Ever since I discovered backpacking nearly 20 years ago, it’s been my favourite outdoor activity. Some of my most memorable backpacking trips have been close to home in British Columbia. So I put together a list of the best backpacking trips in BC.
If you’re going to take time off to go backpacking, you don’t want to waste it on sub-par hikes. All the trips on my list are vacation-worthy – you won’t mind travelling a bit to get there.
It includes the best backpacking trips near Vancouver, on Vancouver Island, and in Eastern BC including the Rocky Mountains. For each trip, I’ve got details on difficulty, duration, and distance, and planning tips including fees, reservations, and links to trail guides.
I’ve also made sure that there are trips for both beginners and experts, and lots in between. And there are trips to suit any vacation length with a few quick overnighters, lots of long weekend-length trips, and a few that stretch over a week.
A few of these trips require reservations, but most do not. Read my guides to BC backpacking reservation dates and tips for backpacking in BC without reservations for more info.
You can find more info about a lot of these hikes in my books Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
Get My Books
Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island
Discover BC’s best backpacking trips
- 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
- 35 backpacking trips and day hikes on Vancouver Island
- Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
Here’s a handy map I made for you that shows the locations for each of my picks for the best backpacking trips in BC.
This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.
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Best Backpacking Trips Near Vancouver
Howe Sound Crest Trail
Duration: 2-4 days
Distance: 31.7 km traverse
Best Months: Mid-July to September
Difficulty: Very Challenging
Elevation Gain: 660 m
Fees and Reservations: None.
This very rough trail is more like a route in some places and requires occasional hands-on scrambling moves as you traverse a chain of rocky summits high above Howe Sound near Vancouver. If you’re up for the challenge, the views are worth it.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
Watersprite Lake
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 17 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-June to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 660 m
Fees and Reservations: The hut requires reservations and costs $20/person/night. Advance reservations and fees are required for camping.
Watersprite Lake is an Instagram sensation thanks to its ice blue water and dramatic rock tower. We can credit the BC Mountaineering Club for building the trail to the lake along with a cabin and campground. I think it’s one of the best hikes in Squamish.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. Make cabin reservations through the BCMC.
Get My Book…
Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.
- 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
- Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
- Advice for extending your trip
- Points of cultural and natural history
Elfin Lakes
Heads up: Day passes are required at Garibaldi Lake in summer. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.
Duration: 2 to 4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 22 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 900 m
Best months: July to September
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $10/person/night
Even though the hike to Elfin Lakes is on an old road, it’s worth doing since the views are so incredible. You can see Mount Garibaldi/Nch’kay and lots of glaciers. Its worth spending more than one night at the Elfin Lakes campground or Elfin Lakes Shelter to do some of the great day hikes.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my Elfin Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on reservations, see Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Garibaldi Lake
Heads up: Day passes are required at Garibaldi Lake in summer. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.
Duration: 2 to 4 days
Distance: 18 km round trip
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 900 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $10/person/night
Located just north of Squamish, Garibaldi Lake is one of the most popular backpacking trips in BC. But it’s also one of the most picturesque with tumbling glaciers, alpine meadows, and unique volcanic geology. From the lake, you can tackle incredible day hikes like Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on reservations, see Garibaldi Provincial Park.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Russet Lake
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 25 to 29 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-July to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 305 to 1280 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $10/person/night. Hut fees are $50/person/night.
Nestled into the mountains above Whistler, Russet Lake is home to a backcountry campground and a luxurious new hut. There are two ways to get there: a steep trail from the village or an undulating traverse across mountain summits from the top of the Whistler Gondola via the High Note Trail.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For camping reservations, see Garibaldi Provincial Park. For hut reservations, see the Spearhead Huts Society.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
READ NEXT: 2023 BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know
Wedgemount Lake
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 13 km round trip
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Very Challenging
Elevation Gain: 1160 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $10/person/night
The hike to Wedgemount Lake is punishingly steep. But at the top, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous lake ringed with summits. Hike beyond the far end of the lake to touch a glacier, which has retreated an alarming 400 m in less than 30 years.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on reservations, see Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group
Joffre Lakes
Heads up: Day passes are required at Joffre Lakes in summer. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 10 km round trip
Best Months: Late June to early October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 320 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $5/person/night.
