I first heard about the East Coast Trail over 20 years ago when I was living in Halifax. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally hike this spectacular network of coastal trails on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula near St. John’s. While the entire trail is over 300 km long, it’s made up of …
Trail guide
Tenquille Lake near Pemberton is one of the most spectacular hiking locations in the Sea to Sky area… and that’s saying a lot since I think it’s the most beautiful part of BC. I’ve made two trips into this area, so I’ve put together a complete Tenquille Lake Trail hiking and backpacking guide for you. …
I live in Squamish, so I hike in the Sea to Sky area a lot. And one of my favourite trails is Russet Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler. There are three different routes to get there (two of which are gorgeous), and you can camp or stay in a pretty luxurious backcountry hut …
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 …
I’ve been driving the Sea to Sky Highway for decades, but it wasn’t until I moved to Squamish that I could also hike or bike through this region instead of driving it. The Sea to Sky Trail stretches for 107 kilometres between Squamish and Pemberton. The route leads you through lush coastal rainforest, past rushing …
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, …
The Yoho Valley in Yoho National Park is a special place. In the Cree language, “Yoho” is an expression of wonder or awe. It pretty much means “wow!” And while it sounds cheesy, that’s what I kept saying when I spent three days backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop including the Iceline Trail. I had been …
With incredible panoramic views of the waters of Howe Sound dotted with small islands, the St. Mark’s Summit trail is one of Vancouver’s best hikes. I also love the gorgeous forest on the way to the peak. I’ve hiked this trail countless times and the view at the end always amazes me. While the first …
The High Falls Creek Trail is a great mini-adventure of a hike. It has gorgeous waterfalls in a steep canyon, mountain views, and the exhilaration of scrambling up some fixed ropes. While the scrambling sections make the trail a bit of an adventure, it’s doable for most hikers. And since this is a loop hike, …
If you’re in Whistler in summer, I recommend checking out the Blackcomb hiking trails. It’s a great network of easy and moderate trails that wind between alpine lakes and flower-filled meadows. They also have great views of mountains and glaciers. And my favourite part: lots of chances to see adorable marmots and pikas! You also …