Open Google Maps. Search “Canada”.

 Really look this time, and you'll realize it's an unfathomable beast, dwarfing any neighbour to the south. Its lines of latitude pulled taut like a bowstring — until shattering into a sea of ice and stone, Canada unspooling into the Arctic.

 So why, in a country this immense, do we keep circling the same few spots — Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal — when there’s so much more to be seen and experienced? 

This spanking new segment, Eh to Zed, is your digital pass into Canada’s hidden pockets and sweeping horizons. Brought to you by not just the team here at JFC, but (hopefully!) by your fellow Jack's Flight Club Travellers in every corner of the globe, too.

 In this week’s issue, Navigator Marshall is dragging you (willingly, we hope) across some of Canada’s most underrated, jaw-dropping trails. Bring your sense of adventure — and maybe a change of socks. Things are about to get outdoorsy… 

May 18th - Cox Hill, AB

To get our rusty legs warmed up, we chose a moderate, gradually inclining trail tucked along the Jumpingpound Ridge near The Dawson Day. Touted as a great winter hike, we figured it would be a safe choice.

Yet, spring kicked off with a SLIPPERY start this year. Feeling confident, we decided to tackle the hike anyway (bold move for someone in runners). 

Everyone in the party had some slips, which was great comedic relief to distract us from the whiteout conditions.

Positives: No one on the trail

Negatives: No trail

Tip: AllTrails was our only way to be sure we stayed on track. I highly recommend this app if you’re going out into the wilderness (or looking to brag about your stats). You can also download maps beforehand to track your progress even without service.

May 31st - Larry’s Camp and the Ink Pots, AB

This is a popular spot for day hikers and tourists who want to enjoy an easy yet very rewarding trail. The Ink Pots are a natural feature that draws a lot of attention, and for good reason. The small pools are an aesthetically stunning spot to hang out.

My first backcountry night of the year and in an incredible location!

Most noteworthy: The Ink Pots and their impressive hues! A collection of springs, each with a slightly different chemical composition, bubbling up from below ground to create pools in shades of deep emerald to bright blue!

Despite looking incredibly inviting, you can’t disturb the sensitive ecosystem in these pools.

And just beyond this natural wonder is Larry’s camp (don’t ask me who Larry is). Other than one small group, we had the campsite to ourselves, meaning there was no need to share our audio synthesizer (think piano but make it EDM), see below for proof.

Yes, we carried that all the way up, yes, it was heavy, and yes, we will probably do it again.

Tip: I love keeping a spare bag of microwavable Kraft Dinner in my bag. It cooks fast on a backcountry stove and doesn’t require draining out the water.

My Saskatchewan Sidetrack (and the tick twitch)

Jun 28th - Qu'Appelle Valley, SK

I love Saskatchewan, and although its outdoor scene is often overshadowed by Alberta’s world-famous spots like Lake Louise and Jasper, there are some truly spectacular sights to be found. 

In my case, we only had to stick our heads out the car window to see how cool their coulees (wide valleys created by erosion in the prairies) can be. 

I was fortunate enough to get the chance to see the Qu'Appelle Valley. As you drive in, all you see are open fields right up until you reach the cusp. From there on, it’s a full panorama of the massive valley and its lakes.

We spent the day exploring Fort Qu'Appelle and relaxing by the sandy beach (with surprisingly warm water). 

Our short hike here, colloquially known by locals as ‘Pimple Hill,’ should have given us pause. Not only did I find TWO ticks crawling up my shirt, forcing me to whip out what I call tick twitch (flailing and frantically shaking out my clothes) dance moves to get them off before they bit me. But some in our group weren’t so lucky and got multiple bites, not fun…

Maybe it wasn’t a pimple after all…

Jun 29th - The Mountain Bluebird

Just when I thought I dodged Lyme disease, I was invited to check some nearby Mountain Bluebird nesting boxes (a beautiful, but sadly declining species in the area) tucked away in a field of tall grass. My background in Wildlife Biology had me drooling over the opportunity to bushwhack.

After hoofing it between half a dozen nesting boxes, I had seen my share of cute hatchlings. Unfortunately, none of them were bluebirds.

These little puffballs were only a few weeks old!

There’s something to be said about a Saskatchewan sky, too. Driving through the prairies might mean you might only take 2 turns in 5 hours, but it also means you’ve got plenty of time to soak up views like this.

After getting back to our room and a few more tick checks, it was time to fly home.

Taking on the Pinnacle of thru-hikes

Jul 6-9th - Rockwall Trail, BC

This is one of the premier through hikes in Canada. And with it right in my backyard, it's been a bucket list item for as long as I can remember. I’ve made two separate attempts to take on this 55km beast, both kiboshed by inclement weather and forest fires.

This time, I was determined to see it through.

Day 1: Numa Creek

The mountains looked dauntingly high, but spirits were higher. After a breakfast of champions on the drive up (an A&W bacon & egger and a large dark roast), we strapped up our gear and tied our shoes. We took our time on the first stretch, anticipating the climb to come; we knew it would be pointless to exhaust ourselves early.

