The Creston Valley proved to be the toughest challenge Dewdney faced in locating the trail on solid ground. The area is the outlet of the Kootenay River into Kootenay Lake and in 1865 when Dewdney was working on the trail, it was subject to flooding each year. Mother Nature created havoc with any trail building Dewdney hoped to maintain past the current season by washing away most evidence of his presence. The one area that was guaranteed by previous visitors to the area to provide a dry passage was located meters south of the Canadian-US border and as such was no longer an option.
