Looking west from South Baldy, Kananskis Country

Looking west from South Baldy, Kananskis Country

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Crypt Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

Crypt Falls and beargrassThis hike is probably the most famous in the Waterton Lakes park, featuring a lake crossing, several waterfalls, a ford, a tunnel and exposed wire traverse. Swimming in Crypt Lake is optional! It gets busy in a limited way: the first stage of the trip is to pay the ferryman. That limits numbers on the trail to however many hikers fit on the boat from Waterton Townsite.

Once on the shore, people string out along the trail gradually. To avoid this, take the right-hand fork after a few hundred metres and approach Crypt Lake Trail via Hell Roaring Falls instead. I think this is a nicer way of doing things anyway, as Hell Roaring is nowhere near as spectacular as the Crypt Falls, so this way you avoid an anticlimax. Appearing in this album: Jeroen, Joe, Lou, Nikki, Tristan and Vicki.

Lou Burdett in the tunnel section

Incidentally, Crypt Falls goes at about WI4 in winter....if you can get there. For a taste of winter...go for a dip! I have never swum in such cold water.


Joe swimming in Crypt Lake, July 2008









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