Go here: South Chilcotin Mountains Park

People have been fighting to keep mining and logging out of B.C.’s South Chilcotin Mountains since the 1930s. In May, the war was finally won when the B.C. government officially created the South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park, protecting a 56,796-hectare wilderness area north and east of Whistler. The rolling high country is ideal for exploration and already has more than 150 kilometres of trails that are currently open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. (The new designation may bring changes to the multi-use status of the trails.)

You can reach the interconnected trail loops on foot, bike or horse from trailheads near the town of Gold Bridge, or hop on a floatplane for a flight into the heart of the new park. Either way, you’ll experience impressive mountain scenery: immense wildflower-stuffed meadows, clear fish-filled lakes, ridges and summits of red, orange and purple scree, glaciers and snowfields, and wide forested valleys. For more info: landwithoutlimits.com; bcparks.ca; chilcotinholidays.com; tyaxair.com.

This article was originally published on July 9, 2010