The chain of three Joffre Lakes near Pemberton make up one of the Vancouver area’s most popular day hikes. But leave the day-time crowds behind by scoring a coveted reservation to camp at the Upper Lake. Listen for chunks of glacier crashing down the rocks on warm days. This is also one of my picks for the best easy backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my Joffre Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on reservations, see Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.
READ NEXT: How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
Sunshine Coast Trail
Duration: 8-14 days
Distance: 180 km traverse
Best Months: Late May to October
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 1305 m
Fees and Reservations: None.
The Sunshine Coast Trail winds through the forests along the length of the upper Sunshine Coast near the town of Powell River. Hike by the ocean, through old-growth forest, and across mountain tops, staying in rustic backcountry huts along the way.
More Info: Find details on shorter backpacking trips you can do on sections of the SCT in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For full details on the trail, pick up a copy of The Sunshine Coast Trail Guide Book by R. E. Walz or visit the Sunshine Coast Trail website.
Psst! Some sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail are hikeable all year and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
READ NEXT: Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies
HBC Heritage Trail
Duration: 4-6 days
Distance: 74 km traverse
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 1525 m
Fees and Reservations: None.
The HBC Heritage Trail traces a historic route through the Cascade Mountains followed by fur traders during the 1840s and 50s from Hope to Tulameen. Info panels along the way explain settler and Indigenous history. This trail is not well-known, making it one of the quieter hikes on this list of the best backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Find details on shorter backpacking trips you can do on sections of the HBC Heritage Trail in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For full details on the trail, pick up a copy of The HBC Trail Book and the HBC Topo Map, or visit the HBC Heritage Trail website.
Get My Book…
Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.
- 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
- Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
- Advice for extending your trip
- Points of cultural and natural history
Heather Trail
Duration: 2 to 5 days
Distance: 45 km round trip
Best Months: July to mid-September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 320 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $5/person/night. The Buckhorn and Kicking Horse campgrounds requires reservations. Nicomen Lake Campground is first-come, first-served
This is Manning Park’s signature trail. With a start high in the alpine, you stay above treeline in meadows of wildflowers for nearly the entire length. Take a side trip to summit Three Brothers Mountain and dip in chilly Nicomen Lake.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees, see Manning Provincial Park.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Frosty Mountain
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 14 km round trip
Best Months: July to early October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 670 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $5/person/night. Reservations are required between late July and late October.
Ascend the highest mountain in Manning Park for panoramic views. Break up your hike by camping at Frosty Creek camp. Plan your visit for fall when the larch tree needles turn golden.
More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, and my Frosty Mountain trail guide. For info on camping fees, see Manning Provincial Park.
Best Backpacking Trips on Vancouver Island
Juan de Fuca Trail
Duration: 3 to 5 days
Distance: 47 km
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 190 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping costs $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
This gorgeous coastal trail is easier to access than the West Coast Trail thanks to first-come, first-served camping and trailheads close to Victoria. But the hike is just as challenging and spectacular, making it easy to include on a list of the best backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my Juan de Fuca Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. For info on camping fees, see Juan de Fuca Provincial Park.
Did you know? The Juan de Trail is hikeable all year and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
READ NEXT: How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
West Coast Trail
Duration: 5-8 days
Distance: 75 km
Best Months: June to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 225 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $25.75. Trail fees are $180. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees of $10/person/day.
The West Coast Trail is Canada’s premier multi-day backpacking trip. It follows the wild coastline for 75 kilometres, up and down ladders, across cable cars, through mud holes, and along beautiful beaches as it travels between the isolated towns of Port Renfrew and Bamfield.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my West Coast Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. For reservation info, see Pacific Rim National Park.
Psst! The West Coast Trail opens in May and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia. AND… You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Della Falls Trail
Duration: 2-5 days
Distance: 32 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-May to September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 540 m
Fees and Reservations: None
Della Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in BC at 440 m tall. (Some sources claim it’s the tallest waterfall in Canada, but that’s not true.)
