
Backpacking trails in British Columbia
Beautiful British Columbia is a great place for a holiday. Fly into Vancouver and from there explore everything from the rugged BC coast to the interior mountain peaks. In between, stop for a glass of wine in the vineyards of the Okanagan or some lake kayaking on one of the great lakes of the BC interior.
BC has a little bit of everything for visitors. There are stunning coastal walks on Vancouver Island and near Vancouver, where you can also combine some sea kayaking. Surfers flock to the village of Tofino, for big waves surrounded by forests.
In winter, BC is home to great ski resorts. Famed for the light champagne powder that falls here, you can choose world-class Whistler or any number of smaller regional resorts, all of which boast great ski terrain and wonderful, fun little towns nearby. Consider a trip ski touring or snowshoeing while in the mountains, a great way to enjoy some serenity in a busy world.
Summer sees hikers, climbers and mountain bikers descend on the BC mountains. Famous mountain ranges, like the Island Alps, Coast Mountains, Monashees, Purcells, Selkirks and Rockies provide enormous opportunities to explore. Many of these mountains are crossed by only a single road, providing the ability to truly get off-grid and explore.
Want to join a group trip and explore BC with a bunch of other adventurers? Check out these incredible tours in British Columbia. Explore tours on the West Coast, or other great tours on Vancouver Island, Mount Assiniboine, Mount Robson or any of the other great BC Hiking Tours on offer.
Backpacking regions in British Columbia
Best Backpacking trails in British Columbia
The Rockwall Trail
Kootenay National Park’s Rockwall Trail is one of the most popular, multi-day backpacks in the Canadian Rockies. The Rockwall is on most backpackers bucket lists, and for good reason. Not only does this trail contain the namesake Rockwall, but there are many lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, creeks, and wildlife to make it a perfect escape into the wild. Be careful, you may not want to come back!
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Castle Towers Backpacking Trail
The Castle Towers Backpacking Trail is a difficult 34.6 km out-and-back hiking route that climbs through the rugged landscape of Garibaldi Provincial Park on the way to summit Castle Towers. This trail is best completed in a multi-day format, with an overnight stay at the Helm Creek Campground. Along the trail you will hike through scenic alpine meadows and experience the amazing sights within the park, such as the iconic Black Tusk and numerous glaciers. This is a challenging route that should only be attempted by experienced and confident hikers, but it does offer fantastic views that will allow you to witness the natural beauty of the Whistler area.
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Heather Trail to Nicomen Lake Backpacking Trail
The Heather Trail to Nicomen Lake is a beautifully scenic multi-day hike that climbs through the alpine meadows of E.C. Manning Provincial Park on the way to the pristine waters of Nicomen Lake. This backpacking trail is fairly long at 43.8 km, but the terrain isn’t overly difficult/technical and there are several campsites located along the route. This makes for a flexible backcountry journey that you can customize to fit your schedule.
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Floe Lake and Numa Pass
Floe Lake is one of the most photogenic lakes in the Rockies and the backpack to it and beyond to Numa Pass is one of the most colorful as wildflowers bloom in the summer and larch trees below the pass turn brilliantly gold in the fall.
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PCT Northern Terminus Backpacking Trail
The PCT Northern Terminus Trail is an amazing hike within E.C. Manning Provincial Park that takes hikers to the northern tip of the Pacific Crest Trail, a legendary route through the United States that spans a 4,265.0 km distance from Mexico to the border with Canada. While you won’t be able to legally cross the border into the United States, this trail will bring you right up to the monument marking the beginning of the famous hiking route. Along the way you will be surrounded with scenic views of the rugged mountains and picturesque stretches of forest that characterize the landscape along the border.
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Frosty Mountain Loop Backpacking Trail
The Frosty Mountain Loop Backpacking Trail is a 27.0 km loop through E.C. Manning Provincial Park that takes hikers on a scenic uphill climb to the summit of Frosty Mountain. From the highest point in the park, you will be able to experience sweeping views that reach out across both sides of the Canada-United States border. Hikers will then camp the night at Frosty Creek Camp before continuing the journey through beautiful forests and alpine meadows on the return leg of the trek.
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Ball Pass to Shadow Lake
The Ball Pass backpack starts in Kootenay National Park and leads you into Banff National Park and Shadow Lake. Hiking up and over Ball Pass to either the Ball Pass Junction Campground or Shadow Lake Lodge is a great overnight trip, and there are numerous options to extend this trip.
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Mamquam Lake Backpacking Trail
The Mamquam Lake Backpacking Trail is a 40.0 km out-and-back hiking route in Garibaldi Provincial Park that takes hikers through the beautiful subalpine landscape east of Squamish to the backcountry waters of Mamquam Lake. Best done as a 2-day trip, this is a scenic hike that will allow you to experience the beautiful sights around Elfin Lakes, Mamquam Lake, the Garibaldi Mountains. This hiking route is a great multi-day option, especially if you are looking to tack on a bit of extra distance from Elfin Lakes.
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Baden Powell Backpacking Trail
The Baden Powell Trail is the penultimate hiking route on Vancouver’s North Shore, stretching over 45.0 km from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. While there isn’t much in terms of accommodation along this lengthy trail, it is a popular route that is most often split into manageable portions, with each section being a good day hike. No matter how you decide to tackle this trail, its stunning views and legendary reputation are sure to leave you feeling like an accomplished adventurer
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Lake O’Hara Backcountry
Explore the incomparable Lake O'Hara area of Yoho National Park on this backcountry trek that totally immerses you in western Canada's backyard. This adventure-based hike has you camping for two nights in Lake O'Hara campground, propelling the authenticity of your outdoor experience. Meanwhile, the hiking trails and alpine routes lead to sparkling glacial lakes and spectacular views in the Canadian Rockies.
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Suggested Tours
Summit Mount Olympus Trekking Tour
Months Tour Operates
This tour is your chance to trek one of the most mystical mountains on earth: Mount Olympus. This self-guided journey starts in Litochoro, an enchanting town at the foot of Greece’s highest peak. Then you’ll spend two days on the mountain, sleeping in a mountain hut on the second night. You should be comfortable hiking up some serious elevation on this tour to reach the summit, a worthy reward for your effort.
Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies
Months Tour Operates
Avalanche safety is a must-have tenet of backcountry adventure and a critical step in keeping yourself and your adventure partners safe in the wintertime and shoulder season. The Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour is a practical chance to learn the basics of avalanche safety in one of the most beautiful mountain environments in the world.
Self-Guided Mount Triglav Trek
Months Tour Operates
Take on a quintessential Slovenian trekking adventure to the summit of its highest mountain! The Self-Guided Mount Triglav Trek allows you to hike at your own pace and enjoy the incredible scenery of Triglav National Park.
2-Day Mt Olympus Hike
Months Tour Operates
Join an exhilarating 2-day hiking tour through the legendary Mount Olympus, revered as the abode of ancient Greek Gods!
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