Though much like Swiftcurrent Valley in topographical make-up, the
Belly River district is much wilder and more heavily forested. It is
accessible by trail only from Many Glacier over Ptarmigan Wall or from
Waterton Lake over Indian Pass. These, with spur trails to Helen and
Margaret Lakes, make up the principal trail system. The Glacier Park
Saddle Horse Co. maintains a comfortable mountain camp on Crossley
Lake, where food and lodging are available at reasonable rates. Fishing
is good in the lakes of the Belly River country. The 33-mile trip from
Many Glacier to Waterton is one of the finest to be taken in the park.
Crossley Lake Camp is approximately midway.
The International Waterton Lake and the northern boundary line of
Glacier National Park mutually bisect each other at right angles. Mount
Cleveland rises 6,300 feet sheer above the head of the lake. Waterton
Lake townsite, Alberta, is located at the foot. It is reached by
highway from Glacier Park, Babb, Cardston, Lethbridge, Calgary, and
points in the Canadian Rockies. The modern Prince of Wales Hotel,
several other hostelries, cabin camps, garages, stores, and other
conveniences are in the settlement. A 12-mile spur highway leads to
Cameron Lake, another international body of water on whose northern
(Canadian) shore is a fine example of a sphagnum bog. Another winding
road leads to a colorful canyon known as "Red Rock."
A picturesque cut-off highway over aspen-covered foothills around the
very base of majestic Chief Mountain, and beginning at a point 4 miles
north of Babb, leads to Waterton Lakes Park in Canada.
Trails lead from the village to principal points of interest in the
Canadian Park as well as up the west shore to the head of the lake at
which are situated the Government ranger station and Goathaunt Camp.
The head of the lake is more readily reached by the daily launch
service from Waterton Village, or over trail from Many Glacier by
Crossley Lake Camp, or by Granite Park and Flattop Mountain. A scenic
trail leads to Rainbow Falls and up Olson Valley to Browns Pass, Bowman
Lake, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, Boulder Pass, and Kintla Lake in the
northwest corner of the park. There are no hotel or camp accommodations
at Bowman or Kintla Lakes.
[Illustration: _Grant photo._ HORSEBACK PARTY ON BOULDER PASS]
Game is varied and abundant at Waterton Lake. Moose are sometimes seen
in the swampy lakes along Upper Waterton River. Later in the season,
bull elk are heard bugling their challenge through the night. Deer are
seen both at Waterton Lake Village and Goathaunt Camp. Sheep and goats
live on neighboring slopes. One does not have to leave the trail to see
evidence of the work of the beaver. The trail down Waterton Valley has
had to be relocated from time to time, as these industrious workers
flooded the right-of-way. A colony lives at the mouth of the creek
opposite Goathaunt Camp. Otters have been seen in the lakes in the
evening. Marten have bobbed up irregularly at the ranger station.
Bird life is abundant in this district, because of the variety of
cover. Waterfowl are frequently seen on the lake. A pair of ospreys
nest near the mouth of Olson Creek. Pine grosbeaks, warblers, vireos,
kinglets, and smaller birds abound in the hawthorne and cottonwood
trees, and in the alder thickets.