British Columbia
Looking for the best backpacking in British Columbia? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around British Columbia. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near British Columbia
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Edgewater, British Columbia
Explore Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
5.0Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site sequestered 27 km from the nearest road. We took a helicopter in, and hiked out . You can also hike both ways, but the hiking once you are there is more amazing than on the way in. You can also ski in on backcountry skis in the Win...Read more -
Hope, British Columbia
Cycle the Kettle Valley Rail-Trail
4.0Top 10 Areas of Interest - from West to East (1) Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park(2) Red Ochre cliffs in the Tulameen(3) Trout Creek Trestle & The Kettle Valley Steam Train(4) Penticton's Munson Mountain & the Naramata Bench(5) The Little & Big Tunnel above Naramata(6) Myra-Bellevue ...Read more -
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Summit Golden Ears
4.514.9 mi / 5039.4 ft gainDay 1 Starting from the Golden Ears parking lot, your journey begins up a relatively small incline passing two bridges and entering the forest. Continue through the forest passing small cliffs and revealing some views of what you are going to climb the next day. Your estimated time it should take...Read more -
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia
Paddle Pitt Lake to Widgeon Falls
5.03.7 miThe 12km (7.5 mi) drive on Neaves Road to Pitt Lake from Pitt Meadows is one of BC's most scenic routes. As soon as you start this section of the drive you already feel miles from the city, but this route is only 30-45 minutes from Vancouver, depending on city traffic.Once you reach the parking l...Read more -
Whistler, British Columbia
Panorama Ridge
4.817.17 mi / 5289 ft gainTake the Sea to Sky Highway (HWY 99) north from Vancouver up towards Whistler. Turn off the highway about 30 minutes before Whistler Village onto Daisy Lake Road. There are signs along the highway indicating the Garibaldi Lake turn off. The trailhead is located at the end of Daisy Lake Road. Ther...Read more -
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Hiking Golden Ears Trail
14.9 mi / 4921.3 ft gainGolden Ears is well known to those in the Lower Mainland. After staring at the jagged 'ears' from all angle, I finally got to see them up close and in-person. The West Canyon Trail is a gentle 5.5 kilometers on a well groomed path, lined with deciduous trees making it a perfect place to watch the...Read more -
Squamish, British Columbia
Backpack to Lake Lovely Water
3.76.24 mi / 3714 ft gainThis adventure is one of the best kept secrets in the Whistler area, let alone, British Columbia. The trailhead for Lake Lovely Water is located on the west side of the Squamish River. There is no road access to the trailhead so you need to cross the river via boat. Make reservations with the jet...Read more -
East Kootenay F, British Columbia
Hike to Jumbo Pass
6 mi / 2200 ft gainFrom Invermere, British Columbia, head West towards Panorama Ski Area on Toby Creek Forest Service Road. At the turnoff for the bridge that heads towards Panorama, set your trip odometer to 0. At a fork in the road at about 12 miles, stay right on Jumbo Creek Road. In another mile, stay left. At ...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Hike to Lake of Hanging Glaciers
5.0Do you like rushing rivers, impressive waterfalls, serene forests and massive glaciers? How about glacier fed lakes, epic mountains and starry nights to boot? This is it, all of it in one place.Beginning at the trailhead 50km west of Radium in British Columbia, this 16km hike runs over and around...Read more -
Port Renfrew, British Columbia
Backpacking the West Coast Trail
5.0The trail requires a permit from May 1 - September 16. All other dates have restrictions. Check Parks Canada website for more details.You can start from the north or south end of the trail. There are buses provided by the Pacific Rim National Park that will shuttle you back to your car or to the ...Read more -
Anmore, British Columbia
Backpack the Dilly Dally Loop
15.5 mi / 3800 ft gainThis hike begins near the parking lot of Buntzen Lake. The trailhead will read "Halvor Lunden Trail,” named after the man who made it. This part of the trail is well marked, however as you continue along the loop it gets less and less worn, making things more difficult, but also more natural.The ...Read more -
Port Renfrew, British Columbia
Hiking the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
5.029.2 miThis is no walk on the beach. There are many ascents and descents that range from not so steep to hold on for your life as the mud cliff crumbles steep. You might think 200m of elevation gain isn't much, but it is a constant ascend and descend trail in the moderate-difficult sections.A high level...Read more -
Central Kootenay H, British Columbia
Hike to Gimli Ridge
The hike to Gimli Ridge is one of only two hikes in the Valhallas that reach up to the alpine area. It provides stunning scenery of the surrounding range, and an intimate experience with the huge monolith that is Gimli Peak.The trail steadily climbs elevation. From the trailhead, Gimli seems dece...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona D, British Columbia
Mt. Myra via Tennent Lake Trail
9.33 mi / 4810 ft gainVery few people know about this hidden gem which makes it less crowded and all the more special. The views and serenity that this place possess are what will really draw you in. The hike starts at the Westmin Mine parking lot, located 2 hours north of Courtenay. To find the start of the trailhea...Read more -
Bowen Island, British Columbia
Howe Sound Crest Trail
17.41 mi / 5351 ft gainDistance: 17.5 miles / 28.2 kms.Duration: 1 - 3 DaysElevation Gain: 5350 ft. / 1630 m.Magnesia Meadows: 49.483708, -123.190377 The Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) is one of the most epic hiking trips one can do in the Vancouver area. The trail is entirely located within the Cypress Mountain Provin...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Backpack to Alberta's Abbot Pass Hut
3.016.2 mi / 1500 ft gainBuilt in 1922 with the stones from the pass, the Abbot Pass Hut and has served both as a base for mountaineers and as a destination for strong hikers ever since. Sitting at 2,926 meters' elevation, it is second only to the Neil Colgan Hut on the list of highest permanent structures in Canada. The...Read more