Non-motorized watercraft regulations

Waterton Lakes National Park is taking additional steps to protect park and regional waters from harmful aquatic invasive species (AIS), including invasive mussels and whirling disease beginning in 2024.

As the headwaters of a larger watershed, Parks Canada is taking action in Waterton Lakes National Park to ensure ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems in the park and downstream aquatic communities remains intact.

Protecting the broader watershed

The Waterton Lake chain is the headwaters of the Waterton River, which feeds into the Oldman River and the broader South Saskatchewan River watershed. Due to high recreation use within the park and the locations visitors and their watercraft arrive from, the park represents a high risk for introducing additional AIS into this watershed (whirling disease is already present downstream of the Waterton dam). If a species like invasive zebra or quagga mussels entered the broader watershed, they could cause millions of dollars in damage and in cleanup costs to the region.

Responding to a growing risk

In 2023, whirling disease was detected in the Belly River within park boundaries. Outside of Waterton, whirling disease was also detected in Yoho National Park, which was its first detection in British Columbia and in a Pacific draining watershed. Invasive mussels were found both in the Snake River in Idaho and in Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park. In the case of Riding Mountain, a mandatory inspection program had been in place since 2018 but failed to stop the introduction of zebra mussels into Clear Lake.

Parks Canada has been taking action on aquatic invasives for several years, including operating a mandatory inspection program for nonmotorized watercraft from 2021 to 2023. However, program compliance was estimated be less than 60% of watercraft users. We thank those who diligently had their boats inspected over the past few seasons, but this is a necessary change to ensure the ecological integrity of park waters and the broader watershed.

Non-motorized watercraft exemptions

Non-motorized watercraft that do not leave park boundaries may qualify for Seasonal Permit Program to legally launch in park waters. Watercraft owners must take a course on aquatic invasive species and the watercraft must be inspected by Parks Canada staff to qualify for the permit. All watercraft stored at in-park properties will require an attestation form signed by both the watercraft owner and the property leaseholder prior to issuance of the permit.

Our Seasonal Permit Program is now closed for 2024 as our AIS team shifts their focus towards monitoring efforts.

If you would like to receive information about the 2025 Seasonal Permit Program, please contact wlfuaisprevention-eaiprevention@pc.gc.ca.

Users who require adaptive equipment due to a disability: Parks Canada is committed to accessibility and your adapted watercraft and equipment could be accommodated if you can meet the following requirements:

• You are arriving from the low-risk provinces of B.C., Alberta or Saskatchewan and your watercraft has not been used outside of these provinces this year
• Your watercraft is cleaned, drained and dried prior to arrival
• You provide 24 hours notice of your arrival on weekdays so a pre-trip inspection can be scheduled.

Please contact for wlfuaisprevention-eaiprevention@pc.gc.ca in advance of your visit for more details.

Mandatory self-certification 

Other water equipment that is not prohibited still requires a self-certification permit. This includes:

Note that packable or inflatable kayaks, paddleboards, hydrofoils and canoes are considered non-motorized watercraft and are prohibited from entering waterbodies in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Self-certification permit locations