Akamina Parkway
The Akamina Parkway in Waterton National Park is a 15.2 km (9.4 mile) scenic parkway following Cameron Creek to Cameron Lake in the extreme southwestern corner of the province of Alberta.
The valley changes from a narrow gorge near the Waterton Park town site to a more typically wide U-shaped glacial valley nearer to the lake. Along the way you will pass the Discovery Well National Historic Site* commemorating western Canada's first producing oil well. Cameron Lake is a sub-alpine jewel with lush avalanche slopes sweeping steeply to the surrounding peaks. These slopes are essential grizzly bear habitat.
While Akamina Parkway is an experience in itself, plan to spend some time at the Waterton Park Town site, also.
The Akamina Parkway is narrow and, in places, steep. During winter the road is often icy and snow storms are frequent, even when the rest of Waterton National Park is experiencing little or no snowfall.
The road is closed at Little Prairie (3.0 km, or 1.9 miles before Cameron Lake) after late fall or early winter. There are numerous small pullouts along the way. Large pullouts are at McNeallys, Crandell Lake Trail, Discovery Well, Lineham Trail, Oil City, Rowe/Tamarack Trail, Little Prairie and Akamina Pass Trail. Parking is available for passenger vehicles and buses at Cameron Lake.
In many Rocky Mountain locations it is necessary to hike some distance to be able to experience a sub-alpine lake and the snow forest. Here it is accessible at the end of a short and scenic drive.
*Discovery Well at 7.7 km, 4.8 miles
A National Historical site with a monument and plaque are located across the road from a small parking area. They commemorate the discovery in 1902 of the first producing oil well in Western Canada. This was the second strike in all of Canada at the time.
