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Crypt Lake Trail
Crypt Lake Trail
5
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles287 reviews
Excellent
239
Very good
37
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
0

MarkusLeanne
Edmonton, Canada37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I had the pleasure of hiking up to Crypt Lake this past weekend (Aug. 21, 2005). This hike has been described as one of the best, if not the best, hike in all of Canada, and I can assure you that those reviews are correct.

From a scenery perspective, it will take your breath away!!! Through mixed and coniferous forests, along mountain streams, past several spectacular waterfalls, across exposed rocks, and finally into the "bowl" that contains Crypt Lake, you will see some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Rocky Mountains. The 8.5 km hike (one way), with an elevational gain of about 650 m (about 710 yards), is strenuous, but very rewarding. Details about this beauty are in all hiking guides and you can read more about them there. No need to reiterate them here.

However, there is something that is quite inadequately described in almost all hiking guides. If you have the slightest fear of heights or are claustrophobic, DO NOT GO ON THIS HIKE. Just below Crypt Lake, you will have to cross a talus field, where the path is about 30 cm wide (about 1 foot) at its widest. At the end of this path section, you will need to climb up a 2 m tall iron ladder (about 7 feet), stretch considerably to access a 30 m (about 30 yards) narrow tunnel, manage to climb down a 1 m ledge at the end of the tunnel, and then traverse a VERY exposed rock face, where the "path" is about 20 cm wide (8 inches), and all that prevents you from falling about 1000 feet to your death is a cable attached to the upslope rock face. This cable "guides" you across the rock face for about 50 m (about 54 yards), before the regular trail continues. These 50 m will be the most terrifying 50 m you will ever walk in your life time!!! Especially if you are afraid of heights. Make no mistake, one false step, and you're dead! The dangers along the distance from the beginning of the talus field until the end of the cable, perhaps 150 m total distance (about 160 yards), are woefully inadequately described and are terrifying. If you still want to go on this hike, I highly recommend you bring along a rock climbing harness and physically attach yourself with carabiners to the cable as you traverse that last rock face. It is terrifying!
Written August 23, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sarahandniall
Alberta5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011 • Friends
I feel a strong need to write a review since I feel that some of the past reviews are misleading. In fact, they caused us to almost give Crypt Lake a miss. When I told my friend who had hiked the trail a few years ago about the reviews, she said the following "we went on this hike as a pre-wedding event, about 15 of us ranging in age from 20-something to over 60. I don't like heights or putting my life in danger and at no point during that hike did I feel in danger. Do the hike, you won't regret it"
So with that advice, myself and my two friends agreed to give it a try with the clause that if we felt scared we would turn back. It was a beautiful day for it, lots of people on the boat, lots of overdressed/overgeared people in fact. It was a bit intimidating to be surrounded by people in hiking boots with huge packs and poles. We were in running shoes with 2liters of water and lunch and a light sweater. 99% of this hike is NOT scary. I find the word terrifying to be misused. I do not like heights, not even a little bit. I can't stand on glass floors and I keep my eyes closed on roller coasters the entire time (if i'm even convinced to get on one) And the pictures that are out there are also misleading (not in a malicious way, just in a 'its really not bad at all but it looks crazy' kind of way). The trail to the cave looks ominious when you see it for the first time from below. But when walking on that trail, there is absolutely NO shear drop, there is a gentle slope downwards and I did not feel scared in the slightest. The ladder isn't scary either as if you feel you'd just fall to the bottom of the ladder, not to your death. It's a bit of a climb from the ladder to the cave but if you use all the rungs and the great ledges and hand holds it's no problem. The 1% of this hike (approx 5min) that IS scary is the boulder climb. But it's not so scary that you shouldn't do it. It is on the side of the mountain but there is lots of room, easily two people could fit shoulder to shoulder on the rocks. And there's a cable. Take a deep breath, hold on to the cable and take one step at a time. Once you're through its an easy stroll to one of the most pristine lakes' i've ever been fortunate to experience. Coming back down the boulders is definitely worse than going up, but it's just a mind game. There were people with babies and even children on their backs, dogs, seniors, not a single person turned back. We all did it. And my group did it in running shoes. There were a couple bear sightings so I do recommend bear spray but certainly if you haven't broken in your hiking boots do NOT wear them on this long hike. We passed so many limping, distressed people with crazy blisters. All in all, like I said, this is one of the best things I have ever done. I loved it, I highly recommend it. Do the hike, you won't regret it!
Written August 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

