Rockwall Trail

The Rockwall Trail is a 54.1 km, one-way backpacking route across Kootenay’s northern backcountry, between the Paint Pots and Floe Lake trailheads. Most hikers take 3–5 days; four days is a useful middle-of-the-road plan. It climbs about 3,405 m and descends about 3,500 m, so this is a serious multi-day trip rather than a long day hike. The route can be walked in either direction. Arrange a vehicle transfer between the two highway lots before you set out.

The northern approach leaves Paint Pots parking lot through forest and climbs toward the alpine. The orange mineral pools and ochre beds are close to the trailhead, then the path continues toward Helmet Creek and the first campground access at Helmet–Ochre Junction, about 6 km in. Farther along, Helmet Falls campground sits at the base of a waterfall that drops roughly 300 m from Helmet Mountain. The picnic area at the back of camp is a good place to look up at the falls before moving on.

The route’s defining stretch runs between Helmet Falls and Tumbling Creek. Three high passes lead through subalpine meadows beneath hanging glaciers and a huge limestone escarpment that rises more than 900 m above the trail in places. The wall is close enough to dominate the walk for long stretches, while the passes open the view across the surrounding peaks. If you can give one part of the trip extra time, make it this alpine section.

After the high country, the route drops into the Tumbling Creek valley, where the campground sits between Rockwall Pass and Tumbling Pass with river access. Then it climbs again toward Numa Creek, another campground tucked between Tumbling and Numa passes, before the final rise toward Floe Lake. You cross the route’s biggest landscape changes by foot: forest approaches, open passes, creek valleys, and back into alpine terrain.

Floe Lake is the southern end’s big payoff, with a lakeside campground beneath the surrounding rock and snow. From here the route descends to the Floe Lake parking lot. If you want the lake but not a multi-day traverse, the separate Floe Lake day hike is about 22 km return with 750 m of climbing from that lot; it misses the Rockwall’s central pass section.

There are five designated backcountry campgrounds along the route, so your itinerary depends on which nights you can reserve and how far you want to walk each day. An overnight backcountry permit and assigned tent pad are required, and you also need a national park entry pass. Random camping and campfires are prohibited. Bring your meals for the full trip, plus food for an extra day. Store food, garbage, and scented items in the wildlife-proof lockers or bear poles at camp. Pets are allowed in the backcountry but must stay leashed.