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Late-season hiking in Jasper National Park

Late-season hiking in Jasper National Park

A wildfire consumed portions of the Athabasca Valley and Jasper townsite in late July. Parks Canada reopened many sections of the park on October 11, including the Maligne Lake Road and most of the trails that weren’t affected by the fire. Just in time for some of the best late-season hiking in the park.

Berg Lake trail update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.