Take a hike! Explore Canada’s trails online

Use your computer to plan and research a day of hiking

By Suzanne Ellis

After you’ve spent a winter of sedentary hibernation, spring is the time to head outside, get active and explore new places. Hiking is an activity for all family members, regardless of their age or fitness. It’s inexpensive, too.

“There’s no better season to start hiking for people who have been thinking about having a change in their life and getting some exercise and adventure,” says expert hiker Mike Kirby, author of Hiker Mike’s Best Hikes: The Megacity and Beyond and Hiker Mike: Adventures Farther Afield.

Kirby often brings his three daughters along. “The idea of hiking with Mom and Dad sounds so boring to the kids but once they’re out there on the trail, we have a heck of a time keeping them out of the trees,” he says. “They’re always running ahead to find hiding places so they can jump out and scare us.”

Vancouver-based lawyer Jonas Dow has been hiking for a decade. “The nice thing about hiking is that anyone can [do it],” he says. “Don’t think about taking it up — just get outside.”

Choose your own hiking adventure

For those new to hiking, it’s a good idea to start small by exploring green spaces in your neighbourhood. TrailCanada (formerly TrailPAQ) is an online inventory of more than 3,700 trails across Canada. The Find a Trail search tool helps you choose a trail by location, completion time, distance, environment and even surface type.

Some of the trails on TrailsCanada are part of the Trans Canada Trail, a series of paths that, when completed, will wind its way through every province and territory in Canada to become the world’s longest recreational trail. Approximately half of the trail’s 18,078-kilometre length is now operational. Use the interactive Trail Locator to find a trail near you.

Parks Canada provides information such as park fees, maps, directions and safety. “If you find the nearest provincial parks or conservation areas in your vicinity, you can take a look at the maps and decide how far you want to go and what is of interest on the way,” says Kirby.

Assemble your gear

Travel light on a day hike — aim to carry no more than 10 pounds (4½ kilograms) of gear. The basics to have in your pack:

a first aid kit, including a bee sting kit
a hat
sunglasses
sunscreen and bug repellent
fresh socks
a flashlight
a Swiss Army knife
spare bootlaces
a compass and whistle
snacks
a water bottle

Pack current trail maps as well. Dow likes the printable PDF maps available on the BC Parks web site, which help hikers find campgrounds and geographical landmarks near the areas they want to hike.

“I basically plan to be lost in the woods — not because I have ever been lost and required rescuing — but it means having the proper equipment,” says Dow. “For most occasions, your cell phone functions and can act as a lifeline if required.”

Wear proper clothing and footwear

Layering is the key to comfort, says Kirby. He recommends cotton next to the skin, a fleece pullover sweater and an outer Gore-Tex shell to protect against wind and rain. When you start to sweat, remove a layer.

“Invest in good boots,” Dow suggests. “If you use them exclusively for hiking you will have them forever. But take the time to get the right size and fit or else your money is wasted.”

Stay energized

“Usually a healthy meal before you go, a snack on the trail and a good meal afterward are all you need,” says Dow. His favourite snack on the trail is good old-fashioned trail mix with Smarties tossed in.

Bring water as well — a 500-millilitre bottle should last a two-hour walk. For longer excursions, drink a litre before departing and then drink 250 to 500 millilitres per hour. You should never get to the point where you feel thirsty; it’s a sign of dehydration.

Keep the kids interested

Getting kids excited about a walk in the woods isn’t easy when they have other activities competing for their attention. Kirby keeps his daughters interested by emphasizing the wildlife they might see on the way.

“I say ‘I’m going to be exploring a certain section of the Bruce Trail today. I know that there are animals. There are deer and there might be something bigger,’” he explains. The Trans Canada Trail Discovery program since 2002 has been developing a permanent installation of more than 2,000 interpretive Discovery panels along the route. Each panel features a specific topic on the flora, fauna or geography that is indigenous to a segment of the trail.

Start kids with no more than an hour-long hike, Kirby suggests. When they get tired, stop, eat some sandwiches and regenerate. Then head back to the car.

Many hiking trails are blazed (or marked) — the usual symbol is a white rectangle stencilled on a tree at eye level. You should see the next blaze from the one you’re standing at. If you get lost, return to the previous blaze. From there you should be able to get back on track. If you’re hitting the trail alone, tell someone where you plan to hike, and check in when you return.