Day Hiking | Wilderness Backpacking
Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast Region, British Columbia, Canada

Hiking and Backpacking: The selection of day hikes, backpacking routes and walking paths leading through parks down to lakes, river crossings and wetlands and up to alpine meadows, viewpoints, waterfalls, and mountain peaks is vast when exploring on foot in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region. The trail system is extensive, scenic and wide ranging while crossing over many eco systems like desert to grassland, lake to mountain and forest to ocean.

The trails inside the communities are all day hikes and self guided. Most of the walking trails in town follow along a paved walkway or gravel path, connecting parks and providing a different view of the community. Away from the community, in the burbs, is another selection of shorter trails leading into the local forests, lakes, rivers, valleys and up mountains to viewpoints and picnic sites. Trails do vary.

Some of the more interesting community hiking trails to explore include the River Valley Trail and Scout Island Trails in Williams Lake and the Clayton Falls Trail in Bella Coola. Some other short day hikes include the Deception Falls Trail in Wells Gray Park, the Begbie Lookout Trail and the Canim-Mahood Waterfall Trail near 100 Mile House.

The trail network in the Wells Gray and Tweedsmuir Provincial Parks are extensive with many multi day backpacking adventures with wilderness campsites. If you would like to follow in the same steps of the pioneers when backpacking in the region than prepare well for the Alexander Mackenzie Grease Trail connecting Quesnel with Bella Coola or try the various trails associated with the Cariboo Gold Rush.

There are a few hiking tour operators available in some of the communities for long haul backpacking adventures. The tours, usually, include meals, equipment, tenting and an interpretive guide. Some of the backpacking tour companies also provide cabin lodging during some long haul adventures.

Experienced hikers with good equipment and wilderness survival skills explore the trails and parks on a regular basis. It is important to hike in layers, have the right equipment and plan for all weather possible conditions when backpacking in the region. Backpacking the wilderness is not to be taken likely and all precautions should be made for safety reasons.

Whether backpacking in a self guided group or with a tour it is important to be aware you are in bear country. But not only bear country. Hiking and backpacking in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region is like a self guided wildlife watching tour with opportunities to see moose, cougars, deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, fox, wolves, beavers, otters, caribou, hawks, falcons, eagles, herons, owls.. and on the coast - whales, seals, sea lions and dolphins.