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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

  • Okanagan-Similkameen H, British Columbia

    Hike to Illal Meadows & Illal Peak

    3.0
    6.2 mi / 1968.5 ft gain
    To 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...
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  • Yale, British Columbia

    Hike Yak Peak

    5.0
    3.4 mi / 2755.9 ft gain
    The 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...
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  • Terrace, British Columbia

    Hike to Gunsight Lake

    5.0
    9 mi / 3000 ft gain
    From 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...
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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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  • Manning Park, British Columbia

    Hike to Mt. Frosty, EC Manning Provincial Park

    14.2 mi / 5433.1 ft gain
    The 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 – ...
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  • Terrace, British Columbia

    Backpack to the Maroon Mountain Meadows

    3.0
    10 mi / 5000 ft gain
    Maroon 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...
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  • East Kootenay G, British Columbia

    Climb Bugaboo Spire, NE Ridge

    6 mi / 2300 ft gain
    The 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...
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  • Squamish-Lillooet C, British Columbia

    Snowshoe Joffre Lakes

    6.2 mi / 1312.3 ft gain
    The 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...
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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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  • Crawford Bay, British Columbia

    Hike the Pilot Bay Trail

    5.0
    4 mi / 200 ft gain
    Kootenay 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...
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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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  • Comox-Strathcona C, British Columbia

    Backpack to Moat Lake

    15 mi / 1150 ft gain
    Starting 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...
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  • 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 ...
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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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  • Mount Waddington B, British Columbia

    Camp at San Josef Bay

    3.7 mi / 328.1 ft gain
    This 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...
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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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