Holiday Cycling Adventures

One of the premium hiking trails in the Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, the 8-hour-return Crypt Lake trail is accessed by a dedicated ferry service operating from the Waterton Park Townsite.

The first part of the trail offers the choice of two alternate routes for ascent and return running through forest, the longer of which passes the impressive Hell Roaring Falls. After that the trail becomes an open walk through a valley crossing small mountain streams and leading up to the spectacular views of Crypt Falls. The cascading Crypt Falls are over 150m high and are fed by Crypt Lake in the hanging valley above the falls. The last part of the trail is the ascent to Crypt Lake. This part is more challenging; in parts the walk runs at the edge of steep drops, secured by cable and also involves crawling through a narrow, but short, tunnel. Finally the trail reaches the shores of Crypt Lake through a small forest.

Crypt Lake is a pristine alpine lake occupying a amphitheatre-like valley. The panoramic picture above was taken at the other side of Crypt Lake of where the trail ends.

2005 - Crypt Lake - Waterton Lakes National Park