april b
Maple Creek, Canada19 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Family
We did this hike in September 2016 ... The overal hike was not hard for the kids but I wouldn't recommend the climb to the lake..many people I talked to said they took their kids on that hike.. That must have been years ago...there is a very narrow ledge leading to the cave that is not often wide enough for your feet and no hand holds. It would be a very terrible fall from there... The cave is really cool...but on the other side is the ledge where you need to hold a cable or you could fall off the ledge with a 1000 ft drop..we did the hike with my 9 and 11 year old ..often my 9 year old could not reach the cable..the ledges again are very narrow. I think because they are sandstone they are deteriorating.

When I talked to anyone at the park office or around Town they said ..." Well no one has died Yet on that hike" I feel it is only luck and a matter of time.

I feel no kids should do this hike that are not old enough to to sign the consent themselves... I still have nightmares of my kids on that ledge ... If one have them had fallen off that ledge...never again...

I think the Rangers and people selling tickets for this hike need to do the hike again.. Updates to safety need to be done...especially if recommended for kids..sorry thrill seekers, but I wish I would have known.
Written December 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Camping_Girl
Calgary, Canada2,943 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My husband and I made the Crypt Lake Hike 12 years ago - at the time I was three months pregnant with our first child. This was back when you could still camp at the top near Crypt Lake. We camped out there and so I also had to carry a 20 pound pack with me. I can assure you - if I could manage this hike in my condition - ANYONE!!! can do it. Yes, it is exhilerating in its beauty. Twelve years later I still have awesome memories of the most beautiful place I have ever, ever seen.

There IS danger inherent anytime you step into the wilderness - we met up with bears on two different occasions. The idea here is that you need to be prepared in advance before you undertake a five and a half mile hike with a 2200 foot elevation rise. Any park employee can tell you about the difficulties that go with this hike, all you have to do is ask them. They can also tell you how many people have fallen to their death while making this trip - to my knowledge the number is zero. The person who wrote the other review about this hike was obviously ill-prepared for it and probably never should have been out there in the first place.

Don't let one person's idea dissuade you from this hike if you are considering it. I can tell you from personal experience - the feeling you'll get when you reach the lake will stay with you for a lifetime. Just do your homework before you leave.

I have spent a great deal of time in Waterton and have done most of the hikes there. I have not had a bad experience yet.

Written September 21, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IllyCoffeeDrinkers
Flagstaff, AZ1,108 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Couples
This is definitely one of the most beautiful, strenuous and challenging hikes in Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks. We strongly suggest that everyone in your party take a close look at all of the great TripAdvisor member photos before he or she signs up for the challenge. The photos will let everyone know what they are getting in to and should be particularly helpful for folks who are afraid of heights, supporting themselves with a cable or small spaces. We have hiked all over the United States and judging from the other reviews, we think some folks who turned back in the past may have never written a review. On our June hike, one couple in their 60’s definitely turned back near the cave. The journey offers many truly unique sights along an approximately 5.5 mile trail to Crypt Lake. The out-and-back trail is well maintained, allows dogs (again look at the photos to see if your pup can make it), gains approximately 2,100 feet and contains numerous switchbacks in and out of the sun. The lush forest, nearby clear creek, open vistas and numerous water falls, along with the lake itself, are all worth the effort. We definitely recommend sturdy hiking shoes and extra water. On our hike we saw many hikers of various ages and just about everyone seemed to be having a good time. We have attached ten of our photos to also help give folks a good idea of what they might expect on this trail and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

