Walking in British Columbia

About this book

British Columbia is vast, four times the size of the UK, with only 3.5 million people, most of them in Vancouver. From the heights of the Canadian Rockies to the awesome Pacific coast, it contains a wide range of peoples, terrain and opportunities for real exploration. The Canadian wilderness gives meaning to the words pristine and rugged. With 637 provincial parks, six national parks, wide regions of protected land and age-old forests, wild mountain rivers, grizzly bears and sockeye salmon, British Columbia is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. The weather is mild on the coast, more extreme in the mountains - BC even has a desert. The trails in this guide balance coastal and mountain regions. In an area so vast, they can only offer a taste of what British Columbia has to offer. There is a selection of shorter walks of great scenic beauty, many introducing the walker into regions dominated by native (First Nations) culture. These are balanced by harder mountain trails, including many multi-day expeditions, which take the walker far into the wild and offer great challenges. Areas covered include: Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Whistler and Squamish, Manning Provincial Park, Stein Valley Nlaka'Pamux National Park, Mt Revelstoke and Glacier national parks, the Kootenays and the BC Rockies.

Contents

Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Trail Table PART 1: The essentials CHAPTER 1: How to use this book Trail Descriptions Trail Ratings Maps Elevation/Terrain Best Time Base and Trailheads Alternatives CHAPTER 2: Travel tips Getting There By Air Practicalities Passports & Visas Visitor Centres Money & Credit Cards Time Zones Health Matters Drivers Licenses Getting Around Car Rental Buses & Passes Backpacker Buses VIA Rail Ferries By Air Cycling Accommodation Helpful Information Mail/Post Business Hours Telephones Electricity Weights & Measures Food & Drink Tipping Tax Languages Internet Access CHAPTER 3: The Great Canadian Wilderness Life In The Wild Protected Areas- National & Provincial Parks Climate Resource-based Economies Ecotourism Ethics For Responsible Backcountry Travel Driving on Logging Roads Camping Hostels, Huts & Lodges Drinking Water Safety & Hazards Bear Safety Tide Tables Cable Car Crossings Guided Hikes CHAPTER 4: Equipment Boots Pack Tent Sleeping Bag Stoves Clothing Other Camping Equipment Equipment Sales/Rentals PART 2: The trails CHAPTER 5: Vancouver Island Juan de Fuca Provincial Park Trail #1- Juan de Fuca Marine Trail East Sooke Regional Park Trail #2- East Sooke Coast Trail Strathcona Park Trail #3- Della Falls Trail Pacific Rim National Park Trail #4- West Coast Trail Trail #5- Wickaninnish Trail Trail #6- Schooner Trail Trail #7- Willowbrae Trail Flores Island Trail #8- The Ahousaht Wild Side Heritage Trail Cape Scott Provincial Park Trail #9- Cape Scott Trail CHAPTER 6: Haida Gwaii (The Queen Charlotte Islands) Naikoon Provincial Park Trail #10- Spirit LakeTrail Trail #11- Sleeping Beauty Trail Trail #12- Bill Brown Creek Trail Trail #13- Pesuta Trail Trail #14- East Beach Hike Trail #15- Tow Hill/ Blow Hole Trail #16- Cape Fife Trail CHAPTER 7: Whistler and Squamish Squamish Area Trail #17- Stawamus Chief Whistler Area Trail #18- Black Tusk/ Garibaldi Lake Trail #19- Brandywine Falls Trail #20- Shadow Lake Trail #21- Nairn Falls CHAPTER 8: Manning provincial park Trail #22- Heather Trail Trail #23- Skyline 1 Trail Trail #24- Pacific Crest Trail/Castle Creek/Monument 78 Loop Trail #25- Lightening Lake Loop CHAPTER 9: Stein Valley Nlaka'Pamux Heritage Park Trail #26- Lower Stein Valley CHAPTER 10: Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks Mt. Revelstoke National Park Trail #27- Summit Trail Trail #28- Eva Lake Trail Trail #29- Jade Lakes Trail Trail #30- Giant Cedars Trail Glacier National Park Trail #31- Asulkan Valley Trail Trail #32- Glacier Crest Trail Trail #33- Avalanche Crest Trail Trail #34- Abbott Ridge Trail #35- Hermit Trail CHAPTER 11: The Kootenays Nelson Trail #36- Pulpit Rock Hike Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Trail #37- Gibson Lake to Slocan Chief Cabin Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Trail #38- Earl Grey Pass Trail Lake of the Hanging Glacier Trail #39- Lake of the Hanging Glacier Recreation Trail CHAPTER 12: B.C.Rockies Kootenay National Park Trail #40- Rockwall Trail Trail #41- Kaufmann Lake Trail Trail #42- Stanley Glacier Trail Trail #43- Paint Pots Yoho National Park Trail #44- Iceline Trail Trail #45- Emerald Lake Circuit Trail #46- Yoho Glacier Moraine Trail #47- Yoho Pass Trail #48- Hoodoo Trail Mt. Robson Provincial Park Trail #49- Berg Lake Trail Trail #50- Yellowhead Mountain Appendices A. Vancouver B. Northwest coast native cultures, helpful addresses C. Further resources

Customer Reviews

Biography

Janna Fleming (now Janna Wilson) lives in the Haida village of Skidegate in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia with her husband and their two young children. She has spent the past few years nurturing a passion for the beauty of her new surroundings: remote islands of rainforest, giant ancient cedars, windswept beaches, and vibrant culture. The landscape, wildlife and people provide endless inspiration for her creative soul and she is now working on a collection of poetry. With two small kids in tow, she now roams at a slower pace savouring their excitement and curiosity about each place they discover and can't wait to paddle, cycle and hike throughout the world with them.