The hike starts with a boat trip across Great Central Lake. From there you hike up a river valley to the base of the falls. Allow time for the 6 km side trip to Love Lake where there is an incredible view of the entire waterfall from above.
More Info: Get all the details in my Della Falls Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. Join the Della Falls Facebook group for the latest trail conditions.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Get My Book…
Backpacking on Vancouver Island
Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips
- 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
- Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
- Advice for extending your trip
- Points of cultural and natural history
Wild Side Trail
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 22 km round trip
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: None
Fees and Reservations: Trail fees are $15/person/day.
This trail takes you along the shoreline of Flores Island in Ahousaht First Nation territory. Most of the hike is along incredible sandy beaches. The trail is a short water taxi ride from Tofino. This off-the-beaten-path hike doesn’t get many visitors, making it one of the quietest hikes on this list of the best backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my Wild Side Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
Heads up! The Wild Side Trail opens in May and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia AND my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC. PLUS… You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
READ NEXT: How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
Lake Helen Mackenzie Loop
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 8 to 15 km loop
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 190 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
This beginner-friendly loop starts high in the alpine of Strathcona Provincial Park at Mount Washington ski area, which means there is little elevation gain. Two different loop trips are possible, each with its own lakeside campground. This trip made my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. See Strathcona Provincial Park for trail info and camping fees.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Read next: Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
Circlet Lake and Mount Albert Edward
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 31 km round trip
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 980 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
Summit Mount Albert Edward, one of the highest peaks on Vancouver Island. On the way, you’ll stay at tiny Circlet Lake. This Strathcona Provincial Park trip also starts at Mount Washington and is a rite of passage for many Vancouver Island hikers.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. See Strathcona Provincial Park for trail info and camping fees.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group
Bedwell Lakes
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 22 km round trip
Best Months: July to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 850 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
Climb steeply up through the forest to emerge on the granite shores of Bedwell and Baby Bedwell Lakes, each with their own campground. Intrepid hikers can continue to isolated Cream Lake, which makes a great day trip destination. The trailhead is in a remote area near Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. See Strathcona Provincial Park for trail info and camping fees.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Elk River Trail
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 22 km round trip
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 640 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
Follow the trail through a beautiful forest alongside the shady Elk River Trail to its terminus at picturesque Landslide Lake and great views of Mount Colonel Foster. There are two campgrounds along the river to choose from. Find the trailhead along the highway to Gold River.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. See Strathcona Provincial Park for trail info and camping fees.
Nootka Trail
Duration: 3 to 5 days
Distance: 35 km traverse
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: None
Fees and Reservations: None.
Arrange a water taxi or floatplane to shuttle you to the Nootka Trail on Nootka Island near Gold River. It’s a remote coastal hike that sees few visitors but has incredible scenery. Highlights include sandy beaches, wolf sightings, Calvin Falls, and the tiny Mowachaht First Nation village of Yuquot.
More Info: See my trip report from my Nootka Trail hike. Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
Did you know? The Nootka Trail made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
READ NEXT: How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
Get My Book…
Backpacking on Vancouver Island
Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips
- 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
- Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
- Advice for extending your trip
- Points of cultural and natural history
Tatchu Trail
Duration: 3 to 4 days
Distance: 20-40 km (traverse or out-and-back)
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate/Very Challenging
Elevation Gain: 30 m
Fees and Reservations: None.
The Tatchu Peninsula is a wilderness hike on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The hike traces a route down the west side of the peninsula, linking numerous beaches with short overland trails. There are no formal facilities or campsites. You can do the easier (and more scenic) northern section as an out-and-back or complete a very challenging traverse.
More info: See my Tatchu Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
North Coast Trail
Duration: 4 to 5 days
Distance: 43 to 59 km traverse
Best Months: May to September
Difficulty: Very Challenging
Elevation Gain: 240 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
The rough and rugged trail follows the coastline around the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Start with a water taxi from Port Hardy, then get ready for lots of mud, steep hills with rope assists, and rocky beaches.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my North Coast Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. Join the Cape Scott Park Facebook group for the latest trail conditions. For camping fee info, see Cape Scott Provincial Park.
