The Crypt Lake Trail is one of the premium hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. From here the path returns to a stiff incline gaining about 1300 in 2 miles. The trail's southern end is just south of . Staying at the lake for an hour and a half and went cliff jumping, swimming and lunch. A boat service runs from Waterton Marina to Crypt Landing. If you make good time up to Crypt Lake, you can chill out and enjoy the day. So yes, theres a ladder on a cliff. Many thanks to Kris Robinson and Devin Paxman for showing me the way along this splendid hike! The first junction with Hell-Roaring Falls Trail comes a quarter mile from the start, breaking off to the right. Groups :) Hi. Awesome hike! I dont have many hikes on my bucket list, but Watertons Crypt Lake hike has always been one of them. The hike is a total of 17.2 kilometres (10.7mi) round trip, with a gradual 700-metre (2,300ft) elevation gain. There is an 11 mile hike up to Crypt Lake, with an elevation of 2130 feet. If you'd like to support our work check out our shop for unique prints and souvenirs or support us directly here. But unless you suffer from extreme vertigo, the Crypt Lake hike is actually a lovely day out a good trail, beautiful views and not nearly as hair-raising as some descriptions make out. Nearly there now! It takes approximately six hours round trip, but budget a bit longer if youre not a regular hiker. This trail isnt a loop so expect to pass others at the cave as everyone has a different pace and the narrow path makes it impossible to pass other hikers inside. The dude on the boat will have already told you to take the regular trail on the way up and the Hellroaring Falls trail on the way down. Super hike - be careful with the changing weather and a windy hike can make the nerves jangle towards the top when on the wire hand hold. There have been plenty of bear incidents here over the years. Hiked this trail the end of August. Beautiful views and scenery. Took the falls route on the way down it was steep and slightly overgrown in places. From there it is a 10.8-mile round trip hike to a sparkling turquoise lake cradled by horseshoe-shaped cliffs. Great hike in early October. But dont freak out, theres been bear incidents everywhere. For more information, please visit. This hike takes you through sections where there are endless drop-offs on both sides. Along the way, hikers can catch some glimpses of Waterton Lake down below before heading deep into the valley. If I had known better we would have been on the first cruise and been some of the first people on the trailhead. Boundary Bay from Waterton via Great Divide Trail, Carthew and Alderson Lakes via Great Divide Trail, Goat Haunt from Waterton via Great Divide Trail, Great Divide Trail: Waterton Alternate Route, Great Divide Trail Section A: International Boundary to Crowsnest Pass, Mount Richard Bennett via Bertha Lake Campground. Call Amador Ranger District at (209) 295-4251. At the end of the valley you traverse a steep, rocky section to get to the cliff and the ladder. We are fairly fit and we managed the trail well with some breaks and lots of water. After being dropped off at Crypt Landing, look for the signed trailhead on your right. Focus on the time on this hike, because if you miss the last ferry back to Waterton townsite from Crypt Landing, youll be spending the night huddled on the shoreline. We took a snack break around here and watched a marmot scale up the escarpment, all the while calling out to his buds. What the project encompasses: Burke Creek north of Kahle Ditch will be realigned with a new outlet into Lake . The Hellraising Falls detour is steeper and rockier than the regular trail, with a pretty view of the creek. Distance: 5.75 MilesTime: 6-9 HoursBest Time to Go: Year Round. A good challenging hike; narrow trail along wall face; climbing the ladder to get through a tunnel; then using the attached cable for the last difficult stretch, to get to the amazing lake. Boats depart starting at 8:30 AM in the summer and the pickup at Crypt Landing is at 4 PM and 5:30 PM. We were able to complete the trail around Crypt Lake and back down to Hell-Roaring Canyon in around three hours however, we ran many sections up and downhill. The Crypt Lake Hike was voted "Canada's Best Hike" in 1981. This is one of my favourites to date! Since 2004, there have been 6 deaths from falling off the side of the mountain on this trail. I hope youll follow Travels with Baggage on Pinterestwhile youre at it! As there is most certainly a traffic jam on the narrow trail if you time it wrong. To the left of the trail is Vimy Ridge, and to the right Mount Boswell dominates the view. Not far off, three mountain