Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / home / Families take to BC trails as hiking hits a stride

Little Maddox and dad Aaron Turner take on Tofino’s Tonquin trail. (Marcie Callewaert photo)

Families take to BC trails as hiking hits a stride

May 23, 2021 //  by Nora O'Malley

Share this:

One positive to come out of these pandemic times is the amount of people spending time outdoors and on the trails.

Creator of tofinohiking.com and vancouvertrails.com Mike Chang says web traffic to his Vancouver site hit a record high and visitors to his Tofino site went up by 30 per cent in 2020 compared to the year before.

“Last year, I noticed a lot of families were out. And I don’t mean like parents and kids, I mean the grandma, parent, kid thing. It was like three generations of family, which is something I never really saw in the past on trails,” said Chang.

“I’m really happy to see all the people out hiking. I think it’s great. It’s great exercise. It’s such a healthy thing to do and we all pay for these Parks,” he said.

As a result in the surge of hikers, one big challenge people faced in the summer of 2020, especially in the Sea to Sky area, was the overcrowding.

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is particularly overrun. From 2010 to 2018, BC Parks reported a 222 per cent increase in people who visited the park. The province is now in the midst of developing a visitor use management strategy in partnership with the Lil’wat Nation and N’Quatqua as result of the overcrowding.

Chang said a small percentage of people directed their frustrations at his sites, saying stuff like “you ruined the trails” and “this lake used to be ‘my’ go to place until you told everyone.” He tuned out of social media for a while because of the backlash.

“I think a lot of it comes from Instagram. When the photos get out, people want to go there. They are public lands funded by tax dollars, and they are for everybody to see. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to go there,” he said, adding that by providing directions people get a safer experience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vancouver Trails (@vancouvertrails)

Chang thinks the demand for trails is not going to go away and that there needs to more of a focus placed on outdoor recreation.

“If I look at Garibaldi Provincial Park, which is the hot spot in the area, we haven’t really added any trails in decades and meanwhile the population has expanded by millions,” he said. “But there has to be a balance between conservation and recreation,” he went on to say. “Right now, you are seeing people go out and just find their own trails in come cases, which is causing a lot of damage to those parks in some areas.”

Chang originally launched vancouvertrails in 2007 with his wife Linda Bakker as a communication tool to educate folks about Leave No Trace principles, not feeding wildlife, trail safety, and to help people find consistent trail information.

“Hiking has always been a relaxation thing for me. It’s always been a way to distress and take my mind off of those every day life things you have to deal with work. When I get out into the forest or the alpine, I just don’t think about anything else. I just enjoy that moment and that scenery I’m in.”

A sturdy backpack and hiking shoes are two pieces of gear Chang recommends investing in, plus packing lots of water during the summer.

And as for his reward of choice for reaching the summit?

“Chocolate chip cookies,” he said.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

READ: New bridge on Vancouver Island’s Cape Scott Trail brings better access

READ: Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail reopens in June

Share this:

Category: home, TravelTag: Hiking, Tofino,, Whistler

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

A Kelowna photographer captured images of a pack of wolves while on a weekend hike…

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in KelownaRead More

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

He might be a better skier and influencer than any Gen Z could imagine, possibly…

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in GoldenRead More

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

What’s going on around the West Coast? Here’s your inside guide to what’s happening where,…

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!Read More

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

Many travellers believe spring and summer are the best times to explore. That means the…

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf IslandsRead More

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contest

A dramatic image by professional Vancouver Island photographer Anthony Bucci will represent Canada in a…

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contestRead More

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!

The best compliment you can give a chef? Returning for seconds! Oh, and to tell…

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!Read More

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish list

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times I’ve been meandering around California for decades, which is…

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish listRead More

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take months

Zhengwen Hao says the phone for his Richmond, B.C., restaurant hasn’t stopped buzzing in recent…

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take monthsRead More

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater Victoria

They say the downfall of every great fishing story is a witness. But a group…

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater VictoriaRead More

Previous Post: « Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers and Mosaic partner to build new trails
Next Post: Take a sculpture walk along Penticton’s lakeshore »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

January 24, 2023

Recent Posts

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

January 24, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved