Floe Lake and the Rockwall

55.6 km one way.

Terrain: Intermediate

Elevations (in meters)
Start:	1450	End:	1325
Minimum:	1325	Maximum:	2355
Net Gain:	1030	Cumulative Gain:	2600

Trailheads

Transportation is required at both ends.

Floe Lake-Hawk Creek parking area Trailhead: (950 km from Saanich Hall, ferry required). Drive from Victoria to Lake Louise. Continue driving towards Banff until you come to the junction with the Banff/Radium Highway (BC#93). Follow this highway until you come to the Floe Lake/Hawk Creek parking area (22.5 km south of the Banff-Kootenay park border).

Paint Pots parking area Trailhead: (950 km from Saanich Hall, ferry required). Drive from Victoria to Lake Louise. Continue driving towards Banff until you come to the junction with the Banff/Radium Highway (BC#93). Follow the highway until you come to the Floe Lake/Hawk Creek parking area (9.5 km south of the Banff-Kootenay park border).

Marble Canyon Trailhead: (alternate end, 900 km from Saanich Hall, ferry required).

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite (60 sites)
Shelter is available
Water is available

Uses

Backpack

Strenuous (backcountry permit required, fee charged).

4 days one way.

Best from early July thru mid September.

Description

The trailheads are a considerable distance apart, a shuttle is recommended. The eastern trailhead the trail starts at the west edge of the parking lot.

The trail is in the 50km range but there is considerable elevation gain and loss on many of the days.

The following description assumes you are starting from the Floe Lake trailhead.

The trail starts by crossing the Vermillion River and the first 4km of the trail are gentle. After approximately 8km the trail starts switchbacking steeply up the headwall before reaching Floe Lake and the campsite.

Features

This trail features animals (Black bear, Grizzly bear, Pika), flowers (Cow parsnip, Indian paintbrush and Mountain daisy), forests, glacial views, lakes, meadows, mountains, rivers, views and waterfalls.

Hazards

Boardwalk (can be very slippery in wet conditions)
some streams are crossed on footlogs
suspension bridge crossings of some creeks or rivers over Floe Creek

Steep climbs.

Campsites along the trail

Marble Canyon	0.0 km	1450 meters	Bear cache/wire Fire boxes Garbage facilities Ranger station Shelter Tables Flush toilet	Water is plentiful quality is excellent.
Helmet Falls	14.9 km	1760 meters	Bear cache/wire Ranger station Pit toilet	Water is plentiful quality is good.
Tumbling Creek	25.5 km	1890 meters	Bear cache/wire Pit toilet	Water is unknown.
Numa Creek	34.5 km	1525 meters	Bear cache/wire Fire boxes Pit toilet	Water is plentiful quality is good.
Floe Lake	44.5 km	2042 meters	Bear cache/wire Ranger station Tent pads Pit toilet	Water is unknown.

For additional information see:

Other trails in Kootenay National Park

Chickadee Valley
Cobb Lake
Dog Lake
Dolly Varden
East Kootenay
Fireweed Loops
Floe Lake
Hawk Creek and Ball Pass
Hector Gorge
Helmet Creek and Falls
Helmet/Ochre Junction
Honeymoon Pass/Verdant
Juniper/Sinclair Canyon
Kaufmann Lake
Kimpton Creek
Kindersley Pass and Sinclair Creek
Marble Canyon
Numa Creek
Olive Lake
Paint Pots
Paint pots to Marble Canyon
Prospector's Valley
Redstreak Campground
Redstreak Creek
Redstreak Loop
Redstreak Restoration
Simpson River
Stanley Glacier
Tumbling Creek
Tumbling/Helment/Ochre
Valleyview
West Kootenay

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.