Hey does anybody know if one needs a passport to get back into the US from Waterton, or is it not nessesary because we’re still in the national park? Maybe taking the bus from Waterton to somewhere in the park on the US side you don’t need a passport? Any info would be nice!
Kalyn
Kalyn & Mat
…if you don’t have a notorized copy of your birth certificate to go with the driver’s license, you may be delayed.
From http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/documentary_req.xml
Travel from within the Western Hemisphere (North, Central or South America)
U.S. citizens:
* Are exempt from passport requirements. However, it is highly recommended that a U.S. Citizen be prepared to present documentation such as valid or expired U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or Naturalization certificate to avoid delays.
…
PCT hikers crossing back into the US often have trouble if they just have a driver’s license.
Goat Haunt (the customs place in Glacier) had this blurb to say about coming into the US from Canada:
From: http://www.nps.gov/glac/activities/goath.htm
North Boundary Trail
Waterton Lake Trail to International Boundary / 5.8 mi.
Initial clearing scheduled for: 6/23/06 per 650 Boundary Creek suspension: Installed 5/19/06 per 952 U.S./CANADIAN CITIZENS NOW HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS (DAY USE AND BACKCOUNTRY PERMITS) TO GOAT HAUNT AND BEYOND AFTER FULFILLING REQUIREMENT OF REPORTING TO CUSTOMS RANGERS AT GOAT HAUNT. YOU MUST HAVE A PICTURE ID AND A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR PASSPORT. NON U.S./CANADIAN CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER GOAT HAUNT FROM WATERTON VIA THE WATERTON SHORELINE CRUISES BUT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL BEYOND THE RANGER STATION.
Long story short - if you just have a driver’s license, crossing back into the us can be a P.I.T.A.
Good luck!
Paul Mags
Hey Mags - where are you and how are you? We have already seem many hikers this season and looking forward to seeing many more before the snow flys. The woods are really dry and we hope that rain will come soon before the fires get too busy - I climbed Antero yesterday and the smoke from fire down south had everything hazy. Let me know if you get this and I will e-mail you again if you want me too. Later Wild BIll
Wild Bill