With more than 850 parks and protected areas and year-round resorts, BC offers hundreds of hiking trails. Every type of excursion is available, from short walks on well-marked nature trails to thigh-burning multi-day wilderness backpacking trips.Share your own BC hiking experiences. Write a blog ! Or learn more about Hiking in BC and watch the video below:
Regional Hiking Areas in BC: Vancouver Island : Mountains, meadows, rivers, beaches and the famous West Coast Trail.Victoria :
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains : Plenty of variety here: from short walks in the woods to back-country treks.Vancouver :Whistler :
Thompson Okanagan : Berg Lake Trail is a must-do for spectacular views of Mount Robson.
Kootenay Rockies : An alpine lover's dream. Glaciers, lakes, wildflowers and epic peaks. National Parks also offer short, easy interpretive trails.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast : Historic trails along the old Gold Rush Trail make nice day trips, while large parks offer rocky terrain and rolling grasslands.
Northern BC : Waterfalls, volcanic features, and wildlife. Perfect for those seeking a true back-country experience.
Hiking BC's resorts Many BC resorts have summer hiking opportunities. From family-friendly four-season destinations with ocean-to alpine views, massive verticals in the Rockies or all manner of summer hiking excursions, these resorts offer some great trails. Click on one of the resorts below to learn more (or use our Search bar at the top of the page to find a particular resort not listed here).
BC Hikes to Mountain Peaks and Alpine Meadows
Nature lovers and photographers will enjoy the brilliant colours of the alpine, from the seasonal bright wildflowers and golden larch trees to the turquoise lakes and white glaciers. Easy access to the alpine is possible through heli-hiking operators or ski resort lifts that remain open in summer. And of course, there is the tried-and-true method of lacing up your hiking boots and tackling the elevation by foot.
Hiking Trips Along Pacific Coastlines and Sandy Beaches Soft sandy beaches, rainforests, and the sound of the Pacific Ocean await hikers along the Vancouver Island coast. Tide pools burst with marine life at Botanical Beach along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, while the remote broad sandy beaches of Northern BC's Naikoon Provincial Park stretch for approximately 100 km (60 mi). The Sunshine Coast Trail in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, provides hikers with ocean views and the cool environment of old-growth forest.
The best-known trail in British Columbia is the internationally acclaimed West Coast Trail on southern Vancouver Island. Hikers come from all over the world to tackle this challenging 75 km (47 mi) coastal route, known for both its beauty and physically demanding nature.
Hiking Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler Bustling cities with quick access to quiet forests and great hiking and walking trails. Try the easy Galloping Goose Trail from Victoria, the myriad trails in Cypress Provincial Park near Vancouver, or the scenic Lost Lake Trail in Whistler.
Wildlife Along the Trails Hikers may see pikas, marmots, bears, deer, or a wide variety of birds. Along coastal hiking trails, you may even spot the water spray from a migrating whale or an osprey diving for fish.
Had a Great BC Hiking Experience? challenging off-the-beaten-path alpine trails. Write a short blog about them!
Or click on the links below to learn more about some of the province's hiking businesses and operators.