8264° W.

Driving directions

Waterton Lakes National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy Discovery Pass

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.

Official details

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

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