Psst! The North Coast Trail is a great destination between May and September, so it made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia AND… You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Cape Scott Trail
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 47 km
Best Months: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 100 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
Follow an old settler’s route through the muddy forest to the wild beaches at the north end of Vancouver Island. Choose from several campsites on sandy beaches, then day hike out to the Cape Scott Lighthouse.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my Cape Scott Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. Join the Cape Scott Park Facebook group for the latest trail conditions. For camping fee info, see Cape Scott Provincial Park.
Check it out: The Cape Scott Trail is hikeable all year, so it made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia AND… You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Best Backpacking Trips in Eastern BC and the Rocky Mountains
Okanagan High Rim Trail
Duration: 3 to 4 days
Distance: 58 km traverse
Best Months: Late-April to October
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Elevation Gain: 800 m
Fees and Reservations: None.
This is one of the newest backpacking trips in BC. It follows a high route along a ridge top between Vernon and Kelowna. Along the way, you’ll pass by numerous viewpoints where you can look down to Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake.
More Info: Get the details from the Okanagan High Rim Trail Association.
Did you know? The Okanagan HighRim Trail made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia AND… You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
Spectrum Lake
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 12 km round trip
Best Months: June to October
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 209 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $5/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
This pretty lake sits deep in Monashee Provincial Park near Cherryville in the Okanagan. It’s a short and easy hike, perfect for beginners and families. The lake is nestled between forested peaks and has a dock for swimming. It’s on my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Get the details from my friend Gemma’s Spectrum Lake trail guide. For info on camping fees, see Monashee Provincial Park.
Gwillim Lakes
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 12 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 890 m
Fees and Reservations: None
These spectacular lakes are located in Valhalla Provincial Park in the Kootenays above the Slocan Valley. There are several backcountry campgrounds at Gwillim Lakes and nearby Drinnon Lake. The alpine terrain makes for incredible views.
More Info: Get the details from my friend Leigh’s Gwillim Lakes trail guide.
Kaslo Lake
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 18 km round trip
Best Months: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 580 m
Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are $10/person/night. All campsites are first-come, first-served. Cabin rental is $350/night.
Hike into the backcountry of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson to camp next to Kaslo Lake. Follow beautiful trails through the alpine to viewpoints and peaks. You can also book the palatial Kokanee Glacier Cabin nearby.
More Info: See Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park for trail info and camping fees. See the Alpine Club of Canada for cabin reservations.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Eva and Jade Lakes
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 12 to 18 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-July to September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 180-430 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations required. Camping fees are $10/person/night. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees of $10/person/day.
This alpine hike is easily accessible thanks to the paved Meadows in the Sky Parkway at Mount Revelstoke National Park. Walk through the alpine to a beautiful campsite on the shores of Eva Lake, an easy distance for beginners and made my list of beginner-friendly backpacking trips in BC. If you want more solitude, head over a pass to Jade Lake.
More Info: Get the details in my Mount Revelstoke National Park guide. See Mount Revelstoke National Park for reservations.
Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group
Hermit Meadows Trail
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 13 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-July to September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 819 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations required. Camping fees are $10/person/night. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees of $10/person/day.
This steep trail in Glacier National Park climbs relentlessly from the Trans-Canada Highway near Rogers Pass. It tops out in a spectacular alpine bowl with meadows and a great view.
More Info: Get the details in my Revelstoke hiking trails guide. See Glacier National Park for reservations.
READ NEXT: 2023 BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know
Mount Assiniboine
Duration: 4 to 6 days
Distance: 52 to 55 km round trip
Best Months: Mid-July to mid-September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 430-480 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations and fees are required to camp in the park through BC Parks and to camp on the access trails through Banff National Park.
The scenery at Mount Assiniboine is postcard-worthy, but getting there can be a challenge. The hike itself is long, but not too difficult and the camping at Lake Magog is gorgeous. But it requires reservations in both a BC Park and Banff National Park, which can be tough to arrange.
