Rockwall Trail Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park has been on my list for a LONG time. I had seen photos online of a trail stretching for kilometres beside towering cliffs and I knew I had to hike it. This August, I spent 5 days on the Rockwall Trail and it was insanely beautiful – easily one of the best backpacking trips I’ve ever done (and I’ve done LOTS). My favourite spots were Rockwall Pass and Numa Pass, but there were so many gorgeous areas – it’s easy to see why the Rockwall Trail is on many hiker’s bucket lists. In this guide, I’ll give you all the insider info you need to plan your own Rockwall Trail hike.

This Rockwall Trail guide includes:

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Table of Contents

Rockwall Trail Overview

The Rockwall Trail is a 55km-long multi-day backpacking trip in Kootenay National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The horseshoe-shaped route travels beside a spectacular formation known as the Rockwall where sheer cliffs rise up to 900m above the landscape. You’ll walk past spectacular glaciers, beside gorgeous blue lakes, and through beautiful subalpine meadows.

The Rockwall Trail isn’t actually one trail – it’s a series of trails strung together. You’ll hike the Ochre Creek Trail, Helmet Creek Trail, Rockwall Pass Trail, Wolverine Pass Trail, Tumbling Pass Trail, Numa Pass Trail, and Floe Lake Trail.

Have questions about the Rockwall Trail? Join the Rockwall Trail Planning Facebook Group to connect with other hikers!

A hiker at Numa Pass on the Rockwall Trail — Admiring the views at Numa Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

Rockwall Trail Basics

Trail Distance: 55km (one way between the Paint Pots and Floe Lake Trailheads).

Trail Elevation Gain: 2600m. However, the trail has numerous ups and downs as you climb over 4 passes. See the detailed trail description below for a better idea of how much elevation and loss you’ll tackle on the Rockwall Trail.

How long does it take to hike the Rockwall Trail: Most people hike the trail in 4 or 5 days, but 3 day trips are also common. The trail is increasingly popular with trail runners, who blitz the whole route in one long day.

Best Time to Hike the Rockwall Trail: The trail is snow-free between late July and mid-September. You can also hike in mid-July and late September, but there is usually a bit of snow. Between October and mid-July the trail has enough snow that avalanches are a hazard and Parks Canada does not accept campground bookings, so it’s not a good time to hike. If you want to see the larch trees after their needles turn golden, plan to hike in mid-September.

Rockwall Trail Weather: The Rockwall Trail sits high up in the Rocky Mountains. In July and August, the average high temperature is 21C and the average low is 2C. The mountains create their own weather and short rainstorms are common. Use my picks for the The Best Weather Apps for Hiking.

Rockwall Trail Cost: About $91.75 per person, but travelling in a group is cheaper (see Cost section below).

What to Bring on the Rockwall Trail: Everything you need to be self-sufficient. Use my Rockwall Trail Packing List to get your gear prepped for the hike.

Wildlife on the Rockwall Trail: This is bear country and both black bears and grizzly bears live in the area. Carry bear spray, hike in a group, and make noise, especially through brushy sections. Use the campground kitchen areas and store all your food and toiletries in the bear lockers at night. Read my bear safety tips for backpackers for more advice.

Rockwall Trail Rules: Dogs are permitted on leash. No drones. No firearms.

Further Resources: Check the backpacking section of the Kootenay National Park website as well as the trail conditions and bulletins pages. The best guidebook for the trail is Don’t Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies by Kathy and Craig Copeland. (It’s worth the price if you plan to do other hikes in the Canadian Rockies.)

Rockwall Trail Maps

Hiking the Rockwall Trail is straightforward, with signs at all junctions. For most hikers, the basic Kootenay National Park hiking map from Parks Canada is all you’ll need.

I brought a copy of the Kootenay National Park Map by Gem Trek Maps. It’s a topographic map with all the trails and campgrounds. I found it really helpful to visualize the terrain (and elevation gain) for each day.

We also used the Gaia GPS app on ours phone. It was helpful to know where exactly we were on the trail (and how much further we had to go!) (Psst! Want to save 20% on a Gaia GPS premium annual membership, which gets you the same maps I used on the Rockwall Trail? Use this link.)

I also made a custom Google map for you to help you plan. It includes all the places I mention in this post. Zoom in and click around to see everything. (But don’t use it on the trail since there’s no cell service and this isn’t a good map for navigation.)

