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
-
Field, British Columbia
Twin Falls via Yoho Valley Trail
4.010.92 mi / 2274 ft gainAn 18 km hike with approx 300 m elevation gain, with good variety, several waterfalls, Twin Falls themselves, Twin Falls Tea House (especially if it's open), a walk through a rock field with great views, a dried up lake bed. Start at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot and follow the well marked trai...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona D, British Columbia
Hike to Flower Ridge
20 mi / 5445 ft gainWith a name like Flower Ridge, who wouldn't want to add this hike to their bucket list?The Flower Ridge trailhead is located approximately 26kms down the Buttle Lake Parkway, towards Westmin Mine, in Strathcona Provincial Park. A classic Island alpine approach, you will be more than warmed up af...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona D, British Columbia
Camp at Arnica Lake
7.5 mi / 2624.7 ft gainThe hike starts at the Westmin mine parking lot, located 2 hours north of Courtenay. To find the start of the trail you need to walk 50 metres down a dirt road from the parking area. You will see a sign for Phillips ridge, which marks the start of your journey.The trail starts in a relatively fl...Read more -
Fraser-Fort George H, British Columbia
Hike to Snowbird Pass, Mount Robson Provincial Park
14 mi / 2300 ft gainThis epic day hike to Reef Icefield can be done if you are staying at the Berg Lake Campground. Berg Lake is accessible from the Berg Lake Trailhead just off of Canada Highway 16. Permits to stay at Berg Lake can be purchased at the Visitor Centre near the trailhead.Snowbird Pass is located 7 mil...Read more -
Fraser Valley E, British Columbia
Hike to Porcupine Peak
6.8 mi / 4265.1 ft gainPorcupine Peak (also known as Goat Peak) is a little known trail that begins beside the popular Lindeman and Greendrop Lakes trailhead. The hike is tough, going straight uphill for a significant portion, with some ups and downs right before reaching the peak. The trailhead is a bit tricky to fin...Read more -
Squamish-Lillooet C, British Columbia
Backcountry Camp Upper Joffre Lake
3.03.1 mi / 2952.8 ft gainJoffre Lakes Provincial Park is located roughly three hours from Vancouver north of Whistler and Pemberton on Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky Highway). The drive itself up to the trailhead is very scenic and worth it in itself. Once you get to the parking lot, park your car anywhere in the lot and consi...Read more -
Alberni-Clayoquot A, British Columbia
Hike to Keeha Beach
5.03.7 miFar on the west coast of Vancouver Island, accessed only by a harrowing dirt road, is a wild and rugged coast begging to be explored. Bamfield is about a 3 hour drive from Nanaimo, half of which is on the gnarliest (and most active) logging road I've ever been on - and I grew up driving on loggin...Read more -
Yale, British Columbia
Summit Needle Peak
5.08.1 mi / 2893.7 ft gainMake your way to the Zopkios exit (#217) on the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), which is almost exactly halfway between the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan of BC. The trailhead is off the pipeline service road on the opposite side of the highway as the rest stop. The hike can be done in one day, but ...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona D, British Columbia
Summit The Golden Hinde
5.040.4 mi / 5987.5 ft gainAs Vancouver Island's highest peak, the Golden Hinde is an obvious draw for coastal climbers. Its gravitational pull, however, requires a commitment, given this crown jewel of the Island Alpine is also one of its most remote, and gains more elevation than from Base Camp to Everest's summit.Winter...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona C, British Columbia
Lake Helen Mackenzie Loop
5.05.32 mi / 607 ft gainThe trail head starts at the Raven Lodge parking lot on Nordic Drive. Once at the trail head, follow the trail and turn right on the Hellen Mackenzie/ Battleship Lake trail loop. This boardwalk/ dirt trail will take you around beautiful meadows filled with blueberries (in the fall season), stream...Read more -
Fraser-Fort George H, British Columbia
Backpack the Berg Lake Trail
5.026.1 mi / 2500 ft gainThis hike starts at Mount Robson visitor centre and has 8 campsites along the hike. Be sure to stop by the visitor center for up-to-date details. We stayed at campsites located at Kinney Lake 7km in, then whitehorn 11 km in, and then Berg lake 21km in. Kinney lake is a light blue coloured lake, n...Read more -
Yale, British Columbia
Hike to Tasty Lake
8.1 mi / 2894 ft gainTo Needle PeakTotal Distance: 13.0 km (return)Estimated Time: 4 - 7 hoursAverage Grade: 13.6%Structure: Linear - ReturnElevation Gain: 882 mStart Elevation: 1210 mMax Elevation: 2092 mTo Small LakeTotal Distance: 13.0 km (return)Estimated Time: 4 - 6 hoursAverage Grade: ...Read more -
Fanny Bay, British Columbia
Canoe Great Central Lake and Hike to Della Falls and Love Lake
80.8 mi / 1148.3 ft gainTo get the the Della Falls trail head in Strathcona Park, you must cross Great Central Lake. This is a 45 km journey via either canoe, kayak, or speedboat. We chose to canoe, and it took approximately 9 steady hours. We parked our vehicles just on the edge of Central Lake Road across from Great C...Read more -
Upper Fraser, British Columbia
Hike to the Monkman Cascades
4.013.7 mi / 328.1 ft gainThis hike starts about 60 km south of the community of Tumbler Ridge, BC at the Monkman Park Campground. Hikers may also elect to take the short walk to see majestic Kinuseo Falls located near the campground. The Monkman Cascades is a collection of waterfalls intricately arranged over a few kilo...Read more -
Whistler, British Columbia
Hike the Cinder Flats in Garibaldi Park
5.0Enter from the Cheakamus Lake side, which mean a steady climb up the Helm Creek Trail, but you won't battle the crowds coming up the Rubble Creek side. Plan for a full day in the mountains - it's ~25k total with quite a bit of climbing in the beginning. Bring lots of water, as it can get pretty h...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona D, British Columbia
Hike through Marble Meadows to the Wheaton Hut
11.8 mi / 4593.2 ft gainThough the Meadows can be reached by an alternate (very long) route not requiring a boat, the standard access is had by crossing Buttle Lake from the Augerpoint Day Area parking lot on the Buttle Lake Parkway (turn south towards the Westmin mine at the Buttle Lake bridge, just before the provinci...Read more