[Redliner]

Cardston sucks. Definitely stay in the park if you can swing it. Crandell Mountain Lodge is decent - I stayed there years ago and it was like a time warp to 1955, but I hear it’s been updated. The Bayshore is not too bad, and the Waterton Glacier Suites are pretty good. If you want the full Waterton experience, stay at the Prince of Wales. The rooms are small and it’s overpriced but definitely a unique experience.

Pizza of Waterton and Weiners of Waterton are both decent places to eat without breaking the bank. The New Frank Restaurant is alright and so is the Bayshore dining room - and the Bayshore was in Last of Us (it was where the cannibals lived) so there’s that to think about while you’re scarfing down your top sirloin.

The damage to the Akamina Parkway (Cameron Lake road) was apparently pretty extensive and I’ve heard rumours it may not open before the end of the year, so check before you go. For hikes I’d echo what everyone else said - Crypt Lake is a must do. I believe it was on the list of top ten hikes in North America for a while. Bertha Falls & Lake are great as well and the area around the lake should be beautiful in September as there is a ton of colour in the rocks up there. Red Rock Canyon is great as well but not much of a hike unless you actually want to hike up the creek itself, which can be a bit of an adventure.

I’ve been going to Waterton my whole life (even lived there for a few years) and it’s a very special place. Unfortunately the park got hit hard by the Kenow Mountain fire in 2017 and much of it is burned out now, but it’s still amazing - just different. In September it’ll be a little quieter but often that’s a good thing.