13 Epic British Columbia Road Trips For Outdoor Lovers

Last Updated on September 18, 2026

13 Epic British Columbia Road Trips For Outdoor Lovers

British Columbia is the kind of place that makes you want to keep driving.

You can leave the city surrounded by traffic and buildings, and before long you’re winding through towering forests, following a river through a mountain valley or staring at a glacier in the distance. The scenery changes so quickly that sometimes the drive feels like the main event.

For us, the best BC road trips aren’t about seeing how many places we can squeeze into one itinerary. They’re about having somewhere worth going, but also leaving enough room to stop when something catches your eye.

Maybe it’s a waterfall you didn’t know was there. A trailhead that suddenly looks too tempting to pass. A mountain viewpoint that makes everyone get out of the vehicle. Or a lake that looks like it was dropped into the landscape just to make you pull over.

We’ve spent years exploring BC, often with our four kids in tow, and these are some of the road trips we’d recommend to anyone who would rather spend their vacation hiking, swimming, camping, exploring and getting dirty than sitting around indoors.

1. Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is one of those places where you can keep returning and still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface. The island offers a little bit of everything for outdoor lovers: rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, lakes, wildlife and some seriously good hiking.

You can make your road trip all about the west coast, heading toward Tofino and Ucluelet, or venture farther north toward Campbell River and beyond. If you really want to get off the beaten path, continue all the way north to Cape Scott Provincial Park and hike out to San Josef Bay, where a relatively manageable trail through coastal rainforest leads to a spectacular sandy beach surrounded by dramatic rock formations. On the southwest coast, Port Renfrew is another worthwhile stop, especially if you time your visit to Botanical Beach for low tide. The tide pools here reveal an incredible variety of marine life along the rocky shoreline.

Strathcona Provincial Park is another obvious stop for anyone who wants to trade the beach for mountain scenery. You’ll find alpine lakes, rugged peaks, waterfalls and excellent hiking, making it an easy place to add a few days of outdoor adventure to your itinerary.

One of our favorite things about Vancouver Island is that the journey between destinations can be just as interesting as the destinations themselves. You don’t need to plan every minute. Leave room to explore, stop at viewpoints, wander down side roads and pull over when something catches your eye.

If you’re looking for a longer adventure, you can create a loop that takes you through different parts of the island rather than simply driving to one destination and turning around. With so many different landscapes packed into the island, you can build a trip around beaches and rainforest, mountains and hiking, wildlife and coastal communities — or combine a little of everything.

Don’t miss: Tofino, Ucluelet, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Cathedral Grove, Strathcona Provincial Park, Port Renfrew and Botanical Beach, San Josef Bay and the beaches and forests around the west coast.

2. The Sea-To-Sky Highway

Vancouver → Squamish → Whistler → Pemberton

This is one of the easiest BC road trips to recommend if you’re starting in Vancouver, especially if you want a big dose of mountain scenery without spending hours just getting to the beginning of the adventure.

The Sea-to-Sky Highway doesn’t waste much time showing you why it’s famous. Highway 99 follows the coastline from Vancouver toward Squamish, then climbs deeper into the Coast Mountains, with dramatic views appearing around seemingly every corner. You’ll pass ocean inlets, towering cliffs, waterfalls, forests and rugged peaks, and there are so many worthwhile stops that the biggest challenge is deciding where to pull over.

You can turn this into anything from a quick weekend escape to a multi-day adventure. If you only have a day, you can make Squamish your destination and pack in a few of the highlights. With more time, slow the trip down and spend a few nights in Squamish or Whistler before continuing north toward Pemberton.

One of the first major stops is Shannon Falls, where a short walk takes you to the base of one of BC’s most impressive waterfalls. It’s an easy addition to the itinerary and works particularly well for families because you don’t have to commit to a long hike to get a great payoff. Next, is the Sea to Sky Gondola for breathtaking views of Howe Sound, the Tantalus Mountain Range, and the famous Co-Pilot and Sky Pilot mountain peaks. You don’t want to miss the views on a sunny day.

