r/HikingCanada

For my trip next year in July. I’m a solo hiker, scared of bears and I have never done hikes with scrambling or that are exposed, so now is not the time to try them on my own!

Also honestly really freaked out about bears hiking alone. So I’m wanting to stick to well-trafficked spots but still rewarding views. 1-4 hours. I don’t want to ruin my own trip being on edge all the time, not worth it.

From my limited research so far I’ve made an exception for The Big Beehive in terms of duration, and my understanding is that isn’t hard anyway, just brutally uphill (which is fine for the reward!)

I can meticulously go through AllTrails and find stuff (and Parks Canada etc.), and I will, but thought maybe you guys know some off the top of your heads might be able to give me a head start! Or eliminate the need for me to do that at all!

Worked when I went to Switzerland! Reddit and Facebook groups are a great resource haha.

Oh and my base is Lake Louise village and Jasper. I’m excited about being so close to Lake Louise, Morraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Maligne Lake, Takkataw Falls etc. so yes even though full of tourists, to me that’s not a bad thing for safety being alone, and people get spread out more when you go further than 20-30 mins from where the main viewpoints are (well, that’s what I’ve found elsewhere anyway).

I love backcountry camping (BC), but finding freeze‑dried meals I can actually eat has been a challenge. I have several dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten‑free, soy‑free, low‑FODMAP, and not spicy), and a lot of the commercial freeze‑dried meals end up being too spicy or contain ingredients I can’t tolerate. After too many trips where I could barely eat my dinner, I’m now looking at making my own meals from freeze‑dried ingredients.

The problem is: finding freeze‑dried vegetables in Canada feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. I’m specifically looking for things like kale, spinach, shredded carrots, etc., in small quantities (not in powder form) with reasonable shipping. So far I’ve run into several obstacles: sites that don’t work, places that only sell bulk, US stores, items sold out, shops that only sell candy or vegetable powders, or shipping fees that are too high for my budget. I don’t want to commit to a huge bag of something only to discover I don’t like it.

Grains, proteins, and fruits are much easier. For example, I really like the instant quinoa from Nomad Nutrition, and the mycelium‑based protein from Maia Farms works great for me. I add vegetable broth from Fody, and at that point all I’m missing are some veggies. Freeze‑dried berries for oatmeal are easy to find. It’s just the greens and carrots that are giving me trouble.

Does anyone have Canadian suggestions for freeze‑dried greens or shredded carrots (not powders) that won’t break the bank? Small quantities preferred!

Me and my friends are planning a road trip from Hamilton to Gaspé and Percé during the first week of October.
I know the weather can be unpredictable, but I'd love some insight from locals or anyone who has visited around that time. What temperatures should we expect during the day and at night? Is there usually heavy rain, strong wind, fog, snow, or ice on Route 132?
We're also wondering:
- Will regular all-season tires be okay?
- Are Forillon National Park and the main attractions around
Percé still accessible?
- Do many restaurants, tours, or businesses close for the season?
- Is it still a good time for sightseeing and short hikes?
- Are fall colours usually still visible?
Any honest advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.