Did you know what Waterton has a triple crown? It’s an unofficial mountain challenge where you complete three famous mountains in a single summer. The mountains are Crypt Lake, Carthew-Alderson and Akamina Ridge.
Crypt Lake – 17 km return, 700-metre gain
Crypt Lake is the most “famous” of the three in the Waterton Triple Crown. Enjoy a boat ride, a tunnel, a traverse with metal chains to reach the famous lake.
Carthew-Alderson – 20 km one way, 700 metre gain
A point‑to‑point ridge walk from Cameron Lake to Waterton townsite. Hire a shuttle from a local gear shop if you do not have two vehicles. This is a pure mountain adventure.
Akamina Ridge – 20 km, 1,400 metre gain
Unknowingly, I saved the best in the Waterton Triple Crown for last. The glorious ridge is wide, runnable and very windy. It’s deceptively long, and the wind made it feel even longer. The route crosses into British Columbia and passes Forum Lake and Wall Lake. Most of the elevation gain comes from reaching the ridge then it’s just some small climbs along the spine.
I set out early on a Sunday morning where I found the trail relatively quiet. I didn’t see many people until I reached Forum Lake, where I chatted briefly with a couple who were also doing the lollipop loop. They said the route was straightforward, and confirmed that I was comfortable with minor scrambling.
Just before the scramble to the ridge, I came across a young group who were blaring music, and dressed for the beach. We exchanged greetings then I scrambled over and around a small rock band. It wasn’t too technical, just messy. Cairns showed a clear path up the proper ridge.
Once I popped out above the rock band, I was finally on the ridge. The wind hit me like a brick so I pulled on my wind jacket. The views were incredible despite the smoke. I could see Wall Lake on B.C. side and Forum Lake on the Alberta side.
The ridge is wide enough to run comfortably without feeling exposed. The terrain is a mix of loose shale, dirt ledges and flats. The trail follows the ridge spine with multiple false summits. I stayed mainly in the middle of the trail after taking out my poles for leverage because I felt like I was going to be blown off the ridge.
The constant wind was my story of the day. It’s probably like that all the time but I absolutely loved this ridge. It was super cool to look back at the distance I had travelled.
Leaving the ridge, I ran down a forest section to Wall Lake. There were a lot of down trees so that wasn’t fun. Then I regained the trail back to the parking lot.
Akamina tried to blow me off the mountain, but it ended up being my favourite of the Waterton Triple Crown. It was wild, windy, and unforgettable.
What’s the windiest run/hike you have ever done? What’s your favourite of the triple crown in Waterton? Please talk to me in the comments below.