Parking
Start at Crypt Landing, reached by a 15-minute boat from Waterton Marina. Hiking or biking in from Wishbone is about 14 km one way; that approach is outside the 3.3-mile loop. Confirm the seasonal shuttle schedule and return crossing.
Overview
About Hell Roaring Falls Trail
Why go
- A close waterfall and canyon view on a compact loop
Heads up
- A steep climb on the falls branch
- Access depends on seasonal boat service or a long Wishbone approach
Hell Roaring Falls Trail is a 3.3-mile loop from Crypt Landing. It follows the Crypt Lake path briefly, then climbs the steep, forested falls branch to a viewpoint before rejoining the main trail farther along. You get a close look at the waterfall and the steep canyon below, then return to the landing on a different stretch of trail. Pick this for a waterfall walk with a real climb; you don’t need to commit to the all-day Crypt Lake hike.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Waterton Lakes map
Full mapElevation1,277–1,529 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Waterton Lakes alerts
- CautionCrypt Lake Trail not recommendedMentions Crypt Lake Trail, referenced in this guideParks Canada does not recommend travel on the Crypt Lake Trail because there is no boat shuttle access and winter conditions are present. - The trail report lists this status as of October 12, 2026.Official details
- CautionWishbone Trail travel not recommendedMentions this trailParks Canada does not recommend travel on the Wishbone Trail between Vimy Junction and Wishbone/Crypt Landing because the trail is extremely overgrown and winter conditions are present.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Waterton Lakes Tour Guide
Your drive to Hell Roaring Falls Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Waterton Lakes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Waterton Lakes audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Waterton Marina and Peace Park Plaza0:00 / 0:33
“Waterton Marina and Peace Park Plaza are coming up, a good place for a short walk beside the lake. Follow the public seawall to the red chairs at Marina Point; allow fifteen to twenty minutes for a look around.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Waterton Lakes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Townsite Campground and Lakeshore
- Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre
- Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre
- Bertha Trailhead
- 51 audio storiesacross Waterton Lakes’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Black Bear, Elk, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 47 trails, 70 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Hell Roaring Falls Trail
The climb and the returnThe signed branch is the demanding part: it gains about 800 feet through forest before the…
The signed branch is the demanding part: it gains about 800 feet through forest before the falls and canyon come into view. Allow around two hours for the full loop. The route closes on the Crypt Lake Trail, so you don’t retrace the steep falls branch on your way back.
Getting to Crypt LandingA 15-minute boat crossing from Waterton Marina reaches Crypt Landing.
A 15-minute boat crossing from Waterton Marina reaches Crypt Landing. Check the seasonal schedule and make sure you have a return crossing before you start. A longer approach from the Wishbone Trail is about 14 km one way on foot or bike; that distance is not part of this loop. Dogs are allowed on park trails on leash and under control, but check posted trailhead notices for any restricted areas.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Waterton Lakes
83 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
563 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
146 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
113 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
55 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
53 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Waterton Lakes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
