Goodsir Pass Side Trip

The starting point is Helmet Falls backcountry campground, deep on the Rockwall. The nearest drive-to access is the Paint Pots parking lot, 84 km east of Radium Hot Springs; the walk from there to camp is 14.2 km one way and is normally a two-to-three-day return outing. Treat Goodsir Pass as a side trip while staying at camp, not a roadside day hike. Reserve a designated backcountry campsite and carry the required permit before setting out. Bring food for the overnight; there is no store or café on this remote route. Dogs are allowed in the backcountry on leash.

From camp, follow the route past the former warden cabin to the Goodsir Pass junction. The side trail climbs through a series of switchbacks, rising from forest into subalpine larch meadows and open alpine slopes. A through-hiker described the tread as good in places but noted deadfall; expect a quieter, less-traveled route than the main Rockwall. The last climb is the effort of the outing. At the top, the larches frame the steep-sided Goodsir peaks and their glacier-cut slopes. Marmots may be seen around the pass. For a photo, keep the meadow in the foreground so the peaks have a sense of scale.

Goodsir Pass lies on the Great Divide Trail, where the route leaves the Kootenay Rockwall and continues into Yoho toward McArthur Creek and Field. That is a separate through-hike with its own route and logistics. This trail record is the camp-based out-and-back: turn around at the pass and retrace your steps to Helmet Falls.

High passes can remain snowbound until late June, and snow is possible at elevation during July, August and September. July and August are the prime backcountry months, but do not count on a snow-free tread. Remote routes here may not be regularly maintained. Carry a map and navigation device, and be ready to ford streams. Check current conditions before leaving camp; conditions can change faster than the long approach allows you to turn back.