Rockwall Trail Google Map — Click to open in Google Maps

How to Get to the Rockwall Trail

The Rockwall Trail is located in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, just over the border from Alberta. The trail traverses the mountains on the west side of Highway 93. There is no public transport to the trail so you will need to drive yourself.

If you need to rent a car, it’s easiest to fly into Calgary airport and rent one there. You can also rent cars in Banff. I use Discover Cars since it lets you compare prices from lots of different rental companies. That way you know you’re getting the best deal.

Rockwall Trail Driving Directions

There are two main trailheads for the Rockwall Trail: Paint Pots and Floe Lake. You can also access the trail from the Numa Creek Trailhead (which is currently closed due to a washout). All trailheads are on the west side of Highway 93 and are a 30-45 minute drive from Lake Louise or Banff and about 1 hour from Radium Hot Springs. Parking can be limited at all three trailheads, so arrive early to get a spot. We couldn’t find a spot at Floe Lake and ended up parking on the side of the highway. Google maps links for driving directions for all three are below.

How to Get Between Trailheads on the Rockwall Trail

The Paint Pots and Floe Lake trailheads are 13km apart. There is no shuttle service between the two trailheads so you’ll need to figure out your own transportation. My group had two cars, so we left one at each trailhead.

I’ve heard biking between the two parking lots is not bad since the highway shoulder is wide.

Hitch-hiking is also a good option as you can just approach other hikers in the parking lot and ask if they will drive you to the other parking lot. If you are going to hitch-hike, do it at the beginning of your trip so you can hike back to the car. (And so you don’t smell! 🙂 )

Want to connect with other hikers to arrange a car shuttle between trailheads? Join the Rockwall Trail Planning Facebook Group!

Where to Stay Near the Rockwall Trail

To get an early start on the trail, it’s best to book accommodation nearby. Banff and Lake Louise are the closest towns with lots of hotels. It’s worth spending a few days in the area before or after your hike. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Lake Louise.

If you want to camp, Kootenay National Park’s Marble Canyon Campground is a few minutes from the trailheads. You could also camp in Banff National Park. The Castle Mountain, Protection Mountain, and Johnston Canyon campgrounds are the closest to the Rockwall Trail. But the campgrounds at Lake Louise and Tunnel Mountain in Banff are also not too far away.

Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park — Floe Lake. Photo: Reid Holmes

Rockwall Trail Reservations

You need to make a reservation to hike the Rockwall Trail. To reserve, visit the Parks Canada website. Rockwall Trail reservations for 2024 will open on January 29, 2024 at 8:00 am Mountain Time.

Be ready to make your reservation right at 8:00 am as popular dates book up in under 5 minutes!

You will need to book each individual campsite when you make your reservation. So prepare a few different itinerary options and dates.

You can make a reservation for up to 10 people in a group and up to 3 tent pads. Park rules specify that you can only have one tent per pad and that the maximum number of people per pad is four. Our friends (a family of four) did the trail in a four-person tent and it just barely fit on the tent pads.

Have the following information ready to go when you make your Rockwall Trail reservation:

preferred itinerary and backups
the number of tent pads you need.
the number of hikers in your group, plus their full names and emergency contact info
credit card

If you didn’t get a reservation, all is not lost. Keep checking Parks Canada’s website. People cancel and spots do open up. Or join the Rockwall Trail Planning Facebook Group to connect with other hikers who may have spots available on their reservations.

Rockwall Trail Costs

There are a few costs associated with hiking the Rockwall Trail: wilderness permits, National Park entry passes, and reservation fees.

Wilderness permits for backcountry camping cost $12.75/person/night.

You also need a National Park entry pass to park your car at the trailheads for the Rockwall Trail. You can buy one at any of the mountain national parks, either at a drive-up entrance booth or a visitor centre. National Park entry passes are $10.50/person/day. If you already have a Parks Canada Discovery annual pass it covers people in the same car and saves you some money if you plan to spend more time in the National Parks.

Reservation fees are $11.50 per reservation (and you can reserve for up to 10 people on one reservation).

Assuming a four-day trip, a solo hiker would pay at total of $91.75 to hike the Rockwall Trail. Per person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the cost of national park entry passes and reservation fees.

Which Direction to Hike the Rockwall Trail?

