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

  • Comox-Strathcona C, British Columbia

    Lake Helen Mackenzie Loop

    5.0
    5.32 mi / 607 ft gain
    The 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...
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  • Whistler, British Columbia

    Explore Garibaldi Park on Snowshoes

    Exploring Garibaldi Park by snowshoe is an experience you'll never forget. There is nothing like being in a forest wilderness in the stillness of winter. There are lots of places to snowshoe in the Whistler area, but here are two of the most exciting (yes, snowshoeing can be exciting!) Cheakamus ...
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  • Smithers, British Columbia

    Hudson Bay Mountain Winter Creek Hike

    After a 6.7 km drive west from the corner of Toronto St and Hwy 16 in Smithers, BC, you'll come to a clearing where you can either park your vehicle and walk, or continue driving 2 km up the road to a provincial recreation site.From there (starting at 757m, lat/long: 54.82574647 / -127.27593041),...
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  • Whistler, British Columbia

    Hike Cirque Lake

    4.0
    5 mi / 984.3 ft gain
    Cirque Lake can only be accessed by boating across Callaghan Lake. Start from the Callaghan parking/camping area and take your boat over to the lake. You must then paddle 2km all the way to the far end of Callaghan Lake. You will see a waterfall at the far end. The trailhead to Cirque Lake begins...
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  • Port Renfrew, British Columbia

    Backpack the West Coast Trail, Pacific Rim NP

    46.6 mi / 360.9 ft gain
    In the summer of 2016, myself and three others decided to hike the West Coast Trail (WCT) on a bit of a whim! We naively, and courageously, choose the WCT as our first major backpacking hiking trip - we thought it would be best to throw ourselves into a hike that has earned a reputation for being...
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  • Whistler, British Columbia

    Paddle Callaghan Lake

    5.0
    The South Coast Mountains are full of high elevation alpine lakes. There are a few of considerable size (Garibaldi Lake, Duffey Lake, Lake Lovely Water, etc) and Callaghan Lake is one of them. This huge silvery lake sits up in the beautiful Callaghan Valley, a destination for ski touring, snowsho...
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  • Powell River, British Columbia

    Backcountry Hike and Hut Camp the Northern Portion of the Sunshine Coast Trail

    31.1 mi / 3937 ft gain
    This adventure is a 50km backcountry hiking and camping trip and should not be attempted without prior backcountry experience.  It is recommended you attempt this trail in a group.  Below is a detailed description of how to get to the trail and your options for huts while on the trail:The Sunshin...
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  • Whistler, British Columbia

    Camp Out at Elfin Lakes Hut

    15 mi / 1900 ft gain
    The cabin at Elfin Lakes is a beautiful well maintained shelter in the heart of the Garibaldi Provincial Park. It is nuzzled between two lakes (one for drinking water, and the other a swimming hole), and the Gargoyle Peaks.  The cabin itself is fully stocked with 8 gas burners, tables, a fireplac...
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  • Fernie, British Columbia

    Hike the Mountain Lakes Trail (Heiko's Trail)

    5.0
    14.9 mi / 6889.8 ft gain
    Finished in 2003 by Fernie legend Heiko Socher, Mountain Lakes Trail (aka Heiko’s Trail) is about as good as it gets. This hike is not for the inexperienced hiker. You are way out in the backcountry with little to no other human contact. This is grizzly bear and cougar country so make sure to bri...
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  • Arrow Creek, British Columbia

    Hike or Bike to Fish Lake

    3.7 mi / 500 ft gain
    Top of the World Park is located 48 kilometres northeast of the village of Kimberley, access is via White Swan and Lussier Forest Service Roads, and extreme caution must be exercised at all times while travelling these roads. The access route is normally passable from late May until late October....
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  • Youbou, British Columbia

    Hike Heather Mountain

    20.5 mi / 3822.2 ft gain
    Heather Mountain is a moderate well marked out and back hike through managed forest land. The hike brings a wonderful feeling of solitude as there are no towns or buildings visible even with distant views in all directions.  It is also quite lightly tracked: we saw no other hikers on the entire r...
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  • Powell River, British Columbia

    Snowshoe to Walt Hill Hut

    9.9 mi / 3280 ft gain
    The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180-kilometre back country experience that encompasses 12 free cabins, 3 of which are winterized. The cabins are run by volunteers from the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS).Drive south on Highway 101 to Duck Lake Forest Service Road 3477 Br.1 and he...
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  • Whistler, British Columbia

    Backpack Helm Creek

    11.2 mi / 3000 ft gain
    Start your drive by driving up the Cheakamus Lake forestry road to the parking lot (approximately 7km up the road). From the parking lot, start walking down the trail towards Cheakamus lake.  About 2km down the trail, you will see a sign post indicating that you can continue straight to Cheakamus...
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  • Rogers Pass, British Columbia

    Camp at Hermit Meadows

    4 mi / 2559.1 ft gain
    The trail head is located between the Rogers Pass Discovery Center and the Tupper. It's a good idea to head into the Discovery Center first and book the campsites as they do require pre-booking to use, and the fines can be steep. Campfires are banned at this campsite as it is a fragile alpine eco...
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