goats seem to watch us in amusement. You can see why the trail is rated moderate to difficult. After hiking to Crypt Lake, rehydrate with an adult beverage at the. The stars show our rating of the hikes, based on our opinion of the scenery and trail. Alternatively, theres a shuttle servicefrom Calgary and a few other locations, and aGreyhound bus station in Pincher Creek, 30 minutes away book a taxi in advance to get from the station to Waterton. Ferry service from the Waterton townsite brings hikers to the trail head twice in the morning and returns to pick them up, twice in the late afternoon (off of peak season [MayJune, Sept-Oct], ferry services only make 1 round trip per day.) He has a passion for all things in the Canadian Rockies and loves to spend his time snowboarding, scrambling, camping, biking, and trail running. The vast majority of hikes and easy scrambles in the Rockies, youll find us in our trusty Salomon Speedcross. The path continues to a small flat landing area with a metal ladder, bolted to the rock. Warning: Contents may shift during flight. We stop to soak it all in and take photos. The rocky trail gains elevation rapidly for the next 2.0 km as you climb above the falls to views of the striking Crypt Falls, that drops 152 m to the basin below. Very thankful he didnt get sprayed or fall down the cliff himself. To reach the trailhead, you must first take a 15-minute ferry across Upper Waterton Lake. It was an amazing but challenging trail. The Crypt Lake Trail is one of the premium hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.It is accessed by a dedicated ferry service operating from the Waterton Park Townsite.. Its incredibly light, and we bring it on almost every hike in the Rockies. Check here for updates. Crypt Lake is surrounded by an impressive mountain wall that juts south enough to break past the 49th parallel - one of the most important reasons to come to this trail. Dont let the pictures fool you the edges you walk on before the cave are wider than they appear. But thats not necessarily a bad thing. The World Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage while participating in an activity. This section of the hike involves a scramble along a sheer cliff, with the assistance of a steel cable. Booking & other information on camping in Waterton Lakes National Park. The one comfort is that there is a safety wire running along the path that can be clipped into. However, those with a fear of heights may struggle at this point and are advised to turn back. She had an adult, lifelong struggle with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress and multiple, repeated surgeries.. Its do-able if youre not a regular hiker, but it is challenging. Other large mammal species that call the Crypt Valley home include bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat, mule deer and white-tailed deer. Your email address will not be published. He headed into the tunnel but came back out our way. The journey down the Crypt Lake trail follows the same route unless you plan to make the detour to Hell-Roaring Canyon. Beautiful animals :) Her grade school report card said Joanne asks a lot of questions. And its an incredibly picturesque route, passing by several waterfalls as you make your way into the alpine. This is also where you can meet one another when you need adventure buddies. You need a permit to enter Waterton Lakes National Park. Which one will it be? At around the 5km mark, the journey up to Crypt Lake begins with several switchbacks and winding terrain that continues deeper into the mountains. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton. Temporary disruptions to parking areas, trails, bike paths and beach access may occur. Once through, the path continues along a very narrow precipice that youll need to negotiate with care. The hike back to the boat launch is all downhill so we easily reach the dock in time, passing deer and elk along the way. This section is increasingly beautiful as it . Anyone who knows us knows that we have a fear of heights. Sort by: Show more photos. We are ATLiens who explore a new city every year. Be aware that this is an alpine area, so even in summer you must be prepared for sudden changes in weather. 4, Alberta. You start with a boat ride across Upper Waterton Lake, then hike by four gorgeous waterfalls, climb a steel ladder, crawl through a narrow tunnel for nearly 100 feet, and walk directly above a harrowing cliff as you hold on to a steel cable. Most of us take the 10 minute boat ride across Upper Waterton Lake with the Shoreline Cruise company over to Crypt Landing. On the upside, 150+ people tramping through the forest means youre unlikely to surprise any bears. We ended up jumping in in our underwear. This is a gorgeous sight and the beginning of the beauty that this trail really holds. Distance: 16 MilesTime: All DayBest Time to Go: April to October. From there it is a 10.8-mile round trip hike to a sparkling turquoise lake cradled by horseshoe-shaped cliffs. