Free Camping in BC: Recreation Sites, Crown Land & How to Find It (2026)
Crown land covers about 94% of British Columbia, and most of it is open for free camping. Here is how the rules work, the best regions to head to, how...
This bundle brings together the original first edition Backroad Mapbooks that started it all. It includes the inaugural Southwestern British Columbia Mapbook in both its original white cover and revised light blue edition, along with the first Backroad Mapbooks ever produced for Vancouver Island, the Kamloops–Okanagan region, and the Kootenays.
Printed in the 1990s using hand-drawn maps and small-press production, these books were created to solve a real problem: the lack of reliable backroad information for outdoor travel in British Columbia. They focus on logging roads, lakes, and backcountry access, with short notes on fishing, hiking, camping, and exploration. These volumes were never meant to be preserved; most were used hard in the field, and few complete sets still exist today.
This bundle is the closest thing to owning the full origin story of Backroad Maps: five original books that laid the foundation for everything that followed.
The First Edition Mapbooks
The First Edition Backroad Mapbooks are where Backroad Maps began. In the early 1990s, brothers Wes and Russ Mussio set out to map the backroads they couldn’t find on existing maps. These books were hand-drawn, self-published, and printed on a small press in a garage in British Columbia.
The maps are simple and practical, showing logging roads, lakes, and access points, with short notes on fishing, hiking, and camping. These books were made to be used, not collected, and most of them were. That’s what makes surviving first editions rare today. What you’re holding is an original piece of backcountry history. Learn more about how it all started on our history page.
Get inspired with Adventure Blog
View all-
-
The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Saskatchewan (Lakes, Species & Hot Spots)
Many anglers overlook Saskatchewan, assuming it’s nothing but prairie, but they’re missing out on some truly exceptional fishing. The province is home to more than 100,000 lakes, a fact that...
-
Backroads Saskatchewan: Hidden Outdoor Adventures You Didn’t Know Existed
From remote wilderness and scenic waterways to unique geological formations and abundant wildlife, Saskatchewan is full of “hidden gems” waiting to be discovered.
-
Spring Bear Hunting in BC: Zones, Access Roads & Maps You Actually Need
Summary: This guide covers everything BC spring bear hunters need for 2026: when seasons open across key WMUs, which regions; Cariboo, Thompson, Fraser Valley, hold the best opportunity, how to...
-
Crown Land Access in Canada: How to Find, Navigate & Camp It Legally (Province-by-Province)
Did you know 89% of Canada is crown land, and most of it is free to camp on? No reservations, no fees, no crowded campgrounds. But knowing where you're allowed...
-
Best Provincial Parks on Northern Vancouver Island for Hiking, Camping & Paddling
From Cape Scott to Strathcona and the Broughton Archipelago, discover the best Northern Vancouver Island provincial parks for backcountry hiking, camping and sea kayaking.
-
Best Recreation Sites on Northern Vancouver Island for Camping, Fishing & Paddling
Looking for the best Northern Vancouver Island camping? This guide covers top BC Recreation Sites and Forest Service campsites near Port McNeill, Gold River, Port Hardy and Campbell River, including...
-
Top 3 Best Hunting Maps in Canada (2026)
This in-depth guide compares the Top 3 Best Hunting Maps for Canada in 2026: Backroad Maps, onX Hunt, and iHunter. It covers Alberta hunting zones maps, Ontario hunting area maps,...
