Cameron Falls is likely the most iconic and popular feature of Waterton Lakes National Park, likely in no small part due to the fact that no hiking is required to reach this gorgeous and dramatic waterfall. In fact, the Waterton townsite is so close to Cameron Creek that the creek is responsible for creating the very land the town sits on. After roaring through the tight Canyon, Cameron Creek has for thousands of years emptied out via the waterfall onto a plain where the water has been free to flow in multiple directions. Sand and pebbles picked up from the canyon are deposited at the edge of Waterton Lake, causing the circular plain to slowly and steadily spread out further and further into the lake. This doesn’t happen nowadays though, as after the waterfall the creek is now directed through a man-made channel in order to protect the townsite from flooding.
Cameron Falls is most well-known however, as “the waterfall that turns pink”. Repeated over and over again by untrustworthy websites, many people are misled into believing that Cameron Falls often turns pink after heavy rainfall. Sadly, this has only been verified to have happened once after a rockslide of red iron-rich argolite rock crashed into the creek and turning it pink. (Some online sources incorrectly report the phenomenon as being caused by aragonite, an entirely unrelated mineral.)
Unless your visit to Cameron Falls happens to coincide with a rockslide of the particular correct type of rock upstream you’ll just have to put up with a boring regular white waterfall. Or if there is a rockslide of any other stone you might see a brown waterfall.
Whether it’s strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla-coloured, Cameron Falls is a must-see on your visit to Waterton Lakes National Park and one of my top waterfalls in Alberta.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Cameron Falls in Waterton for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
This picture of Cameron Falls taken in 1874 is one of the earliest photos taken in Waterton, and shows how dramatically the falls has changed in appearance since then. Both controversial intentional human intervention “to prevent erosion” and natural rockfall near the top of the falls has altered the shape of Cameron Falls, with the latter factor being responsible for most of the change. Most people seem to agree that Cameron Falls is more beautiful today than ever.
Note: Cameron Falls is located in Waterton Lakes National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Day passes can be purchased at the park gates and are per day per person, but if you’re staying a week or longer, it’s more cost-effective to just buy an annual pass instead.
Before visiting Waterton Lakes National Park it’s essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Cameron Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
When to Visit Cameron Falls
Like many waterfalls in the Rockies, Cameron Falls is at the most dramatic in spring. Melting snow and recent rainfall mean that the water level is at its highest, and the waterfalls at their most dramatic. Cameron Falls flows well year-round however, and I personally prefer it in the summer when the shape is more distinct. As well, approaching the waterfall is difficult in the spring due to the high water level below. If you’d like to visit Cameron Falls when it’s pink, you’re out of luck. Cameron Falls is only confirmed to have turned pink once – and though there are anecdotes of it happening other times, they are impossible to verify.
How to Get to Cameron Falls
Cameron Falls is located right on the edge of the waterton townsite at the end of Cameron Falls Drive. If you’re staying in town then it’s a quick and easy walk – not worth getting in the car for. If you are just driving into the Waterton townsite, keep straight at each possible intersection and you’ll end up at the falls.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Cameron Falls as seen from the parking across the street.
Fantastic views from near the base of the falls. Can you spot the people in the viewing platforms above? The viewing platforms and walkways are designed really well and blend in easily.
Views from one of the viewing platforms. Another platform is visible across the waterfall on the other side.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.