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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Okanagan-Similkameen H, British Columbia
Hike to Illal Meadows & Illal Peak
3.06.2 mi / 1968.5 ft gainTo access Illal Meadows, you have to take a little spur road off of the Tulameen Forest Service Road. This spur road is described as being accessible with high clearance 2WD before turning into a 4WD road.The first part follows an old, overgrown, flat logging road to the south branch of Illal Cr...Read more -
Yale, British Columbia
Hike Yak Peak
5.03.4 mi / 2755.9 ft gainThe granite slab of Yak Peak is easily identified by those passing by on the Coquihalla Highway. What most don't know is there is a hiking trail and climbing opportunities, both offering amazing 360 degree views of the Zopkios range and beyond.This hike starts at the Zopkios rest area (across the...Read more -
Terrace, British Columbia
Hike to Gunsight Lake
5.09 mi / 3000 ft gainFrom Terrace drive south for approximately 11 miles south along Highway 37 to Furlong Bay Provincial Park campground. The trailhead is accessed via the gravel pit road on the other side of the highway from the Park. Walk past the first gate and keep to the right prior to the gravel pit. Follow th...Read more -
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 ...Read more -
Manning Park, British Columbia
Hike to Mt. Frosty, EC Manning Provincial Park
14.2 mi / 5433.1 ft gainThe larch meadows on the approach to Mt. Frosty are known for 2 things: 1. Wild flowers during the summer and 2. Larches during the autumn.The trail climbs up the south end of Lightning Lake; it is well groomed and graded all the way up. The steepest section is the climb out of Lightning Lakes – ...Read more -
Terrace, British Columbia
Backpack to the Maroon Mountain Meadows
3.010 mi / 5000 ft gainMaroon Mountain is among the Kitimat Mountain Range, and can be accessed from the unincorporated town of Rosswood. Follow the Nisga'a Highway north of the city Terrace for 34.5 km. Turn right onto the Wesach Creek forestry road (1.3 km north of the Maroon Creek highway bridge), and follow the sig...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Climb Bugaboo Spire, NE Ridge
6 mi / 2300 ft gainThe adventure of the Bugaboos starts almost at the highway when you turn off at Brisco. A collection of rough and tumble roads that are only recently signed towards the Bugaboo Provincial Parking Lot are exciting enough... 4WD isn't required, but a car with decent clearance will make the drive mu...Read more -
Squamish-Lillooet C, British Columbia
Snowshoe Joffre Lakes
6.2 mi / 1312.3 ft gainThe Canadian west coast mountains around Whistler BC receive over thirty feet of snow each winter. This area is well known for epic skiing and snowboarding, and it's also a really fun place to go snowshoeing. Here's a winter version of the incredible Joffre Lakes adventure (see my profile to read...Read more -
Whistler, British Columbia
Paddle Callaghan Lake
5.0The 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...Read more -
Crawford Bay, British Columbia
Hike the Pilot Bay Trail
5.04 mi / 200 ft gainKootenay Lake is one of BC's biggest lakes at 104km long, and between 3-5km wide. At nearly 500ft deep, this lake stays cold all summer long with the most perfectly clear and clean water you can imagine. Hiking the Pilot Bay Trail is a great way to experience this incredible place.All of BC's inl...Read more -
Whistler, British Columbia
Hike Cirque Lake
4.05 mi / 984.3 ft gainCirque 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...Read more -
Comox-Strathcona C, British Columbia
Backpack to Moat Lake
15 mi / 1150 ft gainStarting at the Paradise Meadows Trailhead (3,600'), the trail to Moat Lake takes you through subalpine forest and lush meadows along Strathcona Provincial Park's Forbidden Plateau. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow as it winds past Lake Helen Mackenzie and onward past to the numerous l...Read more -
Squamish-Lillooet A, British Columbia
Mountain Bike the South Chilcotins
The South Chilcotin Mountains are a veritable mountain biking and hiking paradise. With hundreds of kilometers of dry, flowy mixed use trails and epic scenery, it would be easy to spend weeks exploring this area.Many of the trails begin and end at Tyax Wilderness Resort, with the option to drive ...Read more -
Port Renfrew, British Columbia
Backpack the West Coast Trail, Pacific Rim NP
46.6 mi / 360.9 ft gainIn 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...Read more -
Mount Waddington B, British Columbia
Camp at San Josef Bay
3.7 mi / 328.1 ft gainThis trek allows for easy access to an incredibly picturesque, white sandy beach. The trail meanders through the lush Pacific Northwest forest for most of the trip and then follows along a beach for the last part, ending at the camping areas.The hike begins at the Cape Scott Provincial Park parki...Read more -
Powell River, British Columbia
Backcountry Hike and Hut Camp the Northern Portion of the Sunshine Coast Trail
31.1 mi / 3937 ft gainThis 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...Read more