This is a continuation of our Inspired By Nature series, where we highlight Canadians who are dedicated to sharing the health benefits of nature by getting others outside and unplugged. Know someone who we should feature? Email news@bcparksfoundation.ca.

Stephen Hui at Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area. Photo by Joan Septembre

Meet Stephen Hui, author of Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia

Hiking is my obsession. Growing up in the Vancouver area, I was introduced to the joys of non-motorized outdoor recreation through Scouts and high-school outdoor programs. Later, as a journalist, I found myself drawn to writing about hiking trails and park issues. Authoring hiking guidebooks was a long-time dream. It’s hard to believe I get to enjoy my favourite pastime as part of my side job.

Getting outside

For me, getting outside is a way to commune with nature, relieve stress and anxiety, spend time with friends and family, and take a break from texting, email, and city life. Hiking is tops for me, and I do it year-round. My other outdoor pursuits — backpacking, scrambling, snowshoeing, nature walking, and camping — are all connected to hiking. I also enjoy taking a dip in a mountain lake.

Garibaldi Provincial Park. Photo by Stephen Hui

Favourite places to go for outdoor adventures

It’s all about the coast and mountains. Garibaldi Provincial Park holds a special place in my heart as the site of some of my early outdoor adventures. I love rambling among alpine and subalpine lakes and meadows in the Coast and Cascade Mountains, and along the rocky shores of the Gulf Islands. And nothing compares to the heart-filling magic of the West Coast’s remote beaches.

Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia

My new book is called Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia: Swimming Holes, Mountain Peaks, Waterfalls, and More, and I’m very excited to see it on the trails this summer. Destination Hikes picks up where my first book, 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, left off. The new book describes 55 new hikes in the territories of the Coast Salish, Nlaka’pamux, St’át’imc, and Syilx peoples — including the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Sea to Sky, Sunshine Coast, Gulf Islands, and Nanaimo areas. Some of the hikes are recommended for kids; others are more challenging.

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. Photo by Stephen Hui

The inspiration behind 105 Hikes and Destination Hikes

I’ve always documented my hikes with notes and photography, so writing guidebooks appealed to me early on. Learning about the culture, ecology, geography, and history of the places we hike also deepens the experience. For me, researching this context and background is one of the most satisfying parts of guidebook writing. I also hope to inspire more people to experience, value, and speak out for wild places.

Manning Provincial Park. Photo by Stephen Hui

Advice if you want to get outside and unplugged, too

Turn off the music and put your phone away — remember to take the time to be present in nature. If you’re going hiking, remember to leave a trip plan with a responsible person (in case you need to be rescued), carry the 10 essentials, and minimize your impact on the environment. Most of all, please respect the land and everything around you.