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 …
Trails
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 …
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 …
Cliff Gilker Park near Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast is a great place for a short and easy hike. It has a network of forested trails that lead to lots of waterfalls and cascades. If you love moss, ferns, mushrooms, and tall Douglas firs, this hike is for you. I lived in Gibsons for …
Soames Hill is not a lofty summit: It stands only 250m tall. But the views from the peak are incredible and it’s a beautiful short hike through the forest, then up a well-built staircase to the top. The Soames Hill hike is a must-do for anyone visiting BC’s Sunshine Coast. I spent five months in …
Langdale Falls is a gorgeous 40-foot-tall waterfall cascading into a mossy canyon near Gibsons on BC’s Sunshine Coast. There are two ways to hike to Langdale Falls and both are relatively easy and definitely worthwhile. I’ve got directions and info for both ways to hike to Landale Falls in this post. I lived in Gibsons …
Heads up: The Berg Lake Trail is currently closed. It suffered extensive damage due to flooding in late June and early July 2021. In 2024 the trail was open as far as Whitehorn Camp, but the full trail will not re-open until 2025. The Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is one of …
Revelstoke is my favourite mountain town in BC. And one of the big reasons for that is the amazing hiking. Last summer I took a week-long trip to Revelstoke just to hike. After spending lots of time in the area, I’ve put together a list of the best Revelstoke hikes for you. No matter what …
If you want to get off-the-beaten-path in Whistler, try hiking to Parkhurst Ghost Town. This former logging settlement on the shores of Green Lake is littered with historical artefacts including collapsed buildings, abandoned cars, old stoves, and even an intact cabin. The town has been uninhabited since the 1960s and is slowly being reclaimed by …