Outdoor Project

The hike through Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park is a gorgeous walk through a narrow canyon with intimate views of Johnston Creek before it converges with the Bow River. Expect crowds as this is a highly popular, gentle hike along a very unique trail in Banff National Park. Note that the hiking trail is open year round, so consider a winter visit if crowds are an issue for you.

Over the past four years, Expresso has been transformed from a sketchy, slippery, washed-out old trail into one of the premier trails on the North Shore. The famous Todd "Digger" Fiander and crews from North Shore Mountain Bike Association and Mountain Equipment Co-op have put in countless hours hauling special dirt from deposits around the mountain to lay down a golden trail that twists and turns through the forest with incredible flow.

This 11-kilometer round-trip hike near Squamish takes you to the top of Stawamus Chief for gorgeous views of the valley and surrounding peaks. Rising 700 meters straight up from the bottom of the Squamish Valley is one of the the world's largest granite monoliths. Renowned for its world-class rock climbing, the Stawamus Chief is named by the first nations people after their village on the Squamish River. These cliffs are home to some of Canada's greatest bigwall and multi-pitch climbing routes. 

Lake Agnes, located high above Lake Louise, is a popular destination for any visitor to Alberta's Banff National Park. This glacially fed scenic lake sits below three massively rugged peaks and among dense pines. A log teahouse sits on the shore and sells homemade soup, sandwiches on freshly baked bread, and over 100 different types of tea. The aptly named Beehive towers over the lake and is ascended via several steep switchbacks. From its top, expansive views of the Bow Valley, the nearby Rockies, and Lake Louise can be taken in from the bench in a rustic shelter.

Brandywine Falls is the biggest, most impressive waterfall in the Whistler area, and thanks to its convenient location and accessibility, it is also one of the most popular sight-seeing stops along Highway 99. This provincial park is designed to accommodate a lot of traffic with a large parking area, abundant picnic tables, garbage bins, and washrooms all surrounding the entrance.

The NSMBA with the help of local volunteers have built a series of new trails on Mount Seymour. These trails were constructed with the foresight of hosting both BC Cup races and a large local bike community. There are now a number of trails that link up throughout the mountain so that trails can be accessed at the bottom of the mountain and end back where you started.

Just outside of Squamish and adjacent to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is the beautiful Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Water originating from Mount Habrich and Mount Sky Pilot tumble over the edge of a 335-meter cliff and cascade over several rock faces before crashing to the ground, making Shannon fall the third largest waterfall in BC. Previously owned by Carling O'keefe Brewers, which used the area for it's glacier fresh water, the land was donated to the province in 1982 and the park was created.

The longest trail in the One Mile Lake area, Lumpy’s Epic is a classic Pemberton cross-country ride. If wide open high-speed flow trails are your thing, Lumpy’s might not be your best choice; if you are into the more technical side of mountain biking and aren’t afraid of getting some exercise, however, then this trail is for you.

Situated at the mouth of the Burrard Inlet, the Spanish Banks were named after the Spanish explorers that first sailed here from Europe in 1791. To commemorate the meeting of the English and Spanish explorers, two areas of the Burrard inlet were named English Bay and Spanish Banks by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1859.

Cap Rock Nature Trail is a 0.3-mile loop that winds through rock formations in Joshua Tree National Park. Signs along the path explain the geology and flora of the region.