Backpacking trip to the Rockwall of Kootenay National Park

We will meet in our classroom in Canmore at 7:00 am for introductions, trip review, and equipment issue/check. After packing up, it’s an hour drive north to the Paint Pots parking lot where we begin our hike.

The famous Paint Pots is a source of red ochre clay, used for body paint by the indigenous people. Following Ochre then Helmet Creek, a gradually ascending trail leads us through mature forests of spruce and fir which opens up as we arrive at the campsite.  Here we find ourselves at the base of a spectacular cirque dominated by one of the largest waterfalls in the Rockies, the 352m high Helmet Falls. Looking carefully, we may spot mountain goats grazing the precipitous slopes that rim the cirque. Distance, 14.6km. Elevation gain 624m.

Get ready for a heady dose of beautiful alpine scenery! Today the trail takes us to the base of Limestone Peak and the northern end of the ‘Rockwall’, our point of reference for the remainder of the trip. Before us lies a huge area of meadows that follow the Rockwall south. A five-minute side trip takes us to Wolverine Pass, a giant cleft in the Rockwall. From here we look over the Beaverfoot Valley to the spectacular spires of the Bugaboos some 70 kilometers away to the west. After this, we drop a short distance into the head of Tumbling Creek and our camp. Distance 12.4km. Elevation gain 700m., loss 560m.

Today is relatively easy involving a scenic climb to Tumbling Pass with the Tumbling Glacier not far to the side. Tumbling Pass is a narrow cleft and the meadows are dotted with larches that seem to be designed for our aesthetic pleasure. From the pass, we have the chance to do some ridge walking to enlarge the already marvelous vistas. Then it’s a long descent into Numa Creek where we camp once more. Distance 7.1km. Elevation gained 330m, loss 715m.

Today’s objective is Floe Lake, one of the most beautiful spots in the Rockies and a highlight of this trip. We reach it via Numa Pass, the highest point on the trail. Here, we are surrounded by high peaks whilst meadows and forests drop into the valleys below. Amazingly the view gets better as we descend, for below us appears Floe Lake, its blue waters speckled with ice that fell from the glacier above. The hard work is behind us now as we settle into this spectacular lakeside camp. Distance 10.2km. Elevation gain 860m, loss 315m.

In the summer of 2003, the valley below the campsite was burnt out in a large forest fire. This provides us with the unique opportunity to hike in a forest in its regenerative phase. We descend for 10km through the burnt forest to the Radium Highway, surrounded by flowering perennials taking advantage of the extra sunlight. Hiking in this valley we come to understand how fire is a positive force of regeneration! Transportation is awaiting us at the trailhead, and we head back to Canmore! Distance 10.7km. Elevation gain 308m, 1000m loss.