You might not know it, but a world-class Nordic skiing destination is just a few hours away from Western Washington. You’ll find Canada’s largest groomed trail system at Silver Star Provincial Park near Vernon, British Columbia. And if you visit before the end of the year, you’ll have a bonus: Olympic athletes training for the PyeongChang 2018 Games in South …

Bargains like this just don’t happen every year. Admission to Canadian National Parks is free during 2017 as part of the country’s 150th birthday celebration. Add to that a favorable exchange rate on the U.S. dollar, and a car-camping road trip north this summer looks like a steal. It’s time to start planning. British Columbia has five great national parks …

Mount Rainier’s backcountry might be a little less crowded this summer, thanks to a technological snafu. A power outage during a storm last March destroyed the backcountry permit reservation system for Mount Rainier National Park. In effect, those backcountry camping spots that had been reservable – up to 70 percent – are now available when you come to the park …