An all-female hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies forged new friendships | Canada Voices

I’m not Canadian, but I spent Canada Day immersed in the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. It seemed appropriate. Cool mist tickled my face as I planted myself near the base of Takakkaw Falls in B.C.’s Yoho National Park. The brilliant, milky turquoise colour of glacial water always seems to catch my breath, no matter where in the world I see it. From the silence of the women with me, I could tell I wasn’t the only one held spellbound.

We were halfway through a six-day, female-only hiking trip. Today’s trek took us along a series of switchbacks through lush, moss-draped forests of spruce, fir and cedar, as we hiked to Emerald Lake.

Some in our group of 16 (13 guests and three guides) charged ahead while others took their time, stopping occasionally to identify plants or take photos. Conversation sprouted like wildflowers. We talked about careers, life changes, hopes and book recommendations. Only a few of us knew each other on the first day, yet it felt as if we’d all planned to travel together. Going on an adventure with women always seems to be a comforting experience, where we laugh louder and conversations go deep.

Women are the biggest consumers of travel, and according to Skift Research’s 2024 report, 82 per cent of all travel decisions are made by women. A growing demand has resulted in many outfitters offering excursions where the only participants are women, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association said in its 2026 trends and insights report that female-focused itineraries have consistently ranked as a top interest with outfitters.

Even when travelling solo, many women seek connection. Group trips that offer the freedom for camaraderie and female bonding in a supportive and empowering environment help many push their boundaries and explore more.

My trip with U.S.-based Backroads, an adventure travel company from my own country, took us to the soaring peaks and aquamarine lakes of Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national park. Despite staying in three different hotels during the six days, each morning followed a similar beginning.

After breakfast, we’d gather our packs and meet our guides in the hotel parking lot to make bag lunches and trail snacks from a table rich with healthy food items and chocolate. My favourites were the fresh B.C. cherries I’d practically inhale at lunchtime, as a reward for the distance already covered.

Every day began with trail talks, in which our guides outlined the route with a bit of history and geology background. Each trail was offered with options: a longer, more challenging path for speedy hikers or a shorter, more direct path for those focused on a slow and steady pace. Our guides would lead us through some stretches to warm up, then we piled into two vans and drove to the trailhead.

The hiking trails climbed through subalpine forests and alpine meadows, some with friendly marmots posing adorably for the possibility of treats — which we withheld. Nearly every turn had a wealth of views of vast glaciers, dramatic waterfalls, sheer limestone cliffs and lakes that looked like liquid sky.

While each day had a timetable, nothing was rushed. One day, I hiked with a mother and her daughter, who recently graduated from high school. Another day, I walked along with a pair of sisters-in-law. There was always someone willing to match a pace, whether it was fast or slow. Taking time in nature and sharing the adventure with a group of women of various ages formed new friendships and I noticed how it strengthened existing bonds between family and friends.

I felt supported on days when I took countless breaks to watch the changing light and shadow on a lake, or merely to catch my breath. Lunchtimes might mean taking chilly polar-bear plunges before packing up and heading onward. Accomplishment has many definitions, and while completing the hike is an obvious example, it was only a facet of the expedition.

The last day of an adventure always seems to arrive too soon. After an easy walk along the shore of Lake Louise, we climbed through forest and wildflower meadows, across a rock ledge and arrived at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. From the balcony of the two-storey log cabin strung with colourful prayer flags, we enjoyed views of Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier as we settled in for a lunch of soup, sandwiches on homemade bread, chili and chocolate cake.

Relaxing over lunch with the women whose company I enjoyed through six days of hiking, I felt more than just a sense of accomplishment. Many of us ended up making new friends on this adventure.

Women’s adventure trips

Looking to try something new in the company of other female adventurers? Consider the following outfitters:

Wild Women Expeditions

This Canadian-owned and operated tour company has been running small group trips for women for 30 years. This fall, there’s horseback riding in Portugal’s Azores region, a Bhutan hiking adventure and escapes to Bali planned. wildwomenexpeditions.com

AdventureWomen

AdventureWomen is a U.S.-based female-owned tour company that’s been crafting adventures for women for more than 40 years. Try the company’s trip to Italy this October. Italy: A Savor, Wander, Nourish Piedmont Immersion explores the region’s UNESCO-protected vineyards and the birthplace of the Slow Food movement. adventurewomen.com

Backroads

Backroads is an active travel company whose women’s adventures have grown 170 per cent since the category debuted in 2024. Canadian Rockies Autumn Women’s Hiking and Walking Tour showcases this region in the quieter months of the year, when the sun still warms wooded trails and forests turn to vibrant hues of amber, gold and scarlet. backroads.com

EF Go Ahead Tours

Part of EF Education First, U.S.-based experiential travel company EF Go Ahead Tours launched its first collection of women-only trips in 2025. Thailand for Women: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Krabi crisscrosses Thailand, highlighting strong women of the region, including nuns from the country’s first all-female priory. goaheadtours.com

Intrepid Travel

Australia-based small-group specialist Intrepid Travel began its women’s expeditions in 2018. Peru: Women’s Expedition travels in the valleys and off-the-beaten-track villages of the country’s highlands to gain insights into the lives of Peruvian women. intrepidtravel.com

Natural Habitat Adventures

Focused on nature and wildlife experiences, U.S.-based Natural Habitat Adventures started offering women’s trips in 2023. Canada’s Premier Polar Bear Adventure: Women’s Journey travels with women researchers to visit the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears. nathab.com

Road Scholar

Non-profit Road Scholar puts education first, and the company’s women-only itineraries have grown measurably since their first in 2002. An Adventurous Exploration of Costa Rica for Women dives into the heart of the country’s ecosystems, from cloud forest to rain forest. roadscholar.org

The author was a guest of Backroads, which did not review or approve this article. Stories are based on merit; The Globe does not guarantee coverage.