Crypt Lake Trail

Crypt Lake Trail is a full-day, round-trip hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, built around a dramatic sequence: major waterfalls, a narrow natural tunnel, and a steep, cable-secured cliff traverse that delivers you to Crypt Lake.

Expect a 17.2 km (10.7-mile) round trip with about 675 m (2,214 ft) of elevation gain. Most parties take roughly 6–8 hours, but you need to move with purpose because the outing is timed to the ferry schedule at the lake.

Access is staged: the trailhead sits at Crypt Landing on the east side of Upper Waterton Lake. You start with a 15-minute boat shuttle across Upper Waterton Lake, then hike to Crypt Lake and return to the landing to catch the pick-up.

The route’s signature obstacles come after the valley climb into the hanging-valley terrain. You crawl through a short, narrow tunnel, then continue onto a steep ledge section that’s secured with a steel ladder and a cable for the exposed traverse.

The endpoint is Crypt Lake, an alpine lake in a cirque environment where snow and scree can persist into late summer. The trail reaches the lake through forest near the shore, with the approach timed so you can spend a stop at the lake before turning back.

Waterfall and rock features are central to the experience. The longer ascent option passes Hell-Roaring Falls, and the climb also brings you to Crypt Falls with a drop over 150 m (490 ft).

Seasonality matters. The hike is typically done from July through early October, and late-season timing can be influenced by snowmelt conditions and ferry operations.

More information: Booking, Wikipedia, Explore Crypt Lake: The Ultimate Waterton Lakes Hike