Hikers Share Recent Trail Adventures
Ashley Resch recapped her year's Alberta hiking totals: 203km across 36 outings with 10k+ elevation gain, highlighting recent trails like Crypt Lake (18km longest) and Smutwood Peak (5.5 hours). Indie described discovering a steep 4.5-mile loop with significant elevation near her home, planning frequent camping visits once her car is repaired.
- The Crypt Lake Trail is renowned for its unique features, including a 15-minute boat ride across Upper Waterton Lake to the trailhead, a 60-foot tunnel through a mountain, and a section where hikers navigate a cliffside with the aid of a steel cable. - Rated as one of the world's most thrilling trails by National Geographic, the Crypt Lake hike passes four distinct waterfalls: Hell Roaring Falls, Twin Falls, Burnt Rock Falls, and the 600-foot tall Crypt Falls. - Smutwood Peak is an unofficial trail in Kananaskis Country, meaning it is not maintained by Alberta Parks; this is partly due to high grizzly bear activity in the area. Hikers should be experienced, carry bear spray, and are recommended to travel in a tight group of at least four. - The hike to Smutwood Peak should not be confused with the much more difficult and dangerous scramble up the adjacent Mount Smuts, which has been the site of multiple fatalities and requires technical climbing skills. - For a 4.5-mile (approximately 7.2 km) trail, an elevation gain of 700 to 1000 feet per mile would be considered difficult to challenging. A significant gain on a loop of this distance would likely fall into the upper end of the "moderate" category or higher, representing a substantial physical challenge. - Many trails in Alberta's Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park have seasonal closures and advisories to protect wildlife, such as elk and grizzly bears, during critical times of the year. Hikers are advised to check official sources like Alberta Parks for the latest trail conditions, which can include snow, ice, and downed trees, even outside of the winter months.
