On a recent hiking trip to northern Vancouver Island, I used this camping set-up in remote and rugged (free) campsites.
Glorious.
YES I used 2 full-sized pillows.
Pick-up Truck GLAMPING 😀
Cape Scott Trail, Vancouver Island
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I hiked the North Coast Trail in 2012.
Vowed to return to the beaches on the Cape Scott Trail. One day. The best part of the North Coast Trail.
In 2025 I waited for good weather. And headed back to this paradise.
The worst part of this adventure is the 60km drive in on a gravel road. Bring a good vehicle.
Highlights for many in this remote N.W. corner of Vancouver Island is wildlife. Especially bears and the quickly evolving coastal wolves.
The trail itself is super interesting. Plenty of boardwalk.
Some of the old growth trees were cut in the past. But there’s still plenty of fascinating greenery.
First stop is fantastic San Josef Bay (3-4km from the parking lot).
From there, I continued on to the biggest and best beach of all ➙ Nels Bight.
There are a couple of campsites on the way with platforms.
Continue to Nels if you have the time and energy.
This was close to where I camped in 2012.
Sunset was fantastic on the west coast.
Here’s the view from my tent.
Pit toilets are decent.
Be sure to lock up all your food on arrival as bear sightings are almost guaranteed. (I saw only 1 bear next morning. Unlucky. Everyone else saw more.)
Weather on awakening was far more typical. Overcast with fog.
It can be very muddy. Bring good footwear.
On the return to the parking lot, I stopped to read signboards and visit the historical sites.
From 1896-1907 approximately 100 Danish settlers attempted to establish a self-governing farming and fishing community. It was extremely difficult.
A 7-foot-high dyke built to protect these flatlands was wiped out the 1st year.
Later, the government offered incentives to all. By 1912 more than 600 people were homesteading in the Cape Scott area. By 1917 most of the settlers had left the area, leaving behind whatever they could not easily pack out, including farm tools, buildings, stoves, machinery, and vehicles.
Walking out seemed to go more quickly than walking in. That often happens to me on out and back hikes.
Always a pleasure to hike temperate rain forest.
I do hope I get back to the beaches at least once more in this lifetime. 😀
Surprisingly, I saw not one wolf in two days. I’d seen plenty in 2012.
Dakota 576 Crash Trail, Vancouver Island
The Dakota 576 Crash Site Trail near Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, leads to the sad wreck of a 1944 Royal Canadian Air Force Dakota plane.
The out and back trail starts on a road near the Bear Cove parking lot.
Sidetrips to a narrow, overgrown trail.
Ends up in a rugged, muddy track with some steep sections requiring ropes.
Arriving at the crash is haunting. Wreckage still strewn through the forest.
Happily, the site seems little vandalized or looted.
Pilot Officer J.M. Talbot and Navigator T.S. Wardlow were killed. A third crew member, Sgt. T.R. Moss, survived the crash.
Dave Farrant Trail, Vancouver Island
Out of the Forest Campground at Telegraph Cove is the Dave Farrant Trail to Blinkhorn Point trailhead.
The challenging trail is a labour of love from Dave Farrant himself, who hacked out a route with chainsaw while hanging from a rope over the cliff.
It’s steep and rugged.
The campground asks that you sign-in when setting off for this trail. I suspect some inexperienced hikers have gotten in trouble in the past.
I only went as far as the “bus stop” (outhouse) which marks the scramble up to first scenic overlook.
That was enough for me. I turned around rather than continue to the Blinkhorn Peninsula. I’d fallen once already — and once was enough.
Looking back, the trail was fun. Scrambling over fallen logs. Navigating trippy roots.
There are some huge old growth stumps to admire.
BestHike – Tongariro Circuit, New Zealand
Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.
Tongariro Circuit
Our favourite multi-day tramp in our favourite hiking region of the world — glorious New Zealand.
AND our top volcano hike worldwide.
by Jeff Pang
AT A GLANCE
- one of our top 10 hikes in the world
- non-stop superb hiking
- mostly volcanic & desert environs
- 34+km (19+mi) depending on route
- 3-days, 2-nights minimum
- option to climb a volcano, or two
- medium difficulty hiking, with challenging sections
- wonderful variety of scenery
- Dec – Mar best months
- maximum elevation Red Crater 1886m (6188ft)
- very crowded on the Tongariro Crossing section
Read more on our Tongariro Northern Circuit information page.
Elk Falls, Campbell River, Vancouver Island
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.
The #1 day hike on AllTrails out of Campbell River is Elk Falls via Millenium Trail.
- up to 7.2 km return
- up to 262m elevation gain
- family friendly
- excellent trail maintenance
Elk Falls are spectacular. But be warned there’s a lot of construction nearby in 2025 and for years to come.
The suspension bridge has great views down into the canyon.
Old growth forest is always a joy to walk.
About 200,000 visit each year. Free parking in a Provincial Park.
Trail maintenance is excellent.
Surprisingly, you can legally walk right to the edge of the falls.
Top 10 Hiking Destinations ➙ Indian Himalaya
It’s easy to hike Nepal. Not so in India.
The hiking infrastructure for foreign tourists is not nearly so well developed. There are far fewer hiking guidebooks.
You need to do much more research when planning a hiking trip to India. The easiest jumping off point is Leh, Ladakh — a region administered by India as a union territory, and constituting a part of the larger region of Kashmir.
AT A GLANCE
- Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal in the west
- Darjeeling and Sikkim in the east
- many peaks over 7000m (23000ft)
- every serious hiker wants to travel to Nepal. The savvy trekkers to the Indian Himalaya, as well.
- though challenging, India is a wonderful tourist destination
- English is widely spoken
- public transportation is slow at best, downright terrifying at worst
- getting to the trailhead may be much more dangerous than anything you do on the trek. Take the train rather than a vehicle whenever you can.
- best for experienced, confident, self-sufficient high altitude hikers
- hiking season somewhere May-Nov (though micro-climates vary greatly). Many treks are not recommended Jul-Aug — though you can hike most places in Ladakh most of the year.
Our list of BEST HIKES in INDIA is on our Asia information page.
Hiking Singapore: A First-Timer’s Guide
Hong Kong is one of the best major cities in the world for hikers.
But Singapore?
This post was a surprise to me.
Singapore offers a plethora of trails that showcase its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. The trails range from serene coastal paths to lush forest routes …
Among the must-visit trails is the Southern Ridges, a 10-kilometer stretch that connects several parks and offers breathtaking views of the city’s skyline and the harbor.
Another popular choice is the MacRitchie Reservoir Loop, where hikers immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of native wildlife while navigating a canopy walk that elevates them above the forest floor. Here are a few more trails to consider:
- Bukit Timah Nature reserve – Home to Singapore’s tallest hill.
- Coney Island - Explore unique flora and fauna in a rustic setting.
- Labrador Nature Reserve – A past site with tranquil sea views.
Healthy Globe Trotter – Traveling to Singapore for Trekking and Hiking: A First-Timer’s Guide
History of Cycle Touring / Bikepacking
The Biking Viking considers a minimal set-up ideal for racing long distances on a bicycle to be called “Bikepacking“.
He’d call what I do “Cycle Touring“.
Many use the terms Cycle Touring & Bikepacking interchangeably, however.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Hiking with Helium Balloon Assist 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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