Whether you’re an urbanite or a backcountry adventurer, British Columbia has something for you. Canada’s most westerly province is bordered by the Rocky Mountains and Alberta to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. And with fjords, glaciers, lakes, forests and mountains, it’s a region steeped in natural beauty.
In the south, Vancouver – frequently named one of the most liveable cities in the world due to its coastline, mountains and diverse population – is a hub to reach other parts of the province. But it commands at least a few days to explore (more if you possibly can). Vancouver Island beckons too, offering adventures from soaking in hot springs to embarking on wildlife safaris.
You can cool down in the wine valleys of the Okanagan, or in the north, take in dramatic, unspoilt landscapes on remote road trips. Ready for an adventure? Here are seven ways to explore it all.
1. Hike mountain trails in Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb might be one of the most famous – and largest ski hills – in North America. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait until winter, or enjoy winter sports, to explore it. Grab your hiking boots and board the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to access 50km of trails across two mountains each summer. Feeling energetic? Take the Blackcomb Ascent Trail for a 6.1km hike, gaining 1,200m in elevation, then take the lift down. Whistler Blackcomb offers private hiking guides if you don’t want to go it alone.
Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, too. Summer is a peak time to spot eagles, hawks, marmots, pika, deer, hares and – what you’re probably most keen to see – bears. More than 40 black bears are known to call the mountain home, and sightings from the gondola are common. Bear viewing tours in 4×4 vehicles run from May to October.
Read next: How British Columbia is becoming a hub for accessible winter adventure
2. Eat your way around Vancouver
Foodies have a feast in store. The inaugural Michelin Guide Vancouver launched in 2022, celebrating the city’s fusion of fresh local produce and multicultural influences. Explore pan-Asian, Indigenous and European cuisine, which makes the most of a bounty of wild Pacific Salmon, fresh lake trout, local wines and cheeses.
You can’t go wrong with sushi across the city. In summer, Richmond is the place to go for modern Asian street food at North America’s largest night market. Or you can order the bison pot roast, or the mushrooms with blueberries and bison gravy on bannock (a type of flatbread) at Salmon n’ Bannock, Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant.
Claire’s insider tip: If you’re passing through Vancouver on the first or last stop of your trip and have limited time, you can still get wild. Whale-watching trips run from the city into the Georgia Strait from March to October, so you can watch for humpbacks and orcas. Prince of Whales and Wild Whales depart Granville Island. Take a rainforest hike through old growth on the North Shore. Head to the Lynn Canyon Park for a lesser visited suspension bridge than Capilano, with no entry fee. Or simply take a float plane above it all. Harbour Air takes 20-minute flights over the city.
3. Climb the Chief in Squamish
Drive the Sea to Sky Highway – the impossibly scenic road that joins Vancouver and Pemberton – and stop halfway when you see a sheer, colossal lump of granite. The Stawamus Chief Mountain, or Chief to its friends, draws hardy hikers hellbent on conquering its three 700m+ peaks. Clamber ladder and chains in the final sections for killer views across Howe Sound. Allow five to seven hours and take a picnic for the peak.
Read next: Our guide to Canada’s best hiking trails
4. Seek the wilderness and learn Indigenous stories in Northern BC
Leave the big cities behind and head to the northernmost part of British Columbia. Known as the Great Wilderness, the region offers just a few urban hubs and a whole lot of nature. Take a two-hour flight from Vancouver to Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat to start your road trip through glacier-topped mountains, lava beds, dense forest and remote hot springs.
The Nisga’a Highway is an easy but rewarding route. Stretching 100km, the route passes through the Nass Valley via flooded forests, moss-covered lava beds, waterfalls, hot springs and raging rivers. Stop at the Nisga’a Museum in Laxgalts’ap. Built to resemble a traditional longhouse, the art-filled space brims with stories of Nisga’a society, told through elaborate masks, bentwood boxes, soul catchers and headdresses.
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5. Drink wine and cool off with a lake swim in Okanagan
In summer, BC residents slow down the pace and head for the rolling hills, lakes and fruit orchards of the Okanagan Valley. Life by the lakes goes slow, with fishing, bike rides along former railroad routes such as the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and fragrant lavender fields.
And… it just also happens to be one of British Columbia’s top-producing wine regions with over 270 producers. You’ll find Riesling, sparkling wines, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris, but the Chardonnay is the standout. Trails and tours are the way to go if you want to sample a few. Operators such as Okanagan Wine Country Tours will do the guiding and driving.
Claire’s insider tip: Leave the valley – and your car – behind for nearby Kamloops to catch the VIA Rail. Operating on vintage cars from the 1950s, the railroute passes through the Rockies all the way to Toronto.
6. Hunt for hot springs
There aren’t too many places left in the world where you can trek through the ancient cedars and towering pines of a rainforest and then soak hike-weary muscles in completely natural hot springs. But put simply, BC is a hot-spring hot spot. Dotted throughout the province, these geothermal waters are sometimes remote and challenging to access.
In the north, Liard River Hot Springs lies along the Alaska Highway; wrapped in forest, it’s the second largest hot spring in Canada. Soak in riverside pools made of natural stone at Toad River Hot Springs, and keep your eyes peeled for the moose and Stone’s sheep that sometimes stop by. It’s accessible by helicopter, riverboat or horseback, and operators such as Peak Wyld or Northern Rockies Adventures will get you there.
Further south, follow the Hot Springs Circle Route. Allow a week to loop through Cranbrook, Kimberley, Golden, Revelstoke, New Denver,and Creston, passing six easily accessible springs.
Read next: The best time to go to Canada – a season-by-season guide
7. Watch for whales and bears in the Great Bear Rainforest
As you travel around BC, its highly likely that you’ll spot wildlife spontaneously, whether hiking a mountain peak, driving, or on the seas. But those who want to go wildlife watching specifically should head to the vast Great Bear Rainforest.
Encompassing a quarter of the world’s remaining coastal temperate rainforest, its six million hectares are the largest of its kind in the world. As a number of small communities in the area are accessible only by ferry, boat or plane, most visitors head to remote wilderness lodges such as Knight Inlet Lodge, Spirit Bear Lodge or Klahoose Wilderness Resort to spot grizzly and black bears, orcas, humpbacks, sea otters and eagles.
Claire’s insider tip: If you can’t make it to a wilderness lodge, there are other ways to reach the rainforest. Highway 20 reaches the coast at Bella Coola. Or alternatively visit Vancouver Island. Indigenous-owned Coastal Rainforest Safaris sails from Port Hardy on day trips to the forest and waters of northern Vancouver Island.
Read next: 9 of the best places to visit in Canada
