Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia

From the main parking lot at English camp, follow the wide path east and cross West Valley road to the trailhead of Young Hill. The trail switchbacks several times and leads you past the English Camp cemetery. Continue left on the main trail through the forest of Pacific Madrone trees until you r...

The adventure begins during the rugged wooded hike from the gravel parking lot to the stunning beach (10 minutes). Once you reach the stone and pebble beach, plant yourself down to enjoy the 180 degree view of the Juan de Fuca Strait (and a picnic lunch if you’ve come prepared!).Head east to find...

Mount Grant Preserve is still in the midst of becoming an official park, but is open to the public for hiking, so you will get to see this amazing spot before it's too crowded. With a trial system currently being made, most people hike up the established road, but there are well marked signs to h...

Head west from Victoria along Highway 14 past Sooke and Jordan River until you see the Juan De Fuca Marine Trail - China Creek trailhead about 5km past Jordan River on the West Coast Road. Ample signage, parking, and outhouses are available here.The trail taking you to Mystic Beach is just one s...

I’m blessed with a husband who is crazy enough to agree to my endless adventures! When I suggested we go find the tallest Douglas Fir Tree in the world, and we happened to be in the area, my husband again said, “why not!”For anyone who just has to see it for themselves, here’s some directions:Fo...

For what was once a highly contested and disputed piece of land in the Pacific Ocean, now lays home to one of the most peaceful, tranquil, and historic hikes in the island chain. Start the hike at the parking lot of the San Juan Island National Historic Site American Camp Visitor Center. Proceed ...

Heading west from Victoria, take the TransCanada Highway to Hwy 14. Continue past Sooke towards Port Renfrew. Look for the sign that reads Sombrio Beach Trailhead (approximately 45 minutes past Sooke) and take the left. Note that this dirt road can be incredibly rugged (aka full of potholes) and ...

The loop trail is a short 3.5km trail that is well maintained and open year round. There's negligible elevation gain and aside from the odd slippery section the trail is easily accessible for all ages and skill levels. It is definitely busy in the Spring and Summer months but is manageable in the...

This 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...

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...

Moran State Park is an true gem within the beautiful San Juan Islands. The park takes up a large portion of the East side of Orcas Island, the largest of all the San Juans. There are multiple campgrounds within the park along the shores of Cascade Lake and Mountain Lake. For the most relaxing exp...

To get to the Avatar Grove, drive to Port Renfrew along West Coast highway 14. Turn right onto Deering Rd and cross the long bridge over the San Juan River. Stay right at the next Y intersection, and then left at the T intersection. At the next Y keep left and cross a tall bridge over the crys...

It's just a short walk to the beach on this protruding point in Lopez Sound, and all downhill. Immediately upon leaving the trailhead, you come to a junction. Turn right and make a beeline straight for the picnic area at the base of the Spit.Time to explore the Spit. If the tide is high, stick to...

This 7 mile round-trip hike takes you to the mountain's summit. From here you'll be able to take in an amazing view. During the hike, you'll head around the left side of Mountain Lake, and then continue on to Twin Lakes, before starting your jaunt to the top of Mt. Constitution. The hike around ...

This is a gorgeous beach with so much going on. It's a quick walk from the parking lot (about .8 miles), or you can do the entire Botanical Beach Loop which is 3.5km. Go at low tide for amazing tidal pools and exploring caves if the tide is at its lowest. You can beach hop and climb up to some...

Obstruction Pass State Park is something of a hidden gem on Orcas Island given that its nearby neighbor, Moran State Park, gets most of the tourist attention. What this means is that you can find solitude and quiet, *and* make a visit to the only publicly owned beach on the island. There are seve...