Backpacking has become one of our favourite summer pastimes, and Alberta is a great place to do it, with the gorgeous Rockies just a stone’s-throw away. It’s easy (once you get used to it), it’s beautiful (fingers crossed for good weather), and it’s really affordable (once you get your gear).
But if you’re new to backcountry backpacking, there are a LOT of decisions to make, and a lot of things you need to know. Like…
- What gear should I bring, and which brands are better than others?
- What food should I bring, that’s light-weight, nutritious and easy to prepare?
- Where can I camp, and how do I book my site?
- Do I also need a park pass?
- And so much more.
That’s why we’ve put this resource together, so you can easily reference it and start experiencing your own backyard ASAP.
How To Book Your Backcountry Camping Site
With the Rocky Mountains less than an hour from Calgary, it’s usually the first place we look for an overnight excursion.
Both nearby national and provincial parks require a park pass if you’re stopping in:
- Grab your Canada Discovery Pass or Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
- Next, book your campsite in Canada’s National Parks or Alberta’s Provincial Parks.
The Parks Canada reservation system generally opens in late winter / early spring, and allows you to book camp sites varied by location. In 2023, reservations opened in March, so you’ll have to plan ahead if you want to snag dates in any popular locations.
Now Alberta’s provincial parks reservation system allows you to book 90-days in advance of your chosen date. So if you want to go camping on May 1, the 90-day booking window will open on January 31 at 9am. You can find all Alberta backcountry campgrounds here.
Prepare For Your Trek
While backpacking is really just weighted hiking, there’s still a level of fitness required to endure a long hike, generally gaining elevation. Thankfully, there’s a simple solution to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
- Plan your route ahead of time. Know what you’re getting yourself into before you hit the trail. We like the AllTrails app. If you pay for a subscription, you can download offline maps and see all the information like length, elevation, a map, and more — even when you’re out of service.
- Check the weather and trail conditions before you go. This can make a HUGE difference in the outcome of your trip, whether it’s raining and single digits, or blazing sun and +30 outside. Maybe it rained for the past two weeks and the trail is pure mud.
- Build strength and endurance by exercising pre-trip. This could mean going for day hikes, taking long walks, or doing simple at-home exercises, like push-ups, crunches, squats and lunges. Any physical activity beforehand will help your body adjust and recover faster.
We’re always motivated by gorgeous scenery and landmarks. If you need some extra encouragement to start backpacking, check out 13 Unique Features Of The West Coast Trail.
What You Should Bring Backcountry Camping
Backpacking Gear
First things first, you need the right equipment to enjoy your time in the backcountry, because you’re carrying e-very-thing on your back. So while you may have lots of “car camping” gear, you’re going to want light-weight and compact.
The main non-negotiable items are: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, fuel, food, water filter, water bottle, hiking boots, good socks, athletic clothes.
We actually compiled a complete gear list (with links so you can check it all out) in our detailed West Coast Trail Backpacking Guide, sharing our 6-night, 7-day adventure on Vancouver Island. We’ve used most of this gear since our first backcountry backpacking adventure to Mount Assiniboine in 2021, and it’s held up through several seasons.
Not sure if backpacking is for you yet?
Consider renting gear for your first few trips if you’re not ready to commit or shell out the big bucks for quality gear. The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre will provide you with everything you need to get started at a reasonable cost.
But whether you’re buying or renting gear, it’s SO important to test it before you leave. Try it all out, make sure it works, know how to use it, and practice pack your bag. This includes setting up your tent, testing your stove, trying your water filter, the works. Because if you’re missing anything or something fails to work, you want to know BEFORE you leave civilization.
Backcountry Food
Once you have your gear prepped and ready to go, make sure you save some room in your pack for… food! And trust us, your hunger can reach a whole new level on the trail when you’re carrying 25-35+ lbs on your back as you go up and over rocks, roots, logs, you name it.
You’ll burn a lot of energy on the trail, so it’s important to bring proper fuel. We typically bring light breakfasts, high-protein snacks for during the day, and then freeze-dried meals for dinner.
Why freeze-fried?
This process removes more moisture, rehydrates faster and retains the food’s original shape, texture and colour, all while keeping MOST of its nutritional value (compared to dehydrated meals, which only retain 60-75%). That’s why we always grab meals and snacks from Briden Solutions. They carry high-quality food and back-up emergency gear, conveniently located on Highway 1 as you head west out of the city.
Wanna know what we brought and ate during our 7-day trek? Grab our free 32-page guide here!
Filtered Water
Arguably the most important problem you need to tackle while backpacking is finding and filtering water. So always do you research and make sure there are streams running nearby. Most camps are set up near a fresh water source wherever you go, but conditions change and could leave you in a lurch if you’re not prepared.
Before you start collecting water from the source, first make sure it looks clean and pull from flowing water upstream. Avoid pulling from pastures or meadows where there may be animal activity.
