Tumbling-Floe Traverse

The Tumbling-Floe Traverse is a 37.7 km (23.4 mi) one-way, two-to-three-day backpack from Paint Pots to Floe Lake parking. It runs through Tumbling Creek, over Tumbling Pass and Numa Pass, past the Numa Creek and Floe Lake backcountry campgrounds, then down to Highway 93. The published route gains 2,470 m and loses 2,565 m. This is the southern point-to-point route, separate from the 54.1 km full Rockwall and the Tumbling-Helmet-Ochre loop. Expect long, steep days and sustained climbing, not a long day hike.

Arrange a ride between the two parking lots before setting out; this is a point-to-point route and the highway shuttle is part of the plan. The itinerary uses three backcountry campgrounds. You need an overnight permit and a reserved site in the campground assigned to each night; random camping is not allowed. Campgrounds have tent pads, dry toilets, picnic tables and food storage. Dogs are permitted on leash.

From the Paint Pots lot, cross the Vermilion River bridge and pass the Marble Canyon junction before reaching the iron-stained springs and Ochre Creek. The wet ground around the springs can be muddy and slick. The path then climbs through forest beside the orange-brown creek. After the spring area, the trail rolls through thicker forest, with a clearing that looks into the Tumbling and Ochre Creek drainages, before dropping to Tumbling Creek campground.

From camp, the climb starts steeply under the trees, then opens into alpine meadows beneath Tumbling Peak and its hanging glacier. This is one of the route’s best looks at the pale limestone Rockwall. Stop at the pass to take it in before the descent into Numa Creek’s drainage. The way down is long and rough in places, with loose gravelly scree, several creek crossings and exposed stretches with little shade.

From Numa Creek campground, the trail climbs through forest and along a ledge above the drainage, crosses a tributary and passes waterfalls in a meadow before switchbacking toward Numa Pass. Floe Peak comes into view at the pass, but the lake stays hidden until the route crosses an open meadow and begins to drop. That turn is the signature view: turquoise Floe Lake tucked under the tall gray wall. Pause there and frame the lake below the cliff. After the lakeshore, a final long descent leads to Floe Lake parking, with more climbing and descending than the map’s simple end point suggests.