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Rockwall Trail

Rockwall Trail — the trail guide

The Rockwall Trail is a 52.8 km trek in Canada, typically walked in 3–4 days, with 2669 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (51 m of gain per km, topping out at 2335 m).

The Rockwall Trail is a roughly 55-kilometre point-to-point backpacking route through the backcountry of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, following the base of the Rockwall, a sheer limestone escarpment of the Vermilion Range that rises up to 900 metres. Hikers come for turquoise Floe Lake, wildflower meadows, hanging glaciers and thundering Helmet Falls, crossing Numa, Tumbling and Rockwall passes. It links the Floe Lake and Paint Pots trailheads on Highway 93 and needs Parks Canada backcountry permits plus a car shuttle.

Quick facts

Distance52.8 km
Total ascent2669 m
Typical duration3–4 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness51 m gain per km
High point2335 m
CountryCanada
RegionCanada

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1326 m · high point 2335 m · 2669 m total ascent over 52.8 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1341 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan-4°-11°43 mm
Feb-4°-11°57 mm
Mar2°-7°58 mm
Apr6°-3°59 mm
May13°2°67 mm
Jun17°5°108 mm
Jul22°9°76 mm
Aug22°9°73 mm
Sep16°5°78 mm
Oct7°-3°77 mm
Nov-1°-9°76 mm
Dec-6°-13°61 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Rockwall Trail?

The Rockwall Trail is 52.8 km, and most hikers complete it in 3–4 days. Total elevation gain is 2669 m.

How difficult is the Rockwall Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 51 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 2335 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Rockwall Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Rockwall Trail?

In Canada. The route starts near 51.081, -116.054 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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