Waterton Lakes - Red Rock Canyon

Last time we were here we wanted to go up to Red Rock Canyon but due to snow, it was still closed for the season.

 

This time the road was open and after breakfast, packing up and checking out

we made the drive up to the, already packed, parking lot.

The main attraction is the canyon with its red and white rock

but first we opted for a short hike up to some falls.

Still walking through the remains of burnt out forest (a major fire in 2017 burned about a third of the park)

but there were lots of wildflowers in bloom

and the new growth of trees was 5 or 6 ft high.

It didn't feel nearly as barren as it had just last spring.

We could hear the falls before

we saw them

First from one viewpoint

and then

a bit further

the platform right at the falls

This big suck didn't like the metal stairs.

River also got a lift back.

Their reward

was playing and paddling in the water in the canyon.

Something a lot of the visitors were doing.

I stayed sitting on the edge

just enjoying

the scenery.

One last stop planned before setting off on the 6 hour return journey:

A stop at

 

The Grumpy Goat

for goat petting

and 

ice cream.