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Photos from Hiking the Heather Trail, Manning Provincial Park
A few years ago John and I spent a weekend hiking the Heather Trail in Manning Provincial Park. We made it as far as the Kicking Horse Campground, 13.5 kilometers in from the parking lot. It’s one of the best trails in southwestern British Columbia for outstanding mountain views and colourful meadows packed with wildflowers. The Heather Trail is notoriously busy, but don’t let that put you off. You lose the crowds after just a few kilometers.
Here are some photos from that trip – and yes dogs are allowed on a leash.
Colourful meadows full of masses of wildflowers
Wonderful views to the distant peaks
Thistle type wildflower
If you’re feeling very energetic you could continue hiking another ten kilometers past the Kicking Horse Campground and camp at Nicomen Lake. From there you can in fact pick up the 19.5 kilometer Grainger Peak Trail so you don’t have to return the same way. But you’ll need a 40 kilometer car shuttle back to the Blackwell Parking lot – and that’s enough of a logistical problem to put most people off.
We weren’t feeling nearly that energetic and were very happy with backpacking 27 kilometers total – versus 46 kilometers. All told it’s one of the best wildflower hikes I’ve ever done.
Do you have a favourite wildflower hike?
Here is this week’s submission to Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox a website where Nanci offers a chance every Thursday for fellow travelers to post their favourite photos. And it’s been included on R We There Yet Mom?
Leigh McAdam
HikeBikeTravel
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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27 Responses to Photos from Hiking the Heather Trail, Manning Provincial Park
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
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leighmcadamtravels at gmail dot com
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Wow stunning wildflowers and scenery – I love wildflowers
My personal favourite wildflower hikes were in Slovenia’s Julian Alps.
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Namche Bazaar: Trekking in Nepal
@Natasha The mountains with their moisture can out on some amazing displays and it sure adds to the enjoyment of the hike.
What a gorgeous hike. I love hiking but don’t do it nearly as often as I’d like.
Love all that scenery and wildflowers! How great that you can bring dogs along. I can understand why it’s one of your favorites. Our favorite wildflower hike we’ve done once was at the Anza Borrego desert area here in Southern CA.
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A disproportionate amount of travel bloggers are in the Northern hemisphere…or in the tropics, so it is my fate to be constanly bombared with beautiful images, such as these, of spring and eternal summer.
Wow, what a beautiful park, Leigh! The trail looks easy enough for every type of hiker. Lovely.
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Beautiful, absolutely stunning views. Will put this on the future hikes list!
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Lovely hike this. And I’m intrigued by the name of the campground – Kicking Horse? Native Canadian? I also like early autumn berry hikes – wild strawberries, blueberries… pretty – and yummy.
Sophie recently posted..Atlantic Canada: Lively Lunenburg
What a beautiful hike! I love wildflowers – the thistle is definitely one of my favourites – I’m partial to purple!
Lisa recently posted..Searching for Tulips in Ottawa
From following your posts, I can tell that there is no shortage of gorgeous provincial parks in Canada. I’m going to pin one of these wildflower pics to Pinterest right now. Also like the pics of Mr. HBT & friend.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..An Afternoon with George in Alexandria, Virginia
@Cathy I think I need to introduce Mr. HBT just as you did. There are lots of superb provincial parks but the weather in BC from what I hear needs to cooperate.
Stunning scenery! Reminds me a tiny bit of Mt. Rainier with all of the wildflowers. I’ll have to add this park to our list of places to check out. I can’t believe it was warm enough in BC to wear shorts last weekend!
walkingon travels recently posted..A Funny Thing Happened at the Chinese Garden
Those pictures are from a previous summer – and I hear nothing but grumbling about the weather – definitely not shorts weather. I concur with beautiful wildflowers in the Mount Rainier area – as I’ve been there in August but these were even better – really.
Dad’s hiking in Tevas – shocker!
I believe that we may has driven up the viewpoint here on our way back to Vancouver from the Okanagan.
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Beautiful. I’ve never heard of it, but it’s amazing how many gorgeous provincial parks there are that only locals know about. I love Sunshine Meadows in Banff for wildflowers. Also Mt Whimper (just across the B.C. border).
Laurel recently posted..Drakensberg: A Photojourney to S. Africa’s Highest Mountain Range
@Laurel I’ve been so pleased at the quality of the provincial parks – both in BC and Alberta. I will continue to explore.
That looks absolutely gorgeous! British Columbia is stunning. We have very pretty wildflowers here in Central Texas every spring as well.
Becca@ R We There Yet Mom? recently posted..Friday Daydreamin’: SPLASH
@Becca I love spring for the flowers. Alberta is awash with native lilac trees and they are starting to bloom now. It smells fantastic.
It looks gorgeous and I LOVE that you can include your dog!
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This hike looks great- I love finding hikes that allow dogs. I don’t mind that they have to be on a leash, I just like bringing them.
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Hey, I live in BC and I’ve been in shorts for the last few weeks. Of course, I’m not hiking up mountains, so we’re probably seeing it from different points of view. I still think you guys are a little crazy though. Mr. HBT has more stuff on his back than I took to Los Angeles for a week.
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@Steve I’m looking at the photo and wondering what in God’s name we brought. Tent, sleeping bag – maybe there’s a full bottle of wine and a gourmet dinner. Or maybe we’ve got a blow up mattress for the dog??
What spectacular scenery! I love all those wildflowers.
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Stunning shots, Leigh. I hiked when I lived in Alberta in the 70′s and always loved the wild flowers and the awesome views.
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Beautiful! Makes even me want to go for a hike – and I generally don’t really go hiking. The flowers are gorgeous and the views are fantastic.
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@Sabrina I love any hike that’s full of wildflowers – just another lovely stimulant for the senses.