Blakiston Valley Trail

This is a 20.2 km (12.5 mi) out-and-back from Red Rock Canyon's lower lot to the upper valley junction; allow about seven hours. It follows Blakiston Creek through sparse forest and grassy avalanche slopes, then climbs more steeply to open ground above the creek. The reward is a long, quiet valley walk and several onward route choices.

Pass the kitchen shelter, cross the bridge over Red Rock Creek, then cross left over Bauerman Creek and turn right. The short Blakiston Falls walk shares this lower approach; the valley trail continues beyond it. You can make the falls a side trip, but the 2 km falls walk is not the turnaround for this hike. Dogs are allowed on the trail when leashed and under control. No drinking water is listed at the lower day-use area or along the route, so carry enough for a full day.

The route is rated moderate and listed with 350 m of gain, but two terrain models place the upper junction about 425 m above the lower lot. Treat the listed gain as approximate. The final approach is steeper than the creekside sections, so the distance and uphill finish make this a full-day commitment.

The mapped hike ends at the upper valley junction; return the same way unless you have planned a longer route. Branches head north toward Lone Lake and Twin Lakes, south toward Tamarack and Rowe Lakes, or west toward South Kootenay Pass and British Columbia. Those extensions add substantial distance and can require separate backcountry planning.

Indigenous travelers used the Buffalo Trail for millennia along Blakiston Creek past Red Rock Canyon; seasonal camps near the canyon date back about 9,000 years. In 1908, prospectors found traces of copper in the valley. A short-lived claim gave nearby Coppermine Creek its name.