You can hike the Rockwall Trail in either direction. When I was researching my trip, most of the trip reports I found were from south to north (Floe Lake to Paint Pots). I couldn’t find a lot of info online about why people usually go direction that besides it being the “traditional way”. And when we were hiking the trail, most other hikers seemed to be going south to north.

We hiked the trail from north to south (Paint Pots to Floe Lake). We enjoyed doing it that way for one main reason: To avoid a long and steep climb with heavy backpacks and no shade on the first day. Our first day starting from Paint Pots was long but not too steep and it was a much easier introduction to the trail than the Floe Lake Trail. Going from north to south we also saved the best campsite (Floe Lake) for last and did most of the steep climbs in the shade of the trees rather than on exposed terrain.

Chart via Parks Canada

Rockwall Trail Description

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls

Distance: 15km | Elevation Gain: 300m | Elevation Loss: 50m | Time: 4.5-5.5 hours

From the Paint Pots trailhead, follow the flat Ochre Creek Trail through the trees to a big bridge across the Vermillion River. On the other side, walk through a wet area to Ochre Spring about 1km from the trailhead. The spring and nearby stream have an orange-red tint thanks to high mineral content. Most day-trippers stop here so the trail ahead will be much quieter.

Paint Pots on the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park — The ochre springs at Paint Pots. Photo: Reid Holmes

The next section of trail is through the forest. About 3km from the car, emerge into an open avalanche path. Soon after re-entering the forest, reach a junction. The trail to Tumbling Creek Campsite goes left and your trail to Helmet Falls campsite goes right. You could take the trail to Tumbling Creek and skip the first campsite at Helmet Falls, but that would mean missing out on Rockwall Pass, which is one of the most scenic spots on the trail.

Follow the Helmet Creek Trail to the right, continuing through the forest. Around 6km from the trailhead, cross Ochre Creek on a bridge and arrive at the Helmet/Ochre Junction Campsite. This small campground is a good place to take a break.

Leaving the campground ignore the side trail to Ottertail Pass and cross Helmet Creek on another bridge. The next section of trail is through the forest high above the banks of Helmet Creek. Around the 12.5km mark, cross Helmet Creek on a suspension bridge. From here the forest begins to open up slightly as you walk through several avalanche paths. Look for patches of wildflowers and enjoy views of the mountains in this section.

Suspension bridge over Helmet Creek — Crossing the suspension bridge over Helmet Creek

At about 15km, reach a junction with the Goodsir Pass Trail where your route stays left. A few minutes later, pass the Helmet Warden Cabin. Cross a small creek, then arrive at the Helmet Falls Campground. You can glimpse the falls through the trees from the campground, but for a close-up view follow a faint trail for about 500m. The 2888m-tall bulk of Limestone Peak towers overhead.

Helmet Creek Warden Cabin on the Rockwall Trail — Helmt Creek Patrol Cabin

Helmet Falls in Kootenay National Park — Helmet Falls at dusk

Helmet Falls to Tumbling Creek

Distance: 12km | Elevation Gain: 640m | Elevation Loss: 500m | Time: 5-6 hours

From the campground, follow the Rockwall Pass Trail towards the waterfall. Watch for the main trail going left across a small creek. (If you go straight you’ll dead end at Helmet Falls.) For the next three kilometres the trail switchbacks steadily uphill through the forest, gaining 400m. The first two kilometres are the steepest (with some good views of Helmet Falls), but eventually, the grade lessens. There are lots of wildflowers in mid-August here.

When you emerge into an open area at the top of the climb you will be able to look south and see the length of the Rockwall for the first time. After stopping to enjoy the view, head downhill. In the next 2km, you’ll lose about 200m of elevation as you descend through meadows to a creek crossing about 5km from Helmet Falls Campsite. If you need water, fill up here as this is the last reliable water source before Tumbling Creek Camp.

North end of the Rockwall Trail — The first views of the Rockwall Trail

From the creek crossing, you’ll gain 240m over the next 4.5 km. Cross the creek, then climb a gravel slope and traverse a rocky glacial moraine past a small turquoise pond. Your route then heads back into the trees and climbs steadily in a rising traverse. As you get higher, you’ll get better views of the Rockwall beside you and a large unnamed glacial lake at its base.

