The gorgeous glacier at Tumbling Peak in the Kootenai National Park is easily seen from the Hwy 93 as you head south to Radium Springs. It's eye catching shape and brilliant whiteness is a nice relief from all the green trees in this part of the Kootenai National Park.
The waymark coordinates are at the Glacier, but you can see it from the Alberta-British Columbia/= border/Continental Divide highway pull-out at N 51° 13.682 W 116° 02.994.
From Wikipedia: (
visit link)
"Tumbling Peak is a 3,145-metre (10,318-foot) mountain summit located on the western border of Kootenay National Park in the Vermilion Range, which is a sub-range of the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. The mountain takes its name from the Tumbling Glacier located on its northeast flank. Its nearest higher peak is Foster Peak, 6.8 km (4.2 mi) to the southeast. Hewitt Peak is also to the southeast, and Mount Gray is to the immediate northwest. The mountain is situated in an area known as the Rockwall, which is an escarpment of the Vermilion Range. The Rockwall Trail is a scenic 55 kilometers (34 miles) traverse of alpine passes, sub-alpine meadows, hanging glaciers, and limestone cliffs, in some places in excess of 900 meters (2953 feet) above the trail.
Geology
Tumbling Peak is composed of Ottertail limestone, a sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods and pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Tumbling Peak is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into tributaries of the Vermilion River, or west into headwaters of the Kootenay River."
A specific location for the glacier can be found here: (
visit link)
"Tumbling Glacier is a glacier in British Columbia and has an elevation of 2,133 metres. Tumbling Glacier is situated south of Mount Gray, and north of High Lake."
The best way to get up close to Tumbling Glacier is via the Rockwall Trail, but be aware that it is a challenging multi-day hike through grizzly bear country: (
visit link)
"This is a multi-day hike in the Canadian Rockies and Kootenay National Park. Elevation changes considerably between campsites, with the Rockwall Trail as one of the hardest sections. It can be done North to South, starting at the Point Pots and finishing at the Floe lake trailhead or vice-versa. The trail’s features include several waterfalls, numerous creeks, many glaciers, alpine lakes and of course the famous Rockwall itself.
First section form Paint Pots trailhead to Ochre Creek is a relatively flat and colorful hike through the ochre beds and through the forest, up to Helmet/Ochre junction campground. Follows a short elevation gain before returning to a relatively flat trail along Helmet creek, all the way to Helmet Falls campground.
The trail splits from the creek shortly after the campground in a switchback climb around Limestone peak. Enjoy the view of Rockwall Peak before descending into it’s valley, through rockslide. The next uphill leads to the exposed and windy Wolverine Pass, followed by a steep downhill with switchbacks to Tumbling Creek campground.
From Tumbling Creek, sharp elevation gain leads to Tumbling pass. There are great views of the Numa mountains ahead through the steep downhill into the forest and to Numa creek campground. The trail follows the creek up to the pass. Be especially cautious of bears in this section.
The path from the creek to Numa pass is steady uphill with a couple switchbacks and waterfalls along the way. From the pass, it is a short downhill to Floe Lake and it’s campground. From there it’s a steady downhill along Floe Creek, all the way to the trailhead. This final section may be busy with day hikers headed to the lake.
Consider hiking poles, good shoes, a tarp and necessary bear gear
This is prime grizzly bear habitat. Please exercise caution."
OR you can do what Blasterz did, and experience it from the Continental Divide pull-out or along the next several miles on Highway 93. Awesome views, takes 30 minutes, and no risk of anyone becoming Bear Breakfast.