The short answer to whether or not you can do the West Coast Trail solo is yes. Yes, you can, if you’re prepared. In fact, it’s one of the best solo backpacking trails in British Columbia. Before you make a decision about attempting it, ask yourself these questions first: The answer to all four should…
Everyone loves a new trail, especially at the time of year when more people are heading outside. In this 2025 roundup of new trails in BC, we bring you everything from hiking trails to bike parks, all places you can explore in or around your community. Our province’s vast trail network is managed by hundreds…
Buckle up, folks, because my enthusiasm for the Black Tusk Ridge hike knows no bounds. Views? Epic. Slog? Absolutely. People? Surprisingly minimal, although it was a weekday. If you’ve been up Panorama Ridge but haven’t been up Black Tusk, then boy, are you missing out. The views are just as good, if not better, and…
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, hmm, I’d like my butt absolutely whipped by a hike today, then the Golden Ears Summit Trail is for you. While this trail is classified as difficult, I’d argue that this is too broad a term. This was more like Extra Extra Crazy Hard. I’ve been on plenty of…
In the old days, most people found trails and other places by word of mouth or just getting out there and exploring. It was easy to find quiet spots, and there was an unspoken understanding that some should stay secret, known only to those who stumbled across them. Today, with outdoor recreation more popular now…
Once envisioned as a walking path stretching across British Columbia, the Centennial Trail was an ambitious idea born in the early 1960s, when outdoor recreation was gaining popularity. Spearheaded by the Canadian Youth Hostels Association, the aim was to create a path that would appeal to all outdoor enthusiasts, with different sections catering to hiking,…
Even if you were bushwhacking deep in the wilderness, it’s difficult to accidentally cross the Canada–U.S. border, because it’s been physically carved into the landscape. Known as “the slash”, this 6.1-metre-wide, 2171-kilometre-long clearcut visually marks the border between the countries in wilderness areas. While the slash itself would make an epic trail, in reality there…
Hayward Lake, once a part of the Stave River, lies nestled between two hydroelectric dams, with the Ruskin Dam having created it. Located northwest of Mission, the lake is a popular swimming and recreation area in the summer, with two swimming beaches, a dog beach, trails, and a picnic area. On the east side of…
April 26, 2025 – With the Juan de Fuca trail closed through the 2025 summer season, many backpackers have found themselves scrambling to make new plans for a summer trek. The 47-kilometre-long Juan de Fuca is a great trail not just because of its beauty and ruggedness, but because of its accessibility. Being easy to…
There’s a trail near my place that’s had an ongoing silent argument for the past decade or two over whether there should be rocks in the old springboard notches of this one old stump. Having the rocks there makes it look like the stump has eyes, you see. Every time I go there, I look…