If you found this review helpful and/or our photos, we hope you will click the “helpful” button; those of us who write reviews really appreciate the feedback and it motivates us to write more. Thank you.
Written July 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

deseret
Calgary, Alberta57 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2011 • Couples
Like most hikers in southern Alberta, Crypt Lake was on my list. There is no question that this is a beautiful hike.... but it is not for everyone. You need to be fit and you should be wearing proper hiking boots. In the early seaon, June, icers and hiking poles are necessary (for the hardpacked snow on steep trails that haven't melted yet). There are several outstanding waterfalls along the route, an attached ladder giving you access to a 60 foot tunnel that you crouch through, and a section that is quite airy but made more secure with a cable attached to hold onto. If you have problems with heights, don't do this hike. It passes through forest and a substantial section of the trail is open on rock, which can get quite hot in the summer (wear a hat and sunscreen). Now the facts:
15 minute boat ride to trailhead
$20/adult & $10/child
Boats leave in June at 10 am and pick-up is at 5:30 pm (don't be late)
In July / August boats leave Waterton at 9 am and 10 am / pick-up at 4 pm and 5:30 pm
Trail is 17.2 km or 10.6 miles return / 700 m or 2,300 feet elevation gain/loss
Time on trail - 6 to 8 hours

Downside, as noted in "Don't Waste Your Time in the Rockies" this hike is very crowded.

Each boat carries approx 100 people... all starting the hike at the same time. Then the second boat arrives with another 100 people... It's a long hike but it is still a lot of people. As long as you know that and are fine with that... no problem.

My personal reason for giving this hike 4 instead of 5 stars... outhouses. There is only one outhouse by the docks and one outhouse by Crypt Lake. When my husband and I were there, he checked out the outhouse by Crypt Lake and didn't want me to even go near it... it was nasty. Luckily, I always have my hiking toiletry kit with me (some rolled up toilet paper, a few small zippy bags to pack out used toilet paper, and hand sanitizer). We found a place away from the crowds, my husband stood guard, and I heeded the call of nature. The outhouse by the dock was not much better. Now you know, the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Written May 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

smariel
Coppell, TX201 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We just got back from a week in Waterton & Glacier Parks. We started off with the Crypt Lake hike in Waterton. You begin with about a 15 minute boat ride across the lake to the trailhead for Crypt. The overall hike is a 2200 ft elevation gain so I only recommend it to moderate hikers, it is NOT a hike for children! You do pass through woods, 4 waterfalls and very rocky areas. This hike does involve a series of steep switchbacks that on a sunny day is quite hot with the sun reflecting off the rocks. There are numerous areas of the trail that have steep drop offs on one side, rocky areas and also loose rocky areas that you can easily slide on so wear proper hiking footwear. Towards the top of the trail you will reach a metal ladder that you must climb up (one of the most challenging things is stepping up and off this ladder as well as navigating stepping down onto it on the return hike). You then crawl through a narrow tunnel about 60 feet long. On the other side, you use a cable attached to a wall to traverse a narrow and very steep, rocky area of the trail. The park had received additional snow at the higher elevations the week before we arrived so there were a few areas of snow to hike through towards the top near the lake. The lake is pretty, had ice still floating in it at one end. On the return hike, I don't recommend taking the alternate Roaring Falls path that you can veer off onto towards the bottom of the hike. It's posted at 1km but I believe that is the distance only to the 'roaring falls' area, it didn't include the walk along the roaring falls and also the path to reconnect with the original trail, it ended up being about 4km in total and we ended up missing the boat by 5 minutes. It is an extremely STEEP and very rocky rugged side trail. I slide numerous times even with good hiking shoes. The view of the roaring falls are not that good and actually not impressive at all. SKIP THIS ALTERNATE HIKE!!! You will be exhausted enough after the previous hike up and return anyway. Crypt Lake overall is a pretty hike but after a week in Glacier, I would choose Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier over Crypt.
Written August 2, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

justine b
La Roche-sur-Foron, France14 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Friends
First of all,
I want to express my shame on the Waterton information centre. I am gonna be rush but they really deserve it.
Our situation was: we heard so many good things about the crypt lake trail, and were very excited to try it. We went to Waterton on the 1st and 2nd of October. We saw there was some snow on the mountains hence we went to the info center to ask them about the trails.
That s what they told us: oh no problem you can do the crypt lake trail, there is a bit of snow at the top, but just make sure you re well covered and stay warm!!
Hence we decided to do the hike anyway even though I heard there was some scary part. I assumed that if the info center tells you can go, you can!