Eventually, you will break out of the trees into a high subalpine meadow. This is one of the most scenic sections of the whole trail with incredible views of the Rockwall Trail. Crest 2214m-tall Rockwall Pass about 8.5km from camp. Continue along the trail for another half kilometre to a junction at Wolverine Pass. Go left onto the Wolverine Pass Trail to stay on the Rockwall. The Dainard Creek trail turns right here to descend through Wolverine Pass, which is the only break in the length of the Rockwall.

Hikers near Rockwall Pass on the Rockwall Trail — Hiking near Rockwall Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

Wildflowers at Wolverine Pass on the Rockwall Trail — Looking back through fields of wildflowers near Wolverine Pass

From the pass you’ll descend for 3km to Tumbling Creek campground, losing 300m of elevation. The first kilometer is a mellow downhill through meadows and open forest. You’ll be able to spot the Wolverine Warden Cabin to your left, but it is off-trail so you won’t reach it. As the forest closes in, the final 2km to camp is a very steep descent on a switchbacking trail. At the bottom, arrive at Tumbling Creek camp, spread out along the north bank of the creek.

A tent at Tumbling Creek Camp on the Rockwall Trail — Our campsite at Tumbling Creek Camp

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Tumbling Creek to Numa Creek

Distance: 8km | Elevation Gain: 340m | Elevation Loss: 700m | Time: 4-5 hours

From the campground, follow the trail downstream for a few minutes to the junction with the Tumbling Creek Trail. You can use this route to return to the Paint Pots 10.5km away, but if you want to stay on the Rockwall Trail, turn right. Immediate after the junction, cross the bridge over Tumbling Creek. You are now on the Tumbling Pass Trail where you will gain 340m over the next 3km.

Rockwall Trail near Tumbling Creek Camp — Looking up to the Rockwall from the bridge over Tumbling Creek near Tumbling Creek camp

The first two kilometres climb steadily through the trees. But the views open up and the trees transition to meadows as you approach 2165m-high Tumbling Pass. There are incredible views of the Rockwall and the huge Tumbling Glacier.

Hikers on the trail to Tumbling Pass — Approaching Tumbling Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

Tumbling Glacier in Kootenay National Park — A close-up view of Tumbling Glacier. Photo: Reid Holmes

Take a break at the pass, then begin the descent. You’ll drop 700m over the next 5km. The first kilometre of descent from the pass is gentle, as you amble through meadows and cross a small stream where you can fill up with water.

Descending from Tumbling Pass on the Rockwall Trail — Descending from Tumbling Pass into a meadow

But soon you will descend onto a steep and rocky slope, dotted with low bushes. The trail switchbacks sharply through the gravel and crosses several meltwater streams. About 2km from the pass, the trail enters a tunnel of alder and willow that can be quite overgrown. This section seems to stretch on forever, but it is really only a couple of kilometres.

Descending towards Tumbling Creek — Starting the steep descent to Tumbling Creek.

About 6.5km from Tumbling Creek Camp the brush lets up, the slope becomes less severe, and the trail begins to wind through the forest again. Reach a junction with the Numa Creek Trail (which leads to Highway 93 6.3 km away), and then a few minutes later, arrive at the Numa Creek Campsite.

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Numa Creek to Floe Lake

Distance: 10km | Elevation Gain: 790m | Elevation Loss: 300m | Time: 4-5 hours

Leaving the campground on the Numa Pass Trail, the first few kilometres are a gentle climb through the forest, crossing several tributaries of Numa Creek. Many trip reports I read talked about high bear activity in this section, but we didn’t encounter any on our trip.

After passing through a large open area in an avalanche chute, you’ll encounter a new bridge about 3 km rom Numa Creek Camp. It replaces an older log crossing that required a bit of agility to cross.

Bridge on the Rockwall Trail — The new bridge that replaces the log crossing. Photo thanks to reader Niki Sauer.

Once you are across the bridge, the grade steepens as you being a long ascent up switchbacks to Numa Pass. Most of the ascent is in the trees so it isn’t too hot.

The grade stays steep until around the 6km mark when you begin to break out into the alpine and cross a scree slope. You’ll top out at 2355m-high Numa Pass about 7km after leaving camp, having gained 700m along the way.

