Stop #3: Following the Valley to Twin Falls

 

As you follow the trail South East into the valley, you will pass through a mixture of wooded areas and open areas over streams and rock slide scars. These scars are distinguishable by swaths of larger size boulders and torn-down trees that are perpendicular to the direction of the valley. You will also notice the trail has relatively leveled out, and only climbs around 75 m (250 f) for the next 4 km (2.5 mi) and this offers the perfect chance to observe some of the geology around you! First notice the valleys V-shape through this corridor, a result of down-cutting by the Hell-Roaring Creek. Notice Mount Boswell looming over the valley ahead and the valleys wall opposite the trail, composed of relatively flat, level beds of rock. These rocks are some of the oldest exposed in the Canadian Rockies, comprised of lower and upper Purcell Supergroup, a massive package of limestones, dolostones, and argillites that can be up to 16 km (10 mi) in thickness in some places. The Purcell Supergroup composes most of the rock exposed around Waterton, and has travelled far from home, riding a wave of tectonic activity from the South West over 140 km (85 mi)over the soft Cretacious shales of the Eastern plains. After around 3.5 km (2.2 mi) you wil come across a short detour to Twin Falls, a set of two waterfalls tucked back into the woods.