Day 2: Numa to Tumbling Creek

With over half of the total elevation gain completed on day one, we were acutely aware of just how much this hike would challenge us. 

Sore would be an understatement here, but that’s what they invented painkillers for.

Climbing to the ridge felt like a battle for each step. While I’m not exactly the specimen of human fitness, I pride myself on my ability to tackle most inclines, but this was truly on another level.

You don’t need to zoom much to see that our backpacks were roughly the same size as the boulders we encountered...

What you can’t tell is that it felt like they weighed the same, too (the synthesizer and portable projector dangling off the side probably contributed to that).

Once we reached the plateau, it was smooth sailing. With strong winds pushing us forward, we bathed in the sunlight and absorbed the splendor of this colossal range. It felt bittersweet to reach this point; we knew this was the hike's apex, so we took our time coming down into Tumbling Creek.

Day 3: Tumbling Creek to Helmet Falls

Beautiful trail, check.

Sore feet, double check.

Just when we thought the dramatic landscapes were behind us. BOOM, another, arguably even more incredible row of mountains pierced the sky in front of us. We maintained an excellent pace, having completed almost all the altitude gains on the first two days.

Even with our impressive time, there were plenty of people at the site once we arrived. The camp sites had other people, but Helmet Falls in particular was the busiest. My guess is that’s in part because most people start from the North via the Paint Pots trailhead rather than the route we chose.

Day 4: Helmet Falls to Home!

The weather had gone sour on us, it was so socked in with rain, we decided to pack up quickly in the morning to get the hell out of dodge.

Worst Part: Dreary overcast and a wet, muddy trail. Nothing worse than having to dry out a soggy tent (and everything else) in your living room the next day.

And besides the weather conditions, this final day solidified in my mind that we picked the right route. To reach the Paint Pots trailhead parking lot, you have to walk through the Paint Pots. Not to be mixed up with the Ink Pots from earlier, this section is much, much messier. The soil is a bright ochre that manages to get everywhere. By the time we reached the car, my boots were caked with crust (not how you would want to start a hike).

Waterton Lakes, AB

To round things out, I made my yearly retreat to Waterton Provincial Park in Southern Alberta. This park is definitely not my favorite place in the world, so whatever you do, don’t tell anyone about this magnificent mediocre place, okay? 

Aug 20th - Bears hump, AB

I know we’ve covered a lot already, and if nothing else sticks, you must remember to get a dirty soda next time you visit Waterton. And the most rewarding way to burn off the calories is to charge up Bear’s Hump to see the lake, the townsite, and the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel from a whole new perspective.

Tip: Extra brownie points if you grab a headlamp and make it a sunset summit for extra vibes.

Aug 24th - Cameron Lake, AB

Finally, a nice, easy walk!

When I heard of this breezy 3.5 km trail with virtually no elevation gain and world-class views, it was music to my ears. This one has got to be the pinnacle of maximum reward for minimal effort.

This was my first time visiting Cameron, and all I could say was ‘WOW’.

This has to be one of the most incredible viewpoints I’ve seen in Waterton, if not all of Alberta! And the best part? The only photobombers were deer.

Goat Lake,AB

This is another brutally steep hike, so try to time it in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid being stuck on the exposed rock of the scramble in the heat of the day. We lucked out and had overcast skies, so overheating wasn't a concern. Packing out lots of water is essential here since there is nowhere to access water until you reach Goat Lake. 

Unfortunately, the campsite was lackluster, with cramped tent pads. And lucky us, we picked the pad next to the man who snored louder than the bear hanging around outside our tent (I think in this scenario, I would pick the bear).

Sep 6th - Rawson Lake,AB

Another great lake hike with a walk along the shoreline of Upper Kananaskis Lake at the start. The relatively flat trail eventually increased in steepness until we found ourselves out of breath trying to talk.

With some conveniently timed long hydration breaks, we were at the lake in no time. Getting to the top, the view opens to a beautiful alpine lake. Some hikers decided to stop and eat lunch immediately after reaching the water. We continued along the shore to find a quiet fishing spot. Not a single bite…

Marshall: 0

Alpine fish: 1

After inhaling my smooshed sandwich, we made our way back down, defeated but still satisfied.

The Final Boss

Sep 27 - Mount Smutwood, AB

Truly a challenge even for well-versed hikers, Mount Smutwood, despite the funny name, is no cakewalk. With nearly a kilometer of elevation gain, there are numerous awesome lookout points on the way up. Some choose to turn around at the lake, as the final ascent beyond that is a challenging scramble; be prepared to take your time.

This section got particularly busy, so you may have to wait for your turn (or find a sneaky route around everyone) to get up to the peak.

By far the sketchiest hike I did this year, but at the perfect time to see the larch trees explode into golden veins stretching across the valleys!

Got a hidden gem, a local legend, or a curious question about Canada? 

Let us know in the comments section. Whether it’s history, landscapes, personal stories, or recs—nothing’s off limits (yes, even that well-trodden trek with a killer view)!