A backcountry driving trip down the Forest Service Roads (FSR) of British Columbia can seem like a daunting prospect. And with good reason. These roads are unforgiving, will undoubtedly put you out of phone signal, and leave you to fend for yourself if anything goes wrong. So why go? Well, down these less traveled roads, you’ll discover the most incredible views, campsites and hikes, often not too far from the highway. Backcountry driving in BC requires preparation and planning, but the rewards are well worth it.
In this blog I’ll cover the basics of and preparation for backcountry driving, followed by a couple of suggestions for easy backcountry trips near Vancouver and Squamish. There are plenty of resources and community groups that enjoy the backcountry which I’ll also list out.
What is Backcountry Driving?
British Columbia has a vast network of Forest Service Roads, which were primarily created for commercial logging purposes. These roads stretch for hundreds of kilometers, away from paved highways, and into the depths of the magnificent Canadian wilderness. Whilst there is no strict definition of backcountry roads, it’s helpful to think of the boundary between paved and unpaved roads as the tipping point between the two.
Forest service roads remain a controversial discussion point. On the one hand, many people dislike logging and campaign for it to stop entirely. On the other, we have the logging industry to thank for this incredible network of roads, making the backcountry somewhat accessible to the average person. There’s certainly an argument that allowing people to get out into nature easily creates more connections between us and nature. Anyhow, that’s a debate for another day.
Essential Resources
Backcountry Map Books
Driving down a backcountry road pretty much guarantees that you’ll have no phone signal. Paper maps are therefore an essential backup for your backcountry adventures.
BRMB map books have a ridiculous amount of detail showing back-country roads, hot-springs, trailheads, waterfalls etc. I always carry a paper version in my car when venturing out in the backcountry. They also sell large waterproof versions too.
FSR Conditions
British Columbia’s provincial government places a high value on the wilderness as a recreation area. For that reason, many resources exist that can help us all to enjoy these areas safely, with good preparation.
This interactive map shows all known conditions updates for Forest Service Roads in BC. Check out the interactive map here.
BC Road Conditions
Though not exclusively for FSR conditions, the BC road conditions map is an essential resource for planning your trip. It shows everything from traffic updates, to on-route webcams and planned road works.
BC Campgrounds & Rec Sites
Camping RV BC are a not for profit that has an awesome tool for finding campgrounds and rec sites. Campgrounds are generally paid, whilst rec sites are typically free but offer less facilities. If you’re roughing it down a forest service road, you’ll almost always be looking for a rec site. View in full screen here.
Weather Conditions Resources
Weather can make or break your trip. Be prepared, know what to expect in terms of rain, wind, fire-risk and smoke forecasts. Check out the forecast comparison tool below to see all these tolls in one place.
Planning Your Trip
Backcountry driving quickly takes you away from civilization and phone signal. For this reason, there are several factors worth considering and planning before you leave:
Navigation
When driving in the backcountry you’ll almost certainly have no cell coverage. For this reason it’s important to have all your navigation tools offline. This means physical maps, and downloaded Google map areas at the very least. Ask yourself if you could get home, without data. I use several different mapping tools including BRMB maps (link above), GAIA maps, and others which have exceptional detail for your backcountry adventures in BC. Check out mapping app suggestions here.
Tip: Often written instructions will refer to FSR kms such as Squamish FSR KM32, with the distances being relative to the start of the Forest Service Road. Reset your trip odometer to make calculating distances easier.
Insurance
Backcountry roads present different risks to paved roads. They require more caution and usually offer less traction due to the loose surface. With that in mind, insurance companies all have different policies with regards to driving on un-paved roads. Car owners in BC are likely to be insured, but car renters in BC are almost certainly not. Check with your insurance provider before your trip.
Tip: ICBC (Insurance Cooperation of British Columbia) provide a short term insurance policy that allows you to take a rental vehicle on unpaved roads. As of 2020, it costs $10 a day. It’s not well documented on their website, but if you ask an Autoplan advisor they’ll immediately know what you mean.
Breakdown Cover
Some recovery and breakdown companies will come and recover you from unpaved roads, others wont. Check with your provider what types of road they cover, and up to what distance they will tow you. Whilst breakdown cover is totally optional, fees will be higher if you decide to buy their services when you need them most.
Depending on your plans, consider taking additional fuel, stored in an appropriate container, in case you need it. There are no gas stations in the backcountry!
Find links to BCAA breakdown in the travel resources section.
Communication
This one really depends on how far from civilization you intend to venture, and with who else. Often, as soon as you leave a paved road, you’ll lose phone signal. In the event of an accident, this means you’re either walking, or waiting for a passer-by. Driving in convoy is also a great way to build your confidence in the backcountry, knowing that you always have a back-up car to get help if you need it.
The alternative is to buy a simple satellite comms device such as a Garmin InReach, allowing you to communicate and navigate from almost anywhere. Whilst these devices don’t come cheap, when you need them most you’ll wish you’d spent the money. They’re also great for all your backcountry hikes and other adventures in British Columbia.
Some active forest service roads that still have logging trucks on them enforce radio communication. You can find out more information here.
Food & Water
You never know when you might break down or need to hunker down for the night whilst help arrives. Keep a 20L (or more) container of water in your car, as well as a box of dried or packaged food that will last. Take a box of basic foods that require no preparation or other utensils that you may not have. Typically, I leave food and water in my car permanently.
Tip: Don’t be tempted to use these supplies for convenience in a non-emergency, you may just forget to top them up.
Warmth & Shelter
If you’re on a camping expedition then you’re likely to have your sleeping gear with you, though if you’ve gone for a hiking day trip it’s also worth considering these items. If you breakdown, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll end up sleeping in your car, so make sure you have at the very least enough warm clothing, or sleeping bags for everyone in your party.
Road Worthiness & Conditions
With no mandatory annual vehicle checks in BC, it’s easy to let vehicle maintenance fall down the priority list. Make sure your car is in good working condition before you go. Backcountry roads are commonly dirt or gravel, though many are kept in good passable condition for even the average car. That said, every service road is different and conditions can change rapidly, particularly in spring and fall when rainfall, snowmelt and ice melt can cause landslides and block roads. It’s worth researching the specific area you’ll be visiting; often local facebook groups can be found detailing current road conditions. This may help you decide if you need a true 4×4, high clearance vehicle for example.
Driving Tips for Forest Service Roads
Look out for potholes and remember that driving on gravel provides far less grip than tarmac. Many of BC’s FSRs are still in use for commercial logging, even on weekends, so be aware of the large and fast-moving logging trucks that have a reputation for not slowing down. Keep your distance from the car infront to let the dirt settle a little and give you better visibility, and equally slow down (a lot) when passing parked cars or pedestrians so that you don’t completely cover them with dust. Drive with your head and tail lights on so that they can be seen through the dust (it’s like driving in fog). For more general tips of driving in BC, click here.
Backroad 4x4 Community
There are many groups who enjoy exploring the backcountry, or who help each other out when people get stuck. You’ll find links to these in my travel resources.
You may also want to get involved with the 4×4 Association of BC who have regular meets and do group trips. This could be a great way to get to know others and get comfortable in more serious FSR terrain.
Gear
As you get into more serious terrain and less traveled roads, you’ll need to start considering what you do if the road is blocked. Serious backcountry explorers often have chainsaws, pulleys, ropes and winch systems to move objects such as trees and small rocks that might be blocking their path. For basic exploring down well-traveled roads, you should be ok. Perhaps I’ll revisit this in a more advanced post.
