Ben Gadd

When it comes to hiking and backpacking in Canada, bestselling author and outdoor enthusiast Ben Gadd is one of the most knowledgeable people out there. Since 1980, Ben has written eight books and many magazine articles about the great Canadian wilderness, focusing on the Rocky Mountain region. 

Ben is not only a writer and explorer—he is also a teacher, graphic designer, and editorial consultant. Ben has won several awards including the Lauran L. Goulden Memorial Award in 2000 (a provincial natural-history award), the Andy Russell Nature Writing Award in 1995 (national) and the Banff Mountain Book Festival Award (international) in 1995, 2001, and 2003.

Ben loves the outdoors and is committed to supporting it in several ways, from publishing to media appearances to his involvement with several conservation groups promoting wildlife protection. He has been an independent nature guide in Jasper National Park in the Alberta Rockies for over 20 years. 

Ben is the author of several books, including the award-winning Handbook of the Canadian Rockies (Corax Press) and the bestselling novel Raven’s End (Sierra Club Books). In 2008, he published The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook with Whitecap Books.

Ben lives in Jasper National Park, nestled in the Alberta Rockies. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, biking, climbing, and cross-country skiing.