Hikers near Numa Pass on the Rockwall Trail — Breaking out of the trees near the top of the ascent to Numa Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

I enjoyed the views in this section of the Rockwall Trail the best and in mid-August the wildflower display was unreal. The imposing spire of Foster Peak dominates to the southwest and the Rockwall stretches away from you to the north. You also get incredible views of Floe Lake below you, which I think are even more beautiful than the ones you can get from the lakeshore.

Wildflowers at Numa Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

Hikers walking up a scree slope at Numa Pass — Making the final ascent up the scree slope to Numa Pass. Photo: Reid Holmes

After leaving the pass, the trail heads downhill, switchbacking through open forest and pockets of meadow where wildflowers are abundant. You will drop 300m from the pass to the campsite at Floe Lake.

Descending the Rockwall Trail to Floe Lake — Descending from Numa Pass to Floe Lake

Floe Lake on the Rockwall Trail — Floe Lake from the cooking area. Photo: Reid Holmes

Floe Lake to Floe Lake Trailhead

Distance: 10km | Elevation Gain: 30m | Elevation Loss: 730m | Time: 3-4 hours

Leaving Floe Lake on the Floe Lake Trail, you’ll quickly gain 30m through open forest before starting the long descent to Highway 93. You’ll lose 730m of elevation between the lake and the trailhead. The bulk of the trail is through recently burned forest, which means it can be hot and exposed on sunny days.

Descending through the burned forest from Floe Lake

The first two kilometres of trail switchback steeply downward. After crossing a wide and rocky creek, the grade eases as you begin a long descending traverse high above Floe Creek. There are good views of the Rockwall behind you and the surrounding mountains, and as you get lower, you’ll be able to see the highway. Watch for beautiful fireweed blooming amongst the charred stumps.

Fireweed on the trail from Floe Lake — Fireweed along the descent trail from Floe Lake. Photo: Reid Holmes

The trail steepens about 7.5km from Floe Lake as it makes a long switchback, then heads down to cross Floe Creek on a small bridge near the 8km mark. There’s a bench to rest here if you need a break. The remaining two kilometres to the trailhead are in a young and uniform forest, which blocks the views. Reach a large bridge over the Vermillion River, and the parking lot a few minutes later.

Bridge over the Vermillion River on the Floe Lake Trail

Hiking the Rockwall Trail from South to North

If you choose to hike the Rockwall trail from south to north, you can still use my directions above, but you’ll have to reverse them. However, the elevation gain, elevation loss, and time stats will be different. I’ve listed them below to help you out:

Floe Lake Trailhead to Floe Lake: Distance: 10km; Elevation Gain: 730m; Elevation Loss: 30m; Time: 4.5-5.5 hours
Floe Lake to Numa Creek: Distance: 10km; Elevation Gain: 300m; Elevation Loss: 790m; Time: 3.5-4.5 hours
Numa Creek to Tumbling Creek: Distance: 8km; Elevation Gain: 700m; Elevation Loss: 340m; Time: 4-5 hours
Tumbling Creek to Helmet Falls: Distance: 12km; Elevation Gain: 500m; Elevation Loss: 640m: Time: 5-6 hours
Helmet Falls to Paint Pots Trailhead: Distance: 15km; Elevation Gain: 50m; Elevation Loss: 300m: Time: 4-5 hours

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Camping on the Rockwall Trail

There are five campgrounds on the Rockwall Trail: Helmet/Ochre Junction (6km from Paint Pots), Helmet Falls (15km), Tumbling Creek (27km), Numa Creek (35km), and Floe Lake (45km). Floe Lake is by far the most beautiful campsite. The others are in deep creek valleys and don’t have the same amazing views.

Dawn at Floe Lake — Alpenglow at dawn at Floe Lake

Each campground has gravel tent pads, outhouse(s), and a shared cooking area set away from the tenting area. The cooking areas have a few tables with benches and metal food storage lockers. All of the campgrounds are next to a creek or lake where you can get water. Campfires are allowed inside metal fire rings at the Numa Creek and Helmet Ochre Junction campgrounds but are prohibited in all other locations on the Rockwall Trail.

Rockwall Trail Itineraries

How many days should you spend on the Rockwall Trail? The answer to that question depends on who you ask. Most people hike the Rockwall Trail in 4 days. My group spent 5 days on the trail. We also met people doing it in 3 days. Below, I’ll set out some itinerary options and explain the pros and cons of each.

