The short answer
Yes. Crypt Lake is worth doing if you are comfortable with a long day hike and some exposure. The distance and uphill sections were harder than the famous ladder, tunnel and cable section. Those features were actually some of the most entertaining parts of the hike.
The scenery changes throughout the day, with waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain views and the bright blue lake at the end. It felt like a full experience rather than a long walk to one viewpoint.
Getting to the trailhead
The day starts with a boat from Waterton town to Crypt Landing. We went on a Tuesday in late July and took the 8:30 a.m. boat. We bought our tickets around 8:10 and it looked like the boat filled shortly after that. That worked for us on a weekday, but we would not plan on cutting it that close, especially on a weekend.
Pat's is right near the dock and was convenient for coffee, bear spray and last-minute hiking supplies. The boat ride is only about 15 minutes and is a beautiful start to the day.
For the 2026 summer schedule, the hiker shuttle leaves Waterton Marina at 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. from June 20 through September 7. Tickets are first come, first served, can be purchased up to three days ahead, and cost C$35 for ages 3 and older before GST.
Getting away from the crowd
One downside to the boat is that everyone starts hiking at almost exactly the same time. The beginning of the trail felt crowded.
We took the Hell Roaring Falls route first, partly because we wanted a little solitude. It worked. The trail was more rugged and less maintained than the main Crypt Lake trail, but it was not difficult to follow. It also added mileage, bringing our day closer to 11.5 to 12 miles instead of the official 10.6-mile standard route.
Late July was a great time for wildflowers, and this section was particularly pretty.
How hard is Crypt Lake?
Parks Canada rates Crypt Lake as difficult and lists 2,214 feet of elevation gain. We definitely felt the sustained uphill, but the elevation itself did not bother us much. For us, the difficulty came from combining a long distance with some serious uphill sections. It is a challenging day, but it is not especially technical.
Are the ladder, tunnel and cable scary?
Honestly, not really. These were the parts we had heard about before doing Crypt Lake, and they ended up being more fun than frightening.
The ladder is basically a normal ladder. At the top, you step over it and into the tunnel. The tunnel was not as small as we expected. We had to bend down, but getting through it was not difficult.
The cable section was also easier than expected on the way to the lake. Coming back was a little more awkward because hikers were going in both directions and there is not much room to pass. We got behind a woman who was nervous about the exposure, and it became clear that this section works much better when people take turns going one direction at a time.
If you are very afraid of heights, you may feel differently. But if you are reasonably comfortable with heights and hold onto the cable, we would not let this section stop you from doing the hike.
The waterfalls and the climb
One reason the hike stays interesting is that there is plenty to see before you reach Crypt Lake. The route passes several waterfalls, and the waterfall scenery in the middle of the ascent was one of our favorite parts of the day.
Crypt Lake
The lake is a vivid blue and surrounded by steep mountain walls. You can continue around the shoreline, and we saw people swimming from the far side.
We walked farther around the lake, but we would not bother doing the full perimeter again. Parts of the trail became skinny and steep above the water and felt a little dicey. Reaching the lake is the payoff. We would rather find a good spot, eat lunch and enjoy it before heading back.
A fun border surprise
If you continue to the far side of Crypt Lake, you can briefly cross from Canada into the United States. It is a fun novelty to step across the international boundary during a Canadian hike and then turn back. Check current Parks Canada and U.S. border guidance before deliberately planning any cross-border hiking route.
Can you fish at Crypt Lake?
We saw people fishing at the lake. Fishing is allowed at Crypt Lake during its open season, but Waterton is a Canadian national park, so an Alberta fishing licence is not enough. Parks Canada requires a national park fishing permit as well as self-certification for fishing gear. Crypt Lake's 2026 fishing season runs July 1 through October 31, subject to current closures and regulations.
The return boat is the logistical challenge
The return boat was the part we found hardest to time. During the main summer season, boats pick hikers up at Crypt Landing at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. You do not necessarily want to rush the hike just to make the earlier boat, but missing it can mean a long wait.
Return seating is officially first come, first served. In practice, the line felt disorganized and there was no obvious system for identifying who had arrived first. It was not a problem the day we went because everyone waiting made it onto the boat, but we could see this becoming stressful on a busier day.
We would give ourselves a cushion before the return boat rather than trying to time the hike down to the minute.
What we would do differently
We would take the Hell Roaring Falls route again because we liked the quieter and slightly more rugged start. We would also buy the morning boat ticket earlier instead of relying on getting one shortly before departure.
At Crypt Lake itself, we would skip trying to walk all the way around. The extra shoreline section did not add enough to justify the narrow, steep trail. We would spend that time relaxing at the lake instead.
Our verdict
Crypt Lake is a long hike with enough climbing to make it feel like a real day out, but the famous ladder, tunnel and cable should not scare off most hikers. The unusual trail features, waterfalls, wildflowers and blue alpine lake make the mileage worthwhile.
For active travelers visiting Waterton, this is one of the experiences we would build the trip around.