The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Rock Garden
in Canada's Glacier National Park
and climbed over very big boulders to see a glacier.
August 7, 2015

Rockgarden trail sign rock garden trail map

The trail had a boardwalk for a short distance. Then there was a sign with an arrow saying go to the right, which the two RV Gypsies did.

Lee Duquette on the baordwalk

On the lower part of the Rockgarden Trail, the two RV Gypsies saw moss and lichen covered boulder fields that date back to the last Ice Age. The trail led through black and grizzly bear habitat, and up to a viewpoint overlooking glaciers and the mountain barrier of Rogers Pass. The two RV Gypsies did not meet bears, thank goodness, and could not be sure where the trail was at times.

big boulders Lee Duquette and lichen covered rocks
Karen Duquette makes her way between the big boulders a symbol on the rock
Lee Duquette examines the moss covered rocks the trail starts to get confusing here.
 
a photo of  the map on the bulletin board

If you look on the upper right side of the map above, it shows rocks with the symbol in the photos below, then the trail goes into the rock area. The two RV Gypsies did not have the map with them because the brochures in the parking lot were all gone. They did not like the looks of the trail going upwards, and just weren't sure of which way to continue, so they walked back to the parking lot to look at the map on the bulletin board again.

symbol on the rock symbol on the rock

Below: The two RV Gypsies went back to where the sign with the arrow pointing right was located. But this time, instead of going to the right, they headed up the steep stone staircase towards the glacier. (This is the trail to the left on the map above).

Karen Duquette at the rock staircase the rock staircase that starts the upper trail

The upper Rockgarden Trail offered a rustic and primitive experience. It is a single file trail with rock staircases, stepping stones, slippery and steep sections and sharp cliff faces. It is recommend that hikers wear footwear appropriate for backcountry-style hiking, and that hikers keep children under their strict control. The Rockgarden trail is not recommended for pets. Below, a bit of the glacier can be seen behind Karen Duquette, although the glacier is actually a bit washed out in the photo.

Karen Duquette Karen Duquette  on the Rock Garden trail

Below: The two RV Gypsies continued up the trail and climbed over big boulders. There was one area (shown in the photos below) with a railing that was a big help.

Lee Duquette and the railing Karen Duquette at the railing

Below: A glimpse of the road below.

A glimpse of the road below

Below: Another symbol in a rock, about 1/3 of the way up the trail.

the trail Another symbol in a rock

Below: Lee Duquette did very well climbing on the trail - now that he has new knees.

Lee Duquette Lee Duquette climbing over the boulders

Below: The Rock Garden trail wandered through an old rock avalanche area. Note in the pictures, nature hard at work eroding the rocks by growing trees on them.

Lee Duquette Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail
Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail
Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail

Below: Karen Duquette is in the next four photos below. Very proud of herself for making the climb with a bad knee. The knee brace helped a lot.

Karen Duquette Karen Duquette

Below: The trees are pretty tall here. Karen Duquette can barely be seen in the second photo below. Good thing she wore a white blouse instead of a green blouse.

Karen Duquette Karen Duquette
Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail
Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail
Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail Big boulders on the Rock Garden trail

SURPRISE! Lee Duquette's cell phone rang. It was John and Renee calling. The two RV Gypsies were in shock that they had cell service up on top of these rocks. After all, they did not get cell service most of the time in campgrounds.

Lee's cell phone rang Lee's cell phone rang
big boulders

Below: The two RV Gypsies made it to the top of the rocks. Then the trail went into the woods, so the two RV Gypsies decided not to go any further, because they knew that trail went along the top of the ridge for miles. Plus, this was the most photographic part of the hike.

Lee Duquette Lee Duquette

Below: The two RV Gypsies took various views of the glacier as they climbed up and back down the big boulders.

the glacier the glacier
the glacier the glacier
the glacier the glacier
the glacier the glacier
look below

This is not a linear website, so visitors always have options of where to navigate next. Below are three of those options.

please continue on to travel adventures of the two RV Gypsies Visit sites in the order they happened and continue on to Canyon Hot Springs Resort in Revelstoke.

OR

go back to the British Columbia menu RETURN to the British Columbia main menu.

OR

please continue on to travel adventures of the two RV Gypsies Go to the main Canada menu for Alberta, Saskatchewan, The Yukon Territory, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia, Campobello Island, and New Brunswick.