The Blakiston Falls Trail at Waterton Lakes National Park near Waterton Park. Alberta is an easy 1.9 km out-and-back hike that leads to two viewpoints of the multi-tiered waterfall, Blakiston Falls.
After exploring all viewpoints along the trail, the hike back is a quick and easy 1 km walk back to reach the trailhead.
Hiking to Blakiston Falls
This hike begins at the southern end of the Red Rock Canyon Loop where you'll find the trailhead and a footbridge that spans Bauerman Creek. The trail heads into the forest as it gradually heads uphill toward the Blakiston Falls lookout points. Hikers will notice a forest of dead standing evergreen trees that burned in the 2017 September wildfire -- leaving the forest wide-open to sunlight and full of dead trees. This forest is healing, but rebuilding with countless saplings, shrubs, and other vegetation thriving on the forest floor. During very windy days, hikers might want to reconsider this trail as the danger of falling trees increases; however, these dead standing trees can and do fall randomly all the time, so be mindful and pay attention to the forest as you traverse the trail. Around 0.75 km, hikers will reach a section of trail that includes an adjacent steep slope where you'll find views of Mount Blakiston, Blakiston Creek, and eventually Blakiston Falls located upstream.Lower Blakiston Falls Overlook - 0.85 km
At 0.85 km from the trailhead, hikers will reach the first metal walkway that juts out high above Blakiston Creek to provide hikers with the best downstream view of Blakiston Falls. From here, you can appreciate the turquoise-colored pool that sits below the waterfall and is by-far the best view of the cascade along the hike. The views aren't over though, the next stop is located just up the trail to take-in views of Upper Blakiston Falls and the top of the lower cascade.Upper Blakiston Falls - 0.95 km
The trail continues southwest to reach the second metal walkway that leads hikers out to the top of Blakiston Falls. Along the way, the first stop on this metal walkway is a nice viewpoint of Upper Blakiston Falls. This short, but scenic cascade, spills down the bedrock along a slide waterfall where, at the base, its pool of water sits above the light-colored bedrock -- making for another stunning waterfall view with turquoise-like waters below.Top of Blakiston Falls - 0.98 km
At the end of the metal walkway is the last viewpoint at Blakiston Falls -- the top of the waterfall. While hikers can get a nice view of the surrounding area from this viewpoint, the view from the top of Blakiston Falls is certainly not a nice as the downstream view; however, if you plan to explore the Upper Blakiston Falls section of the hike, you might as well check out the top of the main waterfall while you're right next door. The top of Blakiston Falls rushes through a skinnier rock "gorge" below your feet before it swoops down and into the turquoise pool below.After exploring all viewpoints along the trail, the hike back is a quick and easy 1 km walk back to reach the trailhead.
