driving route from Canmore to Waterton
 

What is the best way to drive from Canmore to Waterton? We would prefer a "scenic route" only if it is not extremely longer and slower. Thankyou.

From Canmore, drive east on the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1).

When you reach the turn off to Hwy #40, turn south and drive through Kananaskis Country (beautiful mountainss).

In the vicinity of the Highwood Pass (highest stretch of paved road in Canada), the road turns east and becomes Route #541.

At the small town of Longview (which is supplied with good restaurants, surprisingly so for such a small place), turn south onto Hwy #22 (also known as the Cowboy Trail).

Hwy #22 goes through the rolling foothills on the east side of the Rockies. In some places the Rockies are so close that you have the illusion that you could almost reach out and touch them.

When Hwy #22 intersects with the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy #3), turn east.

Shortly thereafter, turn south onto Hwy #6, which will take you through the small town of Pincher Creek. There are some places to eat. They are acceptable, but not spectacular.

Note, there are no towns between Longview and Pincher Creek.

After Pincher Creek, continue on Hwy #6 till you reach Waterton Lakes National Park.

The quickest way would be to drive east on Hwy #1, skirt around the west side of Calgary, and then head south on Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Hwy #2). That route takes about 4 hours.

If you took the scenic route through Kananaskis Country it might add an hour to the driving time, bringing it up to 5 hours.

The Kananaskis Country / Cowboy Trail route is far more scenic than the faster route. As far as I'm concerned, it's a no-brainer to take the more scenic route.

Thankyou! That was the answer I wanted to hear.

The drive along route 40 takes you through some very nice scenery.

The drive south from Longview to Pincher Creek is fairly scenic, but that is perhaps relative to what you just saw!

I am not sure the route Judy described is that much faster. It depends on the traffic in Calgary and when you go through there.

There is that slight deviation in the route when you intersect route 3.
Then you have a short drive east as Judy said.

I last drove that route in 2005. I don't think there have been any major changes.