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Its a well travelled trail, but theres still plenty of wildlife so be bear-aware! Hi. After doing the hike, its one of the scariest hikes in the world in my book. Great trail. Doing so will add an extra 45 minutes to your trek. I didnt understand why this hike always seemed to make those top hikes in Canada lists, but I did know every time I took the Waterton Shoreline Cruise, Id be envious of those hikers getting off at Crypt landing. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 26 min to complete. Experience a 600 foot cascading waterfall, natural tunnel and cliff traverse. Crypt Falls, a stunning, 600 ft single shoot wedged between Vimy Ridge and Mount Boswell is your reward after all that exciting work. Whether it be buying a coffee or (even better) purchasing a unique print for your home from The Banff Print Shop all purchases help with the upkeep of this site that is updated daily. And a tunnel through the cliff. There are just two noteworthy junctions along the trail, both with Hell-Roaring Falls Trail. The average time for the journey up to Crypt Lake is three hours plus or minus a half hour. Anyone that has spent time in the wilderness or mountains can speak to the fact your temperature can fluctuate a lot on a hike. After some refreshment and water refills, return the way you came. Photos (2,527) Directions. This time of year with the ferry only running at 9am and 5pm, there was ample time, so I spent 1.5 hours at the lake - got chilly sitting and with sun behind clouds. The Crypt Lake hike is one of the most unique backcountry experiences you'll ever have, and it lies just across the Canadian border in Waterton Lakes National Park. Cable section was not to bad, just go slow and take your time. I wouldn't rate it hard, more of a moderate hike. Required fields are marked *, Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. We hate the idea that fear can hold us back from a good adventure, so weve been pushing ourselves to conquer chip away at those fears. Portions of the trail have you facing a rocky ocean below as you edge along a 300-foot cliff. As we climb steadily up the sun drenched slope, the vistas get better and better. Hopefully, this helped you plan your Crypt Lake hike day. A funeral was scheduled this week in Calgary, to be followed by a memorial service in Nelson. Print/PDF Map. For nearly 30 metres (100ft), hikers crawl through a natural mountain tunnel before arriving at the cable transverse. Met a younger black bear right before the tunnel heading back to the ferry dock. My advice is to take the earliest trip, to allow the most time for the hike. She did everything she could to turn her pain into something positive, he said. Youll find Rockies camp mugs, totes, phone cases and more! One of the best hikes so far. A mother of four, she moved her family to Nelson in 1993. Are there any fears you are trying to overcome? This section of the trail follows a narrow ledge on a cliff, with a sheer drop to certain. Perfect conditions. Waterton is known as a windy place and it gets more intense the higher the altitude. Most hikers take a 15-minute boat ride across Upper Waterton Lake to access the trailhead. So its 10km up to Crypt Lake and 10km back down for a total of 20km? The sun is warm on our backs. This hike was absolutely amazing! A buff or ear mask. I brought poles but didnt use them, Amazing trail clear of snow, there was a black bear at the lake. Here the trail crosses a small ledge around a meter wide that is situated over a cliff. You can also take a spur trail to Hell Roaring Falls near the beginning of the hike. Take your time with the wire rope on the mountain ledge and youll be just fine. To start the Crypt Lake Trail, youll need to head to the Shoreline Cruise companys booth at the Waterton Marina. Use both hands and watch your footing; its perfectly safe. It was while attempting to work through that depression that she wrote The Bears Embrace, published in Canada, the United States and Europe. All support is much appreciated! My 14 year old daughter was able to make it, if youre worried about the cave and ledge section, its very short, and she did it no problem! Beautiful trail!! Our aim is to help you get the most out of your trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. 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