Visitor Use Management in Waterton Lakes National Park

Have your say

Parks Canada is seeking input from residents, stakeholders, Indigenous partners and the public on a draft visitor use management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park.

Complete the survey by Monday, October 26, 2026.

Parks Canada is developing a Visitor Use Management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park attracts visitors from around the world who come to experience its exceptional scenery, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Visitation has increased by 62% since 2005, reaching nearly 600 000 visitors in 2025, and is expected to continue growing. As visitation increases, so do pressures on infrastructure and operations, traffic congestion and crowding at popular destinations, the potential for human-wildlife conflicts, and impacts on ecological integrity and visitor experiences.

Parks Canada has used a variety of tools to help manage visitation, including active traffic and parking management, visitor education, trip planning information, real-time parking updates, enforcement, and targeted communications. As visitation patterns evolve, Parks Canada is exploring sustainable long-term approaches to support safe and enjoyable visitor experiences while protecting the natural and cultural resources that make Waterton Lakes National Park special.

What is visitor use management?

The Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Use Management strategy will identify a variety of tools, strategies, and actions to manage visitor use in ways that protect natural and cultural resources, support human-wildlife coexistence, maintain visitor and staff safety, and provide high-quality visitor experiences.

Current conditions in some areas of the park do not fully align with the desired future conditions, developed from feedback from stakeholders, residents and Indigenous partners. Parks Canada is seeking feedback on draft desired conditions and proposed strategies and actions intended to address existing and emerging visitor use challenges. This work will help support the achievement of desired conditions for visitor experience, natural and cultural resources, Indigenous relations, and visitor services and facilities.

Parks Canada's visitor use management work follows the internationally recognized Visitor Use Management Framework (VUMF), which is endorsed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has been used by Parks Canada at locations across the country. The strategy is also guided by the Parks Canada mandate, the Waterton Lakes National Park Management Plan (2022), engagement with Indigenous partners, stakeholders, residents, and visitors, and the best available science, data, and expertise.

Key considerations

Key considerations informing the strategy include:

  • Protecting ecological integrity and cultural resources while supporting meaningful visitor experiences.
  • Supporting human-wildlife coexistence and maintaining secure habitat for sensitive wildlife species.
  • Providing safe, efficient, and accessible visitor access and opportunities, particularly during peak visitation periods.
  • Using data-informed and adaptive management approaches to respond to changing visitation patterns and conditions.
  • Supporting Indigenous access, stewardship, and connections to culturally significant places.
  • Working collaboratively with tourism operators, regional partners, Indigenous partners, and neighbouring jurisdictions to promote sustainable visitation and regional tourism opportunities.
  • Maintaining operational sustainability and climate resilience while providing high-quality visitor services and facilities.

How to participate

In the survey, respondents will be asked to share their views on the draft desired conditions and proposed strategies and actions to be included in the final Visitor Use Management strategy. Additional background information, supporting data, and project resources are available on the Parks Canada website to help inform survey responses.

The Visitor Use Management survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until Monday, October 26, 2026.

Privacy

Privacy

Parks Canada takes the protection of privacy seriously. Information collected in this survey will be stored on servers located within Canada. Please do not provide personal or third-party information (e.g. names, contact details, or information about other people) in your responses.

Survey responses are being collected for the purposes of engagement and data analysis for Parks Canada's Visitor Use Management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park. This collection of personal information is authorized under the Privacy Act.

Participants do not need to log in to complete the survey.

Have your say

Parks Canada is seeking input from residents, stakeholders, Indigenous partners and the public on a draft visitor use management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park.

Complete the survey by Monday, October 26, 2026.

Parks Canada is developing a Visitor Use Management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park attracts visitors from around the world who come to experience its exceptional scenery, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Visitation has increased by 62% since 2005, reaching nearly 600 000 visitors in 2025, and is expected to continue growing. As visitation increases, so do pressures on infrastructure and operations, traffic congestion and crowding at popular destinations, the potential for human-wildlife conflicts, and impacts on ecological integrity and visitor experiences.

Parks Canada has used a variety of tools to help manage visitation, including active traffic and parking management, visitor education, trip planning information, real-time parking updates, enforcement, and targeted communications. As visitation patterns evolve, Parks Canada is exploring sustainable long-term approaches to support safe and enjoyable visitor experiences while protecting the natural and cultural resources that make Waterton Lakes National Park special.

What is visitor use management?

The Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Use Management strategy will identify a variety of tools, strategies, and actions to manage visitor use in ways that protect natural and cultural resources, support human-wildlife coexistence, maintain visitor and staff safety, and provide high-quality visitor experiences.

Current conditions in some areas of the park do not fully align with the desired future conditions, developed from feedback from stakeholders, residents and Indigenous partners. Parks Canada is seeking feedback on draft desired conditions and proposed strategies and actions intended to address existing and emerging visitor use challenges. This work will help support the achievement of desired conditions for visitor experience, natural and cultural resources, Indigenous relations, and visitor services and facilities.

Parks Canada's visitor use management work follows the internationally recognized Visitor Use Management Framework (VUMF), which is endorsed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has been used by Parks Canada at locations across the country. The strategy is also guided by the Parks Canada mandate, the Waterton Lakes National Park Management Plan (2022), engagement with Indigenous partners, stakeholders, residents, and visitors, and the best available science, data, and expertise.

Key considerations

Key considerations informing the strategy include:

  • Protecting ecological integrity and cultural resources while supporting meaningful visitor experiences.
  • Supporting human-wildlife coexistence and maintaining secure habitat for sensitive wildlife species.
  • Providing safe, efficient, and accessible visitor access and opportunities, particularly during peak visitation periods.
  • Using data-informed and adaptive management approaches to respond to changing visitation patterns and conditions.
  • Supporting Indigenous access, stewardship, and connections to culturally significant places.
  • Working collaboratively with tourism operators, regional partners, Indigenous partners, and neighbouring jurisdictions to promote sustainable visitation and regional tourism opportunities.
  • Maintaining operational sustainability and climate resilience while providing high-quality visitor services and facilities.

How to participate

In the survey, respondents will be asked to share their views on the draft desired conditions and proposed strategies and actions to be included in the final Visitor Use Management strategy. Additional background information, supporting data, and project resources are available on the Parks Canada website to help inform survey responses.

The Visitor Use Management survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until Monday, October 26, 2026.

Privacy

Privacy

Parks Canada takes the protection of privacy seriously. Information collected in this survey will be stored on servers located within Canada. Please do not provide personal or third-party information (e.g. names, contact details, or information about other people) in your responses.

Survey responses are being collected for the purposes of engagement and data analysis for Parks Canada's Visitor Use Management strategy for Waterton Lakes National Park. This collection of personal information is authorized under the Privacy Act.

Participants do not need to log in to complete the survey.

Page last updated: 06 Oct 2026, 09:10 AM