More Info: See my huge Mount Assiniboine hiking guide for trail info and reservation strategies. See Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for reservations. See Banff National Park for reservations to camp on the access trails on the way to Assiniboine. Join the Mount Assiniboine Facebook group.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC. It’s also on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.
Rockwall Trail
Duration: 4 to 5 days
Distance: 55 km traverse
Best Months: Late July to mid-September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 920 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $11.50/per reservation. Camping fees are $10/person/night. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees of $10/person/day.
This spectacular trail traverses the mountains of Kootenay National Park near Banff, climbing up and over several high passes. There are glacier views, alpine lakes, and the best wildflower meadows I’ve ever seen. I think it has the best effort to reward ratio of all the backpacking trips in BC.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my Rockwall Trail guide. For reservation info, see Kootenay National Park. And join the Rockwall Trail Facebook group.
READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
Iceline and Whaleback Trails
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 28 km loop
Best Months: Mid-July to early September
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 710 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $11.50/per reservation. Camping fees are $10/person/night. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees of $10/person/day.
Combine several trails in Yoho National Park near Field to make an epic loop that takes in the spectacular Iceline and Whaleback Trails. The views of nearby peaks and waterfalls are breathtaking. Choose from two backcountry campgrounds along the way.
More Info: See Yoho National Park for trail info and reservations.
Berg Lake
Heads up: The Berg Lake Trail is partially closed. It suffered extensive damage due to flooding in 2021. As of summer 2023, the trail is open up to Kinney Lake only. BC Parks plans to reopen the full trail in 2025.
Duration: 2 to 4 days
Distance: 42 km round trip
Best Months: July to early September
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 800 m
Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and cost $6/night/tent pad. Camping fees are $10/person/night
This incredible trail near Valemount follows the Robson River uphill to Berg Lake, named for the glaciers crashing into it from Mount Robson, the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Plan to spend a few days in the area to tackle spectacular day hikes.
More Info: Get details on this hike in my Berg Lake Trail guide. For reservation info, see Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC. It’s also on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.
So there you have it: 30 recommendations for the best backpacking trips in BC. How many of these trips have you done? Is there an amazing backpacking destination that I left off the list? Tell me in the comments.
Get My Books
Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island
Discover BC’s best backpacking trips
- 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
- 35 backpacking trips and day hikes on Vancouver Island
- Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
- Detailed maps and photos
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Adam
Thursday 28th of September 2023
Taryn, thank you so much! BEST. SUMMER. EVER!!! I completed all of the hikes on your list, and many more in your book and in Alberta over a four month period. All in all, I completed more than 2000km and over 50 mountain summits.
Prior to this, I had ZERO backpacking experience, I was obese, extremely out of shape, and am in my 40’s. I used your guides to plan out the logistics of this trip… all that was left for me to do was to keep up and complete this grueling itinerary. I was extremely determined and stubborn. Failure was not an option. Eventually, after beating up your body everyday and refusing to quit, your body just accepts its new reality and adapts. The transformation was so satisfying. I was too tired to think clearly most of the time. It was amazing!
To summarize your list: when I didn’t think it could get any better… it did! I can see why all these hikes are on the list, and I cannot give you a favorite, since they are all so beautiful and unique. Exceptional weather made a huge difference.
I have a few suggestions, requests, or criticisms.
1) Would you consider writing a similar review for Alberta? Best backpacking/hikes in Alberta? You did such a good job with BC. After traveling around BC, I was surprised how much incredible hiking was close to home in Alberta. Some of your hikes are literally next to the border (Yoho, Assiniboine, O’Hara for example). The world would be a better place if you made a list for Alberta!
2) The Great Divide Trail… it’s not on here?! Considering it’s a trail along the Alberta/BC border, I would consider this to be BC… have you hiked this trail and would you consider writing a review for it? It covers multiple areas in your list. In terms of legitimate backpacking, I don’t think it get much more genuine than the Great Divide Trail. It showcases the best the Rocky Mountains have to offer in BC and Alberta.
3) mountain summits… could you include these in your overview/guides on some of these areas/hikes? Similar to the “extending your trip” section in your book.