Just a few minutes farther north, the Stawamus Chief towers above Squamish. The Chief is one of the region’s signature hikes, with several routes and viewpoints to choose from depending on your experience and how much time you have. Even if you aren’t hiking to the summit, the granite monolith itself is hard to miss as you drive into Squamish.

Squamish is worth more than a quick fuel stop. Known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, it’s a natural base for hiking, climbing, mountain biking, paddling and other adventures. There are plenty of trails and viewpoints in the surrounding area, so you could easily spend a couple of days here rather than trying to squeeze everything into a single afternoon.

Keep heading north and you’ll reach Brandywine Falls, another easy waterfall stop along the route. The short walk to the viewpoint makes it simple to add without sacrificing much driving time, and the waterfall is especially impressive when the flow is strong.

Eventually, you’ll arrive in Whistler, one of BC’s most well-known mountain destinations. While it’s famous for skiing and snowboarding in winter, there’s plenty happening in the warmer months too. Hiking, mountain biking, lakes, swimming, gondola rides and other outdoor adventures make it a destination where you can easily spend several days.

And don’t make the mistake of thinking Whistler is the end of the road. Some of the best scenery comes once you keep going. Continue north toward Pemberton and the landscape starts to feel increasingly open and wild. The mountains become even more dramatic, and you’ll find opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, wildlife viewing and exploring the backroads and valleys around the area.

The route beyond Whistler also gives you a chance to experience a different side of the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Rather than the busy resort atmosphere of Whistler, Pemberton and the surrounding valleys have a more relaxed, agricultural and wilderness-focused feel. If you have the time, give yourself at least a couple of days to explore rather than simply driving through.

For outdoorsy travellers, this route is especially appealing because you can pack a surprising amount of adventure into a relatively short drive. You can chase waterfalls, climb mountains, hike through forests, explore alpine scenery and spend time beside lakes and rivers — all without needing to travel particularly far from Vancouver.

It’s also a road trip where you don’t need to over-plan every stop. Leave some flexibility in your schedule. If a viewpoint looks worth pulling over for, stop. If the kids have energy for another hike, take the trail. And if you find somewhere you want to explore longer, stay another night.

Don’t miss: Shannon Falls, Stawamus Chief, Brandywine Falls, Squamish, Whistler and the Pemberton area.

Best for: Hiking, waterfalls, mountain scenery, outdoor adventures and an easy escape from Vancouver.

Read our guide: The Best Stops Along The Sea To Sky Highway (From A Local)

3. Hope, Cascades & The Fraser Canyon

Sometimes you don’t need to drive for eight hours to feel like you’ve escaped.

If you’re starting in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland, a road trip through Hope, the Cascades and the Fraser Canyon is one of those adventures that can pack a surprising amount of scenery into a shorter getaway.

As you leave the Lower Mainland behind, the landscape starts changing quickly. Rivers, forests, towering cliffs and mountains replace the city, and suddenly you’re driving through some of BC’s most dramatic terrain.

Hope makes a great base for exploring the surrounding area, but don’t just treat it as a place to stop for lunch before continuing somewhere else. Get out and explore.

The Coquihalla Canyon is home to the famous Othello Tunnels, where a former railway route cuts through the steep canyon walls. The trail takes you through a series of tunnels and across bridges above the Coquihalla River, making this one of those adventures that’s memorable for kids and adults alike.

You can also explore the surrounding trails, waterfalls and viewpoints, or simply take some time to wander around Hope and enjoy the mountain scenery.

Continue farther into the Fraser Canyon and the landscape gets even more dramatic. The Fraser River winds through a narrow mountain corridor, with steep cliffs rising on either side.

This is a road trip where the drive itself deserves your attention. Build in time for stops rather than treating the highway as something you simply need to get through.

And if you’re looking for a longer adventure, Hope can easily become part of a bigger route toward