Backpacking with playwest
Keep the wild, wild – One of our core values! You might wonder why the locations of our hikes are not listed on every hike. The answer is easy: We want to keep the wild, wild. Keep the traffic to these areas low and let the wildlife roam free.
With Playwest, you’ll move through remote alpine and coastal landscapes with intention, learning key backcountry skills while connecting with nature and the group. Every trip follows our D.R.E.E. approach, a framework for deeper, more meaningful adventures.
Expect small groups, experienced guides, and a focus on safety, learning, and Leave No Trace principles. Whether it’s the rugged West Coast Trail or a hidden gem in the Rockies, these trips are for those ready to hike with heart and purpose.
Guided BAckpacking trips
A hiking experience you won’t forget
Why choose us?
Top-Ranked Hiking Guide in Invermere
Hikers have spoken! We only have 5-star reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. Check it out for yourself and see what other's are saying.
Local Hiking Experts
The Canadian Rockies and Purcell Mountains are our backyard, they are our home. We've been exploring this area for decades and know all of the peaks, valleys and the best waterfalls.
Professional Outdoor Guides
All of our guides are members of several professional associations, the most notable being the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). They aim to inspire and educate our guests in a fun and safe environment, learning about our surroundings through story telling and the odd bad joke.
All-Inclusive Guided Hikes
You're on a hiking vacation, so won't have to lift a finger...but you will need to lift a foot. We handle the transportation, hiking permits, freshly packed lunches and you can even use gear from our fleet (for free), if you need it.
What the Playwest Adventurers Say
Hiking reviews
Rated 5 stars on Google
In August we completed a 4 day backpacking trip with Chris, North of Invermere in the Purcell Mountains. It was an incredible experience. Having Chris as our guide allowed us to completely focus on the beauty around us and enjoy the experience. The food was great! Locally sourced, fresh, healthy and filling! (The charcuterie he packed was to die for!) He changed my mind about only using dehydrated meals while backpacking. We rented a tent, sleeping pad and bag from Chris. All of the gear he provided was high quality and in great shape. He was attentive to each group member’s needs throughout the hike and an awesome ambassador of the outdoors, educating us on different flora, fauna and the mountains while we hiked. Overall it was an unforgettable experience thanks to Chris and Playwest.
Stewart H
Google - 5 Starts
Would highly recommend Playwest and Chris as the hiking guide. He is very passionate about our incredible wilderness and shares this and his great humour freely. This was our first 5-day back country experience and certainly will not be our last. Chris is all of this and a great mountain chef too! An experience we will never forget. Everyone should (Re)Connect with Playwest Mountain Experience!
Late this summer, a group of friends and I completed the West Coast Trail with Playwest Mountain Experience. Chris and his associate guide Taylor were instrumental in making a spectacular adventure even better. The WCT has an amazing variety of terrain and scenery, and with Playwest, we also learned more about the land, stayed safe on this very demanding trail, and had delicious meals and snacks for us throughout the seven day trek as well. If you want to experience the WCT, I can’t think of a better way to do so than with Playwest Mountain Experience!
John W
Google - 5 Stars
Frequently Asked Questions
About OUr Full-Day Tours
You got it! We're going to provide you with a full packing list for the hike that you have chosen. While some hikes require different equipment, depending on the length of hike, here are a few items to get you started:
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Hiking pack
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Minimum 1 litre of water
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Other items here
After you've booked your hike, we will provide you with a full list.
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All of our full-day hiking programs include a packed lunch. We work with Kootenay Coffee Works to provide you with a nutritious lunch complete with homemade baked goods! Kootenay Coffee Works can accommodate any food allergies or sensitivities you may have. Just let us know in advance and we will make sure you are well taken care of.
While we do like traveling in the mountains with kids, some of our hikes can be quite long. For that reason we have an age limit of 12 and up to keep our trips flowing and enjoyable for all.
We sure do! Many of our trips start deep in the backcountry and require a 4-wheel drive vehicle to access the trailheads. We include transportation to and from these locations in “Koni”, our fully loaded Yukon. We can accommodate a maximum of 6 people in Koni. Koni is a great new addition to our program and we are sure you will be super comfortable as we make our way to the start of the hike.
All of our trips (except some of our half-day hikes) will operate rain or shine. However, on the odd occasion, our guides will make the decision to cancel a trip if it is deemed unsafe due to extreme weather.
Mountain weather can be very unpredictable and for that reason, we ask that you are prepared for everything. On all of our booking pages, there is a detailed “What to bring” list. Be sure to read the trip descriptions and if you have any questions, please contact us. We use several different tools to build specific forecasts for our trips. We will send you a weather update approximately 24 hours before your trip - check your email the night before!
