FAMILY FRIENDLY GUIDE - BUCKHORN BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITE. Heather Trail, EC Manning Park

Planning

We booked our permit through the BC Parks website. You can also visit the amazing visitor center to obtain one. A permit is required, and it tends to fill up on weekends.

With no Internet connectivity throughout the park, we found that everything was easy to locate thanks to clear signage along the highway. The Visitor Center and resort area have reception.

Getting There

The Heather Trail is located in Manning Provincial Park, accessible via Highway 3. The drive from Vancouver takes approximately 2.5 hours, and the journey through the park offers exceptional scenery. Follow the signs for the sub-alpine area and take Blackwall Rd. Continue until you reach the gravel road and head to the top. Making a stop at the midway lookout is also a great idea!

You can park at the upper or lower lot; however, I recommend the upper lot as it provides a few more views, in my opinion. The difference in trail length between the two lots is only slight, with the lower lot being slightly longer.

The Trail

Follow the Heather trail for 5km to reach the campsite. The trail is beginner and kid-friendly, well-maintained, with minimal elevation gain, and it’s easy to follow. Along the way, you’ll encounter beautiful wildflowers, stunning views, friendly hikers, and whiskey jacks.

The Campsite

The site features 20 excellent tent pads, a bear cache, pit toilets, a food shelter, and a stream as a water source (remember to treat it!). It’s a truly beautiful spot to explore and enjoy with the kids.

We chose site number one, as we felt it was the most secluded in case other campers showed up (our kiddos can be loud 😜). This site also provided convenient access to the creek, where we could fill our water filter.

We only stayed for one night, but it would have been fun to spend two nights and hike the 5 km to First Brother.

The Heather Trail itself is an epic multi-day hike with amazing views, minimal elevation gain, and beautiful wildflowers. We definitely plan to return to complete the additional trail camps - Kicking Horse (13.5 km) and Nicoman Lake (21 km).

We set up camp for the week at the Hampton campsite (more details on this coming soon!). It was wonderful to have our trailer as a home base and start the backcountry camp while already in Manning Park.

Have you hiked the Heather Trail or stayed at any of the campsites with kids? We’re hooked and will certainly be back this fall for hiking and in winter for skiing.

Stay tuned for more information on what we bring for our overnight backcountry trips with kids, including gear, food recommendations, luxuries, and more.