There are several ways you can choose to purify water:
- Gravity filter — Great for couples or large groups. We fill this bag up once a day when we arrive at camp, and hang it to filter water as needed. Optional: Buy a second bag to filter into so you have fresh water on demand.
- Squeeze filter — Lightweight, durable, easy to use and maintain. These devices allow you to squeeze water directly through the filter for consumption.
- Hand pump — Built for the harshest of conditions. These hand-pump purifiers require minimal maintenance, but they do come with a hefty price tag.
- LifeStraw — Great for filtering drinking water on the trail. We use a carabiner and clip these bottles to our bag for easy access during any trek.
- Purification tablets or drops — Always handy to carry as a back-up. Read instructions!
Note: Boiling water is NOT the most efficient purification method, as you’ll waste a lot of fuel. But if it’s your last resort, boil water for at least 1 minute (3 minutes if you’re over 1900m) to kill any bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
Survival Kit
While you want to keep your pack as light as possible, you also need to make sure you’re backpacking safely. Because soon you’ll be out of civilization, out of cell service, and on your own in the wilderness.
That’s why we always pack a small first-aid kit so that we’re prepared in the event something happens (and we use at least 1 item almost every trip!).
Here’s a short list of must-have medical and survival items when backpacking any trail:
- Antiseptic wipes
- Polysporin
- Assorted fabric bandages
- Gauze pads
- Medical adhesive tape
- Moleskin (a MUST)
- Pain-relief & allergy medications
- Hand sanitizer
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Biodegradable soap (use sparingly for laundry, dishes, body, etc)
- Knife/multi-tool
- Emergency heat-reflecting blanket
- Lighter
- Matches
- Firestarter
- Compass
- And anything else you or your group needs!
Active Clothing & Hiking Boots
When packing clothing for any trip, it’s easy to overpack with all the “what ifs” — and backpacking is no different. You need to plan for the worst, but hope for the best, while not lugging your whole closet around. Remember: Layers and light-weight options are your friend.
Generally we bring 1-2 hiking outfits for daytime, so shorts or pants, and tees or tanks. And then we bring a set of clean “camp clothes” to hang out in after your sweaty trek. This is generally pants, a sweater, warm socks, and a jacket. Don’t underestimate the Rockies in the summer — temperature can drop quickly at night, especially at higher altitudes. We even bring toques and mitts for good measure.
Wanna know what we brought to wear during our 7-day trek? Grab our free 32-page guide here!
Trail Etiquette
Now that you’re fully prepared for your next backpacking adventure, here are a few tips to help us all enjoy the trails:
Leave No Trace
This means acting in a way so no one could tell you were ever there. Don’t litter or leave food scraps behind (as they’re also dangerous animal attractants). Stick to the trails and don’t remove anything from the natural environment. We want to keep these trails in the best condition possible, and ensure everyone who uses them remains safe. Learn more about leave no trace practices.
Bathrooms
Use the established outhouses at the trailheads or campsites whenever possible. But if nature calls… Do your business at least 60 meters off the trail, and away from fresh water sources. Bring a small trowel and dig a hole 15-20 cm deep to bury. Pack the biodegradable tissue with you in a sealed bag and dispose of it at the next facility, or pack it out.
Right Of Way
We all know going UP is much harder than going DOWN. So it’s polite to wait and allow hikers going uphill the right of way whenever the trail is narrow. Plus, you can chat, ask questions or encourage them as they pass safely. Always hike on the right side of the trail to allow faster hikers the option to pass by.
Wildlife
Space is safe. If you spot a bear, wolf, elk, coyote or deer, don’t move closer to take a photo. Each animal can react differently, so make sure to research your area and any active wildlife warnings before you go. We like to make noise as a group, so we don’t accidentally sneak up on an animal. If you do encounter wildlife, do your best to stay calm and back away slowly. We always, always recommend carrying bear spray as a safety measure. Learn more about bear safety here.
Dogs
Before you go on a trek, look up the park’s regulations to see if pets are permitted. Dogs must be kept on-leash in all Canadian national parks and Alberta provincial parks — for their, your and nature’s safety. If you do bring a pet along, make sure to clean up after them and dispose of their waste properly.
Tell A Buddy
Lastly, tell someone where you’re going. You never know what can happen in the wilderness, so it’s important to think ahead. Take further safety precautions by knowing how to use your phone’s emergency text option. Or consider purchasing a personal tracking and safety beacon.
And with that, you’re ready to hit the trail! You’ll learn a lot about backpacking (and yourself) once you get out in nature and see what type of experience you prefer.
If you want a detailed look at what a week-long backpacking excursion looks like, download our free West Coast Trail Guide. In here, we provide complete packing lists, best preparation tips, day-to-day itineraries, top resources, and so much more.
If you’re looking to adventure closer to home, or want to see some amazing backcountry camping options — grab your free Fun In The Summer Activities Guide!