As we were getting close from the end of the trail, there was way more snow than what we expected (they told us about 15 centimetres near the top), there was at least 30cm. Then comes the issue when we got to the supposed scary part, and at that moment I understood, what people meant by scary.
I was trying to imagine how it could look like in summer, probably dangerous but still possible. However right now, with all that snow it was VERY dangerous, everything was icy, there was no trail anymore, one wrong step and you would fell and die for sure!!!!! Obviously we decided to stop just after the little tunnel and turn back as things were getting stupidly dangerous.

My friends and I are very fond of hiking, we ve been doing lots of scramble together so it s not as we don t know about what we re talking about.

PLEASE anybody that would like to try the crypt lake hike, try it in SUMMER, without any snow!!! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, and I would not like anybody to die over there, because they had the WRONG info from a place that should give the RIGHT info! it s really a shame from park Canada to hire persons that absolutely don t care about their job and the safety of people. I really would like to send them a comment about that situation but I don t really know how I could do that.

Otherwise for the most part we ve seen ...this is definitely not the best hike of the rockies, there is way better than that! there is nothing special except the ferry ride that is horribly expensive (21 dollars return) and a very dangerous part that don t even worst the try...
It s very average...Akamina Ridge in the same park, is terrific compared to that one !!
Written October 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

niffer1
Calgary23 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
This is a great trail to try for moderately fit hikers. The trail has some fairly steep switchbacks and some talus slopes that can be tricky if you are not wearing the proper footwear. I wouldn't recommend young children to go on the hike, as it can be pretty strenuous in the steep sections. As for the other review that stated that this hike is 'terrifying'...well, I would NOT agree. The talus slope up to the cave tunnel is about 2-3 feet wide across and not difficult to walk on. The cave tunnel is fairly small, but is extremely short in length and you are out of it in just a minute. The next section is probably the most 'scary'...climbing up, as it is narrow, but there is a chain to hold on to which makes it easier. I found that the way down was a bit more scary, as you are looking down the cliff and can get a bit psyched out. I have to say that I read about how rewarding the lake was going to be at the end, and I was looking forward to it...however the lake itself was not anything too special. It was pretty, but not spectacular. There was a great view of the waterfall from the top though.

Overall, I would recommend this hike for the amazing views, waterfalls, and great workout. If you are scared of heights, don't be too worried...it's not that scary!
Written July 27, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen T
Fernie, Canada114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Couples
This is the prettiest hike I have ever been on.

In the morning, board the Waterton to Crypt Lake ferry alongside 30+ of your fellow hikers to reach the trail head. The ferry ride is only about 15 minutes long.

Once there, you have the option of choosing two routes at the first fork. The detour to the right takes an additional 30 minutes but you get an extra waterfall. You can also take the detour on the way back.

Overall, the trail is broken up into three segments:

A) Boat launch through lush forested trails: this part of the trail is super easy. Just a long stroll through the forest. There are beautiful wild flowers and big trees all around.

B) Switchbacks to Tunnel: there's about an hour+ of switchbacks. The slope is gentle and not overly challenging. You will see beautiful waterfalls. At the end, you reach a really cool ladder and tunnel that you crouch through.

C) The Sketchy Part to the Lake: this final 20 minute segment is the hardest for most people. There is a cable along a rock wall that guides you. Although not physically challenging, many who have fear of heights may find this part somewhat terrifying. The cable area takes only 3 minutes to cross, so if you can focus on the rock and cable and walk through, you'll be fine.

The lake offers a lot of nice spots for a lunch picnic. It's very beautiful. There is snow there even in June.

As you take in the scenery of one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, just remember to leave enough time to catch the return ferry heading back to Waterton.
Written June 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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