Hike Alberta
Upper Waterton LakeCrypt Lake 1 km N
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Crypt Lake Trail

Near Waterton Park · Waterton Lakes National Park

Hard · Out and back

Crypt Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park
Crypt Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park. Photo by R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 59 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Upper Waterton LakeCrypt Lake 2 km Open the map

About this trail

Crypt Lake Trail is a 17.7 km out and back trail near Waterton Park in Waterton Lakes National Park. It runs 8.8 km each way. The route gains 856 m in total and tops out at 1,955 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 6 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets Hell Roaring Falls Trail at 0.4 km, and passes three other mapped junctions. Between 8.3 km and 8.8 km a 1.2 km T3 alternative with the same name runs beside the route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Upper Waterton Lake and Crypt Lake and Natural Tunnel. Much of the route follows Hell Roaring Creek. Some sections are steep, rough or exposed. Nearly all of it is mapped as T3 demanding mountain hiking.

Length
17.7km
8.8 km each way
Elevation gain
856m
Estimated time
6h45min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,955m
Lowest point
1,290m

Elevation profile

1,290 m to 1,955 m
1,9541,290 0 km8.8 km

Highest point 1,955 m, lowest 1,290 m, 856 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 30% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.0 kmUpper Waterton LakeLake
  2. 7.7 kmNatural TunnelLandmark
  3. 8.2 kmCrypt LakeLake

Good for

  • Hiking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, River or creek

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 49.0311° N, 113.8942° W.

Driving directions

Waterton Lakes National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy Discovery Pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 63 trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30