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Take a Hike: Garibaldi Lake
Join us for our final hike of the season in partnership with Fall Line Guides and Arc'teryx Whistler. October is one of the most beautiful times to hike -- Garibaldi Lake is known for its turquoise-coloured water, alpine mountains, and spectacular glacier backdrop.
Take a Hike: Garibaldi Lake
Take a Hike: Garibaldi Lake
Join us for our final hike of the season in partnership with Fall Line Guides and Arc'teryx Whistler. October is one of the most beautiful times to hike -- Garibaldi Lake is known for its turquoise-coloured water, alpine mountains, and spectacular glacier backdrop. The hike is an intermediate to advanced 19km round trip with nearly 1,000m of elevation gain, so participants must be confident with long-distance inclines.
Details
Hike: Garibaldi Lake
Meet: Rubble Creek Trailhead
Monday, October 6
8:30am meet | 7–8 hours on trail (with lunch break) | Finish by 5pm ish
(full meet details will be sent to attendees)
Cost: $85
What to bring:
- Water, lunch, snacks
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Weather-appropriate layers
- Sturdy hiking shoes
What’s included:
- 22L backpack by Arc'teryx
- CBD heal stick by Plant of Life
- Custom key chain by All + Extra
Learn more about the hike here
Limited spots available. Open to women and non-binary folks. (must feel comfortable hiking long distance with incline)
#naturalfreedom #takeahike
TAKE A HIKE: Wildside
By Natural Freedom & Bryanna Bradley
In late August, we completed our second annual Wildside Trail hike on Flores Island. The trip's core was connection, as perfectly captured by the words shared at the end: "silly," "fulfilled," and "connection."
The 11km trail from Ahousaht to Cow Bay is both rugged and beautiful, taking hikers through old-growth forests and along sandy coastlines. We had ideal weather with sunshine and clear, starry nights.
Our partnership with MEC was crucial to this trip. Their support created a comfortable and communal experience for everyone. Their spacious tents provided a place to rest, and their Nano Lite Chairs were a trip highlight. Having a chair for every hiker might seem like a luxury, but it transformed our Cow Bay campsite into a functional and relaxing "ocean tailgate." It was the perfect setup to unwind, share stories, and simply be together. This trip confirmed that good gear and great company are what truly make these moments memorable.
The outdoors is unpredictable. When an unexpected injury occurred on our way back, the group rallied together, proving that you are safe when you're with the right people.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to our incredible supporters who made this event possible:
- Bryanna Bradley for leading the trip and capturing the experience.
- MEC for their support and gear.
- KEEN for the hiking shoes.
- Kulacloth and Sunbumfor the goodies.
- Jess LeBlanc for the evening tarot reading and guided morning stretch.
- Anna Atleo for planning support.
We’re grateful for this community and are already planning next year's trip.
Take a Hike Lonecone
Honouring Indigenous Peoples Day
The sound of connection in the forest— Last weekend we got to honour and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st by hiking the Lone Cone Trail on Meares Island (Wah-nuh-jus – Hilth-hoo-is) in partnership with @ahous_adventures @mhss_stewardship, this was such a special day.
The Lonecone trail is raw and rugged and each branch feels like it was made to support you along the steep way up. Life isn’t always about the view but rather about the journey. Searching for/ finding peace and acceptance in all moments. Although we didn’t get the view we were hoping for we got to enjoy amazing company, embrace the feeling of being immersed in lush forests and celebrate the beauty of the land.
Thank you to everyone who joined and huge special thank you to Anna @naas_imyis_axa for leading the group and sharing beautiful stories along the way 🧡
Thank you @merrellcanada for supporting this event with hiking shoe donations.
Thank you @asalahyoussef for these incredibly beautiful images!
Lonecone photos by Asalah Youssef
Take a Hike: Intro to Overnight Hiking
Highlights from our first-ever overnight Take a Hike event!
15 amazing women from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Ahousaht First Nation embarked on this incredible journey. Our adventure began with a scenic boat ride from Tofino to Ahousaht territory, where a warm welcome awaited us.
The hike itself was a breathtaking 11km journey through the wilderness along the Wildside Trail on Flores Island. Huge thanks to MHSS Stewardship and Anna for their support in organizing this event!
Sunny skies and good company made for a fun and memorable hike. We enjoyed plenty of breaks, delicious snacks, and lots of laughter along the way.
The evening was truly magical. We gathered around a cozy "fire" of tea lights (thanks to Speaking of the Weather's tidal candles) and shared delicious dehydrated meals. Laughter and heartfelt conversations deepened our connections.
But the magic didn't stop there! We were treated to a stunning display of bioluminescence in the ocean, followed by a breathtaking meteor shower and even northern lights. Talk about unforgettable!
A huge thank you to the incredible team who made this event possible:
Leaders: Bryanna Bradley Photography, Mirae Campbell, and Ken Rae Dorsey
Brand support:
- Keen Canada: provided hiking shoes for everyone
- Mountain Hardwear: donated backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents
- Rumpl: provided cozy packable blankets
- Kula Cloth: created custom pee cloths for the ladies
- MTWaddington's: hooked us up with Happy Yak dehydrated meals
- My Human Essentials: provided deodorants
- Made With Local: donated granola bars
This event held special significance for us. It all started two years ago with the very first Natural Freedom "Take a Hike" event on Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler. The energy from that day continues to inspire us to create amazing outdoor experiences for women. This overnight hike was a dream come true, and we can't wait for the next adventure!
See more amazing photos by Mirae Campbell.
Intro to Overnight Hiking Photos by Mirae Campbell
Take a Hike Series by Natural Freedom
The Take a Hike events hosted by Natural Freedom is where our events have rooted from. It can be intimating going hiking and we aim to bridge that gap by creating a safe and fun experience for people to get outside and enjoy the beautiful landscapes. offering participants unforgettable outdoor experiences and opportunities to connect with nature and like-minded individuals.
Here is the list of previous Take a Hikes by Natural Freedom:
High Note Trail (August 28th 2023):
- Over 25 participants gathered at the Whistler Gondola for an intermediate 9.5km hike along the High Note Trail. The day began with a warm-up session led by Greta Dopp followed by pit stops for lunch and a restorative standing stretch. Each hiker received a NF tote bag, a special item from My Human Essentials and a custom bracelet handmade by one of the hikers!
Grouse Grind Trail (July 6th 2023):
- A group of 20 embarked on the challenging Grouse Grind Trail, reaching the summit of Grouse Mountain. After the hike, participants enjoyed restorative yoga led by Greta Dopp before descending via gondola.
Decker Loop (August 15th 2022):
- Participants gathered at the Blackcomb Gondola for a stretch/meditation session led by Bianca Europe before tackling the intermediate 9km Overlord, Lakeside & Decker Loop hike. The event provided an opportunity for connection and exploration in the alpine of Garibaldi. This was our first ever Natural Freedom event!
Overall, the Take a Hike series has provided a platform for individuals to push their limits, unwind in nature, and forge lasting connections.
Photo from our Whistler Mountain Edition by Kiara Swartz.
Take a Hike High Note Trail 2023 photos by Kiara Swartz
Take a Hike Grouse Mountain 2023 photos by Mirae Campbell
Take a Hike Whistler Blackcomb 2022 photos by Mirae Campbell
