Canadian Rockies Hiking Blog
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Wildfires close Jasper National Park
A wildfire that destroyed sections of Jasper townsite and the Athabasca valley has resulted in the closure of all access to Jasper National Park for the foreseeable future.
Canada’s best hiking maps
When the National Topographic System created hundreds of large scale maps covering Canada in 1927, its creators didn’t plan that two of the 46 maps covering the mountain parks would display more outstanding hiking trails than anywhere else in the country.
Berg Lake trail update
BC Parks has announced the reopening of Mount Robson’s popular Berg Lake trail as far as Whitehorn Campground effective June 21, 2024.
Prelude to a bear attack
A predatory grizzly bear attack on September 29, 2023, that left two people and their dog dead in their Red Deer River campsite has had a sobering effect on backpackers planning another season in the backcountry.
Day hiking Jasper’s Skyline Trail
Backcountry campsites have become more difficult to reserve on the most popular trails in the Mountain Parks. An increasing number of hikers are resorting to long-distance day hikes to experience the Rockies’ most scenic trips. We explore the advantages and disadvantages of 40km+ day trips.
On the Kootenay Park trail crew, 1973
In 2020, Kootenay National Park marked its centennial. We published several postings that year celebrating the park's backcountry past. We called for submissions for more photos from the park's past. John Cuddeford, who worked on Kootenay Park's trail crew in 1973,...
Getting to Moraine Lake in 2024
Getting to Moraine Lake in 2024 is the same as 2023, when Moraine Lake Road was closed to personal vehicles. Moraine Lake shuttles are the best way to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise and Banff, but there are other options. Moraine Lake Road Seasonal Closure Moraine Lake...
Stocking-stuffers for backpackers
What better way to treat the backpacker on your Christmas list than a bag or three of Canadian-made freeze-dried or dehydrated meals? Something they might never buy for themselves.
Rediscovering Kootenay’s Ottertail Pass
Kootenay Park’s Ottertail Pass trail is a route frequently ignored by backpackers bound for the Rockwall. Because the pass is wooded and of little scenic interest, we barely mentioned the trail in early editions of our trail guide.