After lots of backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies, I think I have a new favourite! The Skoki Loop has some truly stunning scenery with high mountain passes, huge alpine lakes, and easy peaks to scramble. And it’s also only a moderate hike, so you don’t have to be a hardcore hiker. I spent four …
Canadian National Parks
Getting to visit Lake O’Hara in Canada’s Yoho National Park is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Mostly because reservations are SO hard to get!) You need these Lake O’Hara packing lists to make sure you have the right gear so you can stay warm, dry and happy. I’ve been to Lake O’Hara twice: On one trip …
I’ve done a lot of hiking around Banff and in the Canadian Rockies… and the trails at Sunshine Meadows have by far the best effort-to-reward ratio. There is literally nowhere else where you can wander through wildflower meadows, hike past alpine lakes, and enjoy mountain views while barely breaking a sweat. In the winter this …
British Columbia has hundreds of options for gorgeous backpacking trips. Most are free or require a permit, but for a few special trips, you need to make reservations in advance. If you’re planning ahead of time, these are the BC backpacking reservation dates you need to know for 2025 The most spectacular trips are often …
Banff National Park’s Egypt Lake area is gorgeous: a scattering of blue glacial lakes below rugged peaks. In between, you’ll find patches of meadows, majestic alpine larch trees, and well-maintained trails. It’s a moderate hike to the Egypt Lake campground, which makes a great base camp for exploring. It’s a tough backcountry camp to reserve, …
I’ve been to Gros Morne National Park twice, and I know I’ll be making another trip someday. When you think of Newfoundland, people picture St. John’s. But while I appreciate the charm of that city’s brightly painted buildings, the rugged and verdant landscapes of Gros Morne have my heart. I planned my first visit to …
For years I sped through Yoho National Park on Highway 1, in a hurry to get to Banff. From the road, the mountains were pretty but they didn’t entice me to stop. Oh how wrong I was! Once I finally got off the highway and saw all the things to do in Yoho National Park, …
There are so many things to do in Banff all year round it can hurt your head. Most people either visit Banff in the summer or in the winter, but there are some fantastic activities to enjoy in Banff in the spring. Banff in the spring may not be the most typical time to visit. …
I’ve hiked a lot of trails in the Canadian Rockies, and Lake O’Hara has by far the best scenery: brilliant blue lakes, towering peaks, and icy glaciers. And if you are going to visit Lake O’Hara, you have to hike the Alpine Circuit. The Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is an 11-kilometre-long loop hike that circles …
Note: The devastating 2024 fires in Jasper National Park burned a small section of the northern portion of the Skyline Trail. However, the trail has fully re-opened and is safe to hike. The Skyline Trail is one of the most popular backpacking trips in Jasper National Park. And it’s easy to see why – it’s …