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Crypt Lake Hike: A Local-Approved Adventure Guide [+Helpful Tips!]
- Where is Crypt Lake Trail?
- What to Expect in Crypt Lake Hike
- How to Get to Crypt Lake Hike
- Step 1: Prepare for your hiking trip
- Step 2: Start your trip
- Other Mode of Transportation: Kayaking
- Step 3: Hike Crypt Lake Trail
- Step 4: Go back for the ferry ride back to the marina
- When is the best time to hike Crypt Lake Trail?
- What to Do and See at Crypt Lake Hike
- Admire the waterfalls
- Swim in Crypt Lake
- Who can hike Crypt Lake Trail?
- FAQs about Crypt Lake Hike
Forget common hiking trails that only require you to walk—we need something that will advance our skills! This time, we’re all about getting a good workout through challenging trails, scary ledges, and uphill battles.
Hiking Crypt Lake ticks all those boxes! It’s the kind of place that you need to cross off your bucket list because it’s not a simple hike! Sure, you may be sore for a couple of days, but the road ahead and the end of the trail are rewarding!
So if you plan on taking on the Crypt Lake challenge, we’ve got you covered! We’re here to show you what to expect, steps to prepare, how to get there, how to hike the trail, and things you can do for an epic hike!
Where is Crypt Lake Trail?
Crypt Lake Trail is a 17.2 km hike located in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. It’s found on the east side of Upper Waterton Lake, approximately 273 km from Calgary.
What to Expect in Crypt Lake Hike
The Crypt Lake Trail is a popular spot in Waterton for adventurers who are looking for a more challenging day hike. It’s a moderately challenging out-and-back trail, which will take approximately 6 to 7 hours, depending on your speed and skill level.
It’s also for individuals who want to experience something new when hiking. The trailhead requires a 15-minute boat ride, then a trek through forests, rocky areas, and narrow ledges that involves switchbacks, inclines, and climbs.
Aside from hiking through a forested area, you’ll also go through an open section and pass by waterfalls. Expect to see spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies and Crypt Lake, which you can swim in.
It’s a popular hiking spot in Waterton because of its challenging sections and stunning scenery. You’ll find both locals and tourists lining up to get to the trail.
How to Get to Crypt Lake Hike
| Distance | 17.2 km |
| Elevation Gain | 675 m / 2214 ft |
| Average Hiking Time | 6 – 7 hours (including stops and depending on speed and skill level) |
| Trail Type | Out and back |
| Difficulty | Moderately challenging |
| Location | Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta |
To get to Crypt Lake Trail, you need to board the ferry from the Waterton Shoreline Cruise to reach the trailhead, taking only 15 minutes. You’ll disembark at Crypt Landing, where the uphill trailhead officially begins.
The boat rides of Waterton Shoreline Cruise are on a first-come, first-served basis, so your hiking time will depend on when you board the shuttle—try to arrive early if you want to avoid crowds and finish early.
There’s a parking lot behind the marina, as well as a gas station for your trip back to the city and a couple of places to eat. But the restaurants don’t open before the earliest boat ride schedule, so make sure you have a hearty breakfast before hiking.
Boats depart at 8:30 am and 9:00 am, depending on the schedule and season. The shuttle to Crypt Lake is weather-dependent as well.
You’ll need to purchase a ticket to ride the ferry. They only accept debit card payments, Visa, and Mastercard (unfortunately, no cash payments are allowed). Here are the prices:
- Adult: $32 + GST
- Infant (0 – 2): Free
Since Crypt Lake Hike is located in Waterton Lakes National Park, you also need to buy a Parks Pass in order to get in. Here are the daily admission prices:
- Adult (18 – 64): $11
- Senior (65+): $9.50
- Youth (6 – 17): Free
- Family/Group (up to 7 people in a single vehicle): $22
- Commercial Group (per person): $9.35
Wondering what exactly you need to do? Check out the steps below to ensure a smooth hiking journey!
Step 1: Prepare for your hiking trip
Before hiking Crypt Lake Trail, you have to be fully prepared since this can take up to 8 hours with lunch and sightseeing stops. Here’s a list of essentials you need to bring:
- Water. Bring enough water because there are no nearby areas to purchase drinks and you’ll need to hydrate because you’ll hike through an exposed area.
- Snacks and lunch. Bring food that will give you energy for the challenging sections.
- First-aid kit. It’s always a good idea to be ready when it comes to emergencies.
- Hiking gear. Bring hiking shoes with good support and traction.
- Hat, sunglasses, layers of clothing, ear mask, and sunscreen. You need to protect yourself from the sun and the strong winds.
- Insect spray and bear spray. Protect yourself from bugs and make sure you know how to use the bear spray.
- Swimsuit. If you plan on swimming in Crypt Lake, definitely pack a swimsuit unless you’re okay swimming in your underwear.
Step 2: Start your trip
Media credit: _instajayy
The closest town to Waterton Lakes National Park is Pincher Creek. It’ll take about 45 minutes to reach the marina from there.
The only way to get to Crypt Lake Trailhead is by watercraft since you need to cross the lake. Most people board the ferry.
