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 …
Backpacking
After a long winter, I’m usually in a rush for summer to start so I can go backpacking. But it can be frustrating since most trails are snow-covered well into June and July. However, if you know where to look, there are lots of places to go on spring backpacking trips in British Columbia. While …
Note: I’ve updated my Mount Assiniboine hiking guide to include updated info for 2026. With its prominent Matterhorn shape, Mount Assiniboine is one of the most photographed peaks in the Canadian Rockies. And that makes hiking to Mount Assiniboine one of the most spectacular backpacking trips near Banff. I had dreamed of visiting for years, …
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 …
If you’re like me, the first part of each year is all about planning where I’ll go backpacking in the summer. One of my favourite places to go backpacking is Washington state. And many of the most spectacular backpacking trips in Washington require reservations. So I’ve put together a complete list of the 2024 Washington …
The Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park has been on my list for a LONG time. I had seen photos online of a trail stretching for kilometres beside towering cliffs and I knew I had to hike it. This August, I spent 5 days on the Rockwall Trail and it was insanely beautiful – easily …
I live in Squamish, BC on Canada’s wet, I mean West Coast and it rains a lot here. If I waited for it to stop raining, I probably would never get outside. Hiking in the rain can be really beautiful if you know how to stay safe, keep dry, and have fun. I’ve got tons …
Every year I make a trip to the Canadian Rockies to go backpacking. I love the glacier views, turquoise lakes, and alpine meadows. Here’s my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies. I’ve done most of the trips on this list and the rest are at the top of my to-do list! …
British Columbia’s wilderness is spectacular, so it’s no surprise that backpacking and backcountry camping are popular. I’ve been backpacking in BC for decades (and I even wrote a book about it), so I’ve put together a complete guide on how to make backcountry camping reservations in BC. While there are literally hundreds of places to …
British Columbia’s backcountry is gorgeous, making day hikers wish they didn’t have to leave. The next logical step is a backpacking trip, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why I put together this list of easy backpacking trips in BC. I’ve been backpacking in BC for 20 years (and I …