Floe Lake (+ Numa Pass)

lotzacurls
Jun 27
5 min read

Majestic Rockwall reflected in a tranquil Floe Lake, framed by evergreen trees and rocky shore, under a clear, blue sky. — Floe Lake in the morning light.

MAP

* Dayhike (in and out) or overnight camping. Sign at trailhead. Dogs permitted on leash.

* Distance: 21 kms return (roughly 7-9 hrs), 26 kms return to Numa Pass

* Elevation gain: Roughly 800 m

* Difficulty: Intermediate to difficult

* Trailhead: Floe Lake parking lot, on hwy 93 South (34 kms from Castle Junction, one hour from Canmore)

Floe Lake - AllTrails

Floe Lake - Parks Canada

Floe Lake is one of the only hikes I’ve done in Kootenay National Park. Its location is absolutely pristine despite the wildfires that ravaged the area in 2003. Consequently, the trail is a bit barren; some might even say depressing. We hiked it over two lovely autumn days and thought it was absolutely stunning.

Although the walk is manageable in one (perhaps very) long day, it is best enjoyed as an overnight excursion. The high elevation keeps the trail snow-covered for most of the year. Your best bet is to go on a beautiful fall day, as there are tons of larches up and around the alpine lake.

The backcountry campground is a very busy one, as Floe Lake is the last overnight stop on the ever-so-popular Rockwall Trail. With only 18 sites, camping reservations must be made ahead of time. Bring your own TP, water filtration system, and bags to carry your garbage back. All attractants (aka smelly things) go in bear bins and food should be prepared at the picnic area (eat far from your tent). Bring warm clothing as this high-altitude campground gets chilly overnight (no fires permitted).

If you’re planning an overnight stay, the (relatively short) walk to Numa Pass is a must and can easily be done the next morning. Leave everything at the campground and give yourself a few hours to stroll without your bag, a welcome respite after dragging your gear up the previous day. This side trip can be made in a few hours before packing up your campsite and heading down the trail to your car.

Remember to display your Discovery Pass (for all National Parks) in your car, and have your bear spray accessible at all times (not inside your backpack!)

TRAIL DESCRIPTION

The walk to Floe Lake is not a particularly steep hike -except for the elevation gain at the end- but hikers should expect a long walk with very little shade. Bring a hat and lots of water.

The trail is narrow so you will be walking single-file. You’ll also be brushing up against the overgrown bushes; these can be scratchy in the fall or leave your legs soaked from dew in the spring - wear pants.

From the parking lot, the trail descends and crosses over the first of two bridges, this one passing over a deep spot in the turquoise Kootenay River.

The turquoise Kootenay River flows through rocky landscape with green trees and mountains in the background under a bright blue sky. — I've read that this is both the Kootenay River and the Vermilion River. Whatever it's called, it's pretty!

Eventually climbing out of the forest, you’ll gradually switchback up the side of Numa Mountain. The path eventually stretches out in a traverse of the valley, with varying elevation once you’re out of the forest. This will be the easiest stretch of the hike, going gently up and down for a few kms.

The famous Rockwall starts to make its presence known as you walk deeper into the valley. Possibly the only positive aspect of the 2003 forest fire is that you now have unimpeded views pretty much along the entire route. The massif towers an imposing 900 m (yes, almost one whole kilometer) over Floe Lake.

Hiker with a red backpack walks on Floe Lake trail through autumn foliage. Snowy mountains in the background under a clear blue sky. Peaceful mood.

You’ll cross over a creek about 7 kms in; this is a popular rest spot, as some flat stones provide seating and you can soak your bandana or fill up with your water filter. Make sure to be noisy, so as to alert bears that you’re there. You might not hear it (and it might not hear you) over the noise of the water, so avoiding a surprise is best.

Hiker with a red backpack walks up a grassy, autumnal hill with sparse trees. Snowy mountains rise in the clear blue sky background. — Walking the narrow trail along the valley's edge.

Steep switchbacks begin not long after the creek. The good news? Some switchbacks are shaded. The final 2 kms are steady and unrelenting; you'll gain around 430m in elevation. Hiking poles will help; I tend to lean too far forward when ascending a steep incline, and poles keep my back straight and my walking cadence steady.

I didn’t even think of taking photos of this part of the hike. But I remember that it was a good 45-60 minutes of steady climbing with my heavy backpack. I gritted my teeth and climbed on at a slow and steady pace, and it actually went by fairly quickly.

You know you’ve reached the top when the terrain evens out in a sheltered forest; the campground suddenly appears into view.

Trails lead down to the beautiful turquoise water. Ice floes (or small glaciers) lie along the mountain's flank, which soars straight up out of the lake and into the sky. These ice floes give the lake its name.

Person in blue jacket stands by a serene Floe Lake reflecting snowy mountains. Evergreen trees line the rocky shore under a clear blue sky. — The lake becomes shaded fairly early in the evening.

Most hikers will reach Floe Lake after 4-5 hours, depending on their fitness level and the heaviness of their pack. We set up our tent, stuffed our food and toiletries in the bear bins and immediately headed to the shore to admire the stunning view and boil ourselves a cup of tea. We were finally here!

Mountain Floe Lake reflecting snowy peaks and autumn trees under a blue sky. A lone figure sits by the shore, creating a serene atmosphere. — The light hits Floe Lake and the Rockwall most beautifully in the early morning.

Numa Pass Extension

We woke early the next morning and felt invigorated, so we decided to check out Numa Pass. The larches were lit up almost electrically, like my old Lite Brite set.

Person walking on a narrow trail through a forest with golden autumn trees under a bright blue sky. Serene and peaceful atmosphere. — Larches line the entire walk up to Numa Pass.

If you’ve camped out at Floe Lake, it would be almost foolish to miss out on the 5-km return trip to Numa Pass. It does add another 350m of elevation to your trek, but I assure you it’s worth every step. Take advantage of the work you did yesterday to get to Floe Lake, and go just a little bit further!

Mountain trail lined with orange autumn trees under a clear blue sky. Snow-capped peaks in the background create a serene, majestic scene. — I've never had so many larches all to myself in the Canadian Rockies!

Carrying only a water bottle and bear spray, we followed the signs to Numa Pass from the campground. The pines eventually gave way to larches. Above the treeline, the trail followed a gradual ascent until it peaked at the col between Numa Mountain and Forest Peak. This col will afford you 360-degree views and an absolutely stunning perspective far above Floe Lake.