Every day, there are several ferries available that will take you to Crypt Landing, which is the trailhead. Crypt Lake Trail is a popular hiking destination, so it’s best to get an early head start, especially if you want to complete the trail.
Make sure your schedule is well-planned. Take into account your time queuing for the park pass and the ferry ticket. The last boat leaves Crypt Landing at 5:30 pm.
Once you reach Crypt Landing, you’ll find a large sign next to a narrow uphill entrance to the forest, which is where you start your hike.
If you want to add a little more adventure, you can kayak to Crypt Landing.
Other Mode of Transportation: Kayaking
Media credit: watertontourism
Aside from a ferry ride, you can opt to kayak to Crypt Landing from the townsite. It will take you a lot longer than 15 minutes, though.
Your paddling time will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes but will still depend on your speed and the waves. You should know that Waterton is windy, and that means paddling will be tougher as well.
If you plan to kayak, make sure you are experienced in paddling the water during strong winds. If you’re a beginner, we strongly recommend you stick to the ferry ride.
Step 3: Hike Crypt Lake Trail
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- Get to the trailhead: Once you reach the trailhead, expect it to be a little crowded because everyone is going to the same place after disembarking the ferry.
- Ascending through the forest: The first part of the hike is pretty easy and uneventful, but get ready to ascend through the dense forest. Don’t worry, though! After a few sets of inclines, the trail will level out.
- Anticipate the mountain views: After the first forested trail, you’ll find fewer people because everyone will have their own pace.
Not long after, you’ll go through several more switchbacks until you see the forest begin to clear more and more, which will reveal stunning mountain views.
Once you reach the open area, be ready for the “hot” part of the trail because you’ll be exposed to the sun. That’s why sunscreen is a must!
- Take a break at Twin Falls: At the 3.5 km mark, you can find Twin Falls, which is not the most interesting but a good spot to take a quick break and snack.
- Get ready to rock at Burnt Rock Falls: After 2 km, you’ll see Burnt Rock Falls from the rocky open section. Continue on the path to reach the mountainside going to the narrow cave, which is where the popular and scary part of the trail starts.
- Start your descent: From there, climb the ladder to the tunnel and go down until you see the cabled section, which is steep (be careful on this part and watch your footing). The cable is secured, but if you have a fear of heights, this will be strenuous and scary.
- Reach Crypt Lake: Once you’re done with the slope, continue on the path until you finally reach Crypt Lake. You can take a rest, have lunch, and admire the views, or you can go for a swim before going back to the trailhead!
Step 4: Go back for the ferry ride back to the marina
Media credit: waterton_shoreline_cruises
Once you’re done cooling off at Crypt Lake, you can go back to the trailhead. The trail is the same way you went the first time, but you can take a short detour to Hell Roaring Canyon if you have extra time.
Hell Roaring Canyon will show you Hell Roaring Falls. It’s on the first part of the trail on the 1 km mark (you’ll immediately see a sign on the way up), so you can still gauge your time and energy if you want to do this extra route.
Your hike back will take 8.6 km and approximately 3 to 3.5 hours (depending on your speed). The hike back down will be faster since you’ll be descending this time.
When is the best time to hike Crypt Lake Trail?
The best time to hike Crypt Lake is in the summer, from June to September. During these months, the weather is cooperative since you can avoid rain.
Keep in mind that the ferry only operates from May to October, which may still change due to the weather.
What to Do and See at Crypt Lake Hike
Admire the waterfalls
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You’ll actually come across 4 waterfalls during your hike on Crypt Lake Trail. The first is Hell Roaring Falls at the 1 km mark, which also requires a little detour from the main path.
The second is Twin Falls at the 3.5 km mark, the third is Burnt Rock Falls at 5.6 km (also where the rocky mountainside is), and the fourth is the 600 ft tall Crypt Falls.
All of these offer stunning and rewarding views. These spots are ideal rest stops as well if you need a quick breather from all the inclines and switchbacks.
Swim in Crypt Lake
Media credit: lucas9faria
Crypt Lake is the reward at the end of the trail. Taking a dip in the clear blue alpine bowl, complete with mountain views, is the perfect way to cool off after a few hours of a challenging hike.
The water is cold (even in the summer) but refreshing after hours of switchbacks, inclines, and rocky slopes. Bring a swimsuit if you want to prevent getting your undergarments wet and to avoid a cold walk back to the trailhead.
If you plan for an early hike, you can eat your lunch while admiring the lake views. But always check the time because you still need to head back to catch the ferry.
Who can hike Crypt Lake Trail?
Crypt Lake Hike is for moderate and experienced hikers. Older adults can do the hike, provided they are healthy and can handle the ascending trails, rocky sections, narrow tunnel, ladder climb, and elevation gains.
This is not a kid-friendly trail because of the steep slopes. It’s too dangerous for little ones to climb the narrow sections.
It is possible to bring your dog, but make sure they’re well-behaved, are comfortable with steep ledges, and are on a leash at all times (there are bear sightings in the area, by the way).
If you’re bringing your dog, you need to set up a plan for how you’ll climb the ladder with a four-legged companion. You can bring a backpack carrier to safely climb the ladder and take them on the narrow sections.