I can’t “pick favorites”… but mountain summits were by far the highlights of these incredible hikes. Not walking near or around the mountains… walking up to the top of the mountains. When I planed for this trip, I did not expect to do any summits. After completing some summits, I could not imagine doing anything else. Completing some of the hikes on this list without completing the surrounding summits no longer felt like a genuine accomplishment. This list of “best backpacking trips/hikes” could be just mountain summits.
For example: Mount Cook, Mount Weart, and the Armchair Traverse above Wedgemount Lake; Mount Overlord and Whirlwind Peak above Russet Lake; Mount Slalok and Tszil Mountain above Joffrey Lakes; Mount Yukness, Mount Schafer, and Little Odaray around Lake O’Hara; Sunburst Peak and Wonder Peak in the Assiniboine area; I completed 18 peaks in the Garibaldi area alone. There are many, many, more. None of them are technical in the sense they are not class five (legitimate climbing), and do not require glacier travel.
I may have planned my trips differently had I been aware of all these mountain summits. Not sure if you chose to exclude these because you consider them to be mountaineering or out of most people’s ability. They were by far the hardest part of my trip… but were by far the most rewarding part of my trip. Mountains get pretty real pretty fast, can be extremely terrifying and inhospitable places… but I was so surprised and amazed with how many of them I was able to walk up, one footstep at a time. In retrospect, this was the best experience I had. You could always make people aware of what’s around… they can decide for themselves if it’s within their ability or worth the risks involved… but the suggestion may just expose someone to the most incredible experience of their lives… that they otherwise wouldn’t have thought was possible.
Thank you Taryn… your guides/overviews planted an idea in my head that I worked hard to make a reality. You inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself physically and mentally. I had no previous experience, was fat, out of shape, and hiking alone. I still have a ways to go, and many more places to walk, but what an amazing time! It’s possible to do so much in such a short period of time if you are determined enough to do it.
Taryn Eyton
Friday 29th of September 2023
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed my book and website so much. To answer your questions. I don't have any plans to write a Canadian Rockies guidebook. The only way to easily do that would be to move to the Rockies for a few summers, and while that sounds amazing, it's not financially viable for me. I didn't include the GDT in my list because its too long - most backpacking visiting my site are looking for trips ranging from overnights up to about a week in length. While the GDT is an amazing accomplishment, it's just too long for most people. I have included some of the most popular BC sections of the GDT on y list, like the Rockwall Trail. And finally, I only included summits where there was an obvious trail to the peak from a backcountry campground. Scrambling and route finding outside the realm of expertise for most of my audience. In general, the hikes I recommend stick to class 3 terrain - class 4 is too much for most of my audience.
Jim And Sue Caruth
Monday 15th of August 2022
Taryn - looking at the ones we have done on your list makes us 100% sure your other recommendations are worthy. We will work at ticking as many as we can. Thanks for this list - it looks great. We knew of some but did not know some others. Awsome! Just in Port Hardy to start into 4 days on Cape Scott tomorrow - it’s drizzling - lol. Ps - kinda think the rock wall is more than a moderate hike especially if wedge is getting a challenging rating but we are splitting hairs here.
Don
Monday 28th of February 2022
Great list Taryn - thanks for sharing. I have heard some good things about the following trips in Northern BC, but I have not done them - maybe some can be additions to a future expanded edition of your list (i.e. 35 or 40 best): Wokkpash Valley-MacDonald Creek Loop Trail, Chilkoot Trail (BC & Alaska), Rainbow Range (Tweedsmuir PP), Mt Edziza Traverse.
Taryn Eyton
Tuesday 1st of March 2022
I hiked the Chilkoot Trail back in 2015 and it was great but I didn't put it on this list. It is technically half in Alaska, half in BC, but most people think of it as the Yukon since it's in a weird sliver of BC. Mt Edziza is also on my some day list.
Andreas Moser
Monday 3rd of January 2022
Thanks for bringing back to memory some hikes around Canmore and Banff
Anna
Wednesday 29th of December 2021
Thank you so much for sharing this list of places Taryn. Can’t wait to visit some of them in the future :)