Most hikes go to a mountain top, a lake or a viewpoint. Those hikes are great, but sometimes you want something different. Something a little unusual. Something off-the-beaten path. Or even something even a little bit weird. Well don’t worry: I got you! I’ve got a list of 15 unusual hikes near Vancouver. These hikes …
Canada
The North Coast Trail is a challenging 43km multi-day backpacking trip along the northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. I hiked the trail twice (to research my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island). I’ve put together a section-by-section overview of the North Coast Trail to give you a taste of the trail and help …
The North Coast Trail is a multi-day wilderness hike across the very northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It’s a challenging and remote hike through old-growth rainforest, along beaches, and across muddy coastal bogs. The 43-kilometre-long hike is difficult but beautiful. I hiked the trail twice (to research my book Backpacking on …
Mount Revelstoke National Park is one of my favourite Canadian National Parks since it doesn’t get crazy crowded and it has incredible hiking. It’s also the only place in Canada’s National Parks where you can drive to the top of a towering mountain. I like it so much I’ve actually been there three times in …
Even in the age of the internet and social media, books are still one of my favourite ways to get info about hiking trails. I’m a bit of a hiking guidebook conoisseur. I own over 100 hiking guide books, most of them for British Columbia. In this post, I’ll give you my recommendations for the …
If you aren’t used to backpacking in the Canadian Rockies, it can be tough to figure out what to pack for the Rockwall Trail. It’s a high elevation route that crosses lots of windy, treeless mountain passes. But the camps are deep in shady valley bottoms. I hiked it in mid-August last year and came …
British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast is only 40 minutes by ferry from Vancouver, but it feels worlds apart. The quiet coastline is dotted with cute towns, beautiful beaches, gorgeous hiking trails, and lots of great boutiques and cafes. In this post, I’ve got a big list of all the best things to do on the Sunshine …
On British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast the lush rainforest reaches from the mountain tops to the ocean, with gorgeous hiking trails everywhere. Need help choosing a trail? Here are the 21 best hikes on the Sunshine Coast. I lived in Gibsons for five months in the winter of 2020/21. I went hiking every weekend and some …
The hike to Skookumchuck Narrows is one of the most popular things to do on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. It’s an easy trail through a beautiful rainforest to an ocean viewpoint where you can watch the tide rush into and out of a narrow inlet, creating huge whirlpools and rapids. I spent five months in …
Dakota Ridge near Sechelt is the best place to cross-country ski or snowshoe on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a community-run ski area with a network of fun trails through the forest. I lived in Gibsons for one winter. My husband and I bought season’s passes for Dakota Ridge and headed up there weekly to snowshoe. …