These days, Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park is the closest backcountry camping to my house in Squamish – it’s literally just up the street. But I’ve been going to Elfin Lakes for two decades – it was my first winter backpacking trip back in 2003! I’ve hiked the Elfin Lakes Trail more times than …
Day Hiking Guides
The High Note Trail is the most spectacular hike in Whistler, but it’s also the most expensive. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking the High Note Trail so you can decide if it’s worth the price. I live in nearby Squamish, so I’ve hiked the High Note tons of times. Honestly, I like …
This list of the most Instagrammed hikes in Vancouver was first published in February 2017. I update the numbers each year. I’ve run the numbers fresh for 2024… (drumroll please)… and this year the hikes on the list haven’t changed – but their order has a bit. (You’ll still have to read the whole post …
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: I’ve updated this post with the latest 2025 information for Lake O’Hara including info about the random-draw day-use bus lottery. A few years ago, I FINALLY made it to Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park. It’s such a gorgeous area that I actually struggle to describe it. Of course, there’s a brilliant blue-green alpine …
When I was researching my trip to Haida Gwaii, I kept coming across photos of a beautifully weathered shipwreck rising out of a sandy beach. I knew I had to visit it! On my trip, I hiked the Pesuta Shipwreck Trail and can confirm it’s really cool in person. To save you from doing a …
Tow Hill is one of the best hikes in Haida Gwaii. The short trail is located in the northern part of the archipelago in Naikoon Provincial Park. Known as Taaw Tldáaw in Haida, Tow Hill is next to the Blow Hole, another gorgeous natural feature. I couldn’t find that much reliable info about it before …
Have you ever dreamt of standing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Or seeing the mighty Colorado River up close? While most visitors to this National Park only see the Grand Canyon from its rims, the truly adventurous can experience it from a completely different perspective by taking on the challenging and breathtaking Bright Angel …
Brandywine Falls is one of the most popular stops on the Sea to Sky Highway near Whistler. It is a short and easy hike to the spectacular 70-metre-tall (230-foot) falls which cascade over volcanic rocks into a deep canyon. I live nearby in Squamish and visited the falls countless times. The falls are great in …
The Whistler Train Wreck hike is one of the most popular short trails in Whistler, and it’s easy to see why. The star attraction is the graffiti-covered train cars, abandoned since the 1950s. But the forest scenery and picturesque suspension bridge along the way also add to the beauty. I live just down the road …