5-Day Rockwall Trail Itinerary

If you want to take your time and enjoy the scenery, spend 5 days hiking the Rockwall Trail. This 5-day itinerary is also great for families or people who aren’t in amazing shape. We hiked with our friends and their kids (13 and 10 years old) and this was a great itinerary for them. If you take 5 days, you also won’t have any crazy long days of hiking.

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Tumbling Creek (12km, +640m, -500m, 5-6 hours)
Tumbling Creek to Numa Creek (8km, +340m, -700m, 4-5 hours)
Numa Creek to Floe Lake (10km, +790m, -300m, 4-5 hours)
Floe Lake to Floe Lake Trailhead (10km, +30m, -730m, 3-4 hours)

4-Day Rockwall Trail Itinerary

Many people choose to hike the Rockwall Trail in four days. This reduces the amount of food you have to carry, but does mean you have a really big day in the middle of the trip. The most common 4-day itinerary (below) skips the Tumbling Creek campsite, but you could choose to skip Numa Creek campsite instead.

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Numa Creek (20km, +980m, -1200m, 9-11 hours)
Numa Creek to Floe Lake (10km, +790m, -300m, 4-5 hours)
Floe Lake to Floe Lake Trailhead (10km, +30m, -730m, 3-4 hours)

3-Day Rockwall Trail Itinerary

If you like putting in long days, this speedy 3-day Rockwall Trail itinerary might be for you. The first day is a nice warm-up, then the next two days are full-on… but with lots of scenery.

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Numa Creek (20km, +980m, -1200m, 9-11 hours)
Numa Creek to Floe Lake Trailhead (20km, +820m, -1030m, 7-9 hours)

No-Floe Lake Rockwall Trail Itineraries

Floe Lake is by far the hardest campground to book since it is the most spectacular. But you can still do the Rockwall Trail and see Floe Lake without getting a reservation a the Foe Lake Campground. Here are three ways:

3-Day Option:

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Numa Creek (20km, +980m, -1200m, 9-11 hours)
Numa Creek to Floe Lake Trailhead: (20 km, +820m, -1030m, 7-9 hours)

4-Day Option:

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Numa Creek (20km, +980m, -1200m, 9-11 hours)
Day hike from Numa Creek to Floe Lake and back (18.6 km, +1136m, -1136m, 6-9 hours)
Numa Creek Camp to Numa Falls Trailhead (6.6 km, +83m, -241m, 1.5-2.5 hours)

5-Day Option:

Paint Pots to Helmet Falls (15km, +300m, -50m, 4.5-5.5 hours)
Helmet Falls to Tumbling Creek (12km, +640m, -500m, 5-6 hours)
Tumbling Creek to Numa Creek (8km, +340m, -700m, 4-5 hours)
Day hike from Numa Creek to Floe Lake and back (18.6 km, +1136m, -1136m, 6-9 hours)
Numa Creek Camp to Numa Falls Trailhead (6.6 km, +83m, -241m, 1.5-2.5 hours)

Partial Rockwall Trail Options

If you don’t have time for the whole Rockwall Trail, or you can’t get campsite reservations for the dates you want, you can also do portions of the Rockwall Trail. Below are some popular (and beautiful) options:

Helmet Falls/Tumbling Creek Loop: Park at the Paint Pots and hike in to Helmet Falls campground on the first day. On the second day, hike to Tumbling Creek campground. If you have time, do a day hike up to Tumbling Pass on the third day, then hike back out to Paint Pots on the Tumbling Creek Trail on the fourth day.
Floe Lake Overnighter: Hike up to Floe Lake from the Floe Lake Trailhead. Leave your overnight gear at the campground and day hike up to Numa Pass either the day you arrive or the following morning, then hike back out to the trailhead.
Rockwall Pass and Tumbling Pass: Park at Paint Pots and hike in to Tumbling Creek Campground. Base camp there, then do day hikes to Rockwall Pass and Tumbling Pass before hiking back out along the Tumbling Creek Trail.

So that’s everything you need to know to hike the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park. I can’t recommend this trail enough – it’s so beautiful! And since it’s in a National Park, the trail is well-graded and easy to follow. If you have questions about the Rockwall Trail, ask away in the comments. I’d love to help you plan your trip.

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Taryn Eyton

Hiker, adventure traveller, Leave No Trace trainer and connoisseur of alpine meadows. My book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, is available now.