“Going in the right direction on the trail.” That’s the literal translation of the Nuu-chah-nulth name — ʔapsčiik t̓ašii — for a new paved pathway in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, but there are layers of possible meaning. The name can refer to a person’s personal life journey or to being mindful of the environment and all living things. When the name is used collectively, First Nations Elders say “the land we walk on is made from the dust of our ancestors — in our life journey, we walk it carefully, respectfully, with humility and dignity.”

The iconic West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island is reopening for the first time since 2019.

Advanced bookings for reservations at privately owned campgrounds this year show demand is up more than 50 percent for the 2021 camping season, according to CampgroundViews.com. A quarter of the respondents reported bookings up more than 80 percent, the company added.

With the 2021 camping season ramping up, you should know that Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are requiring advance reservations for their campgrounds. This change is intended to ensure proper COVID-19 mitigations and allow campers to plan with more accurate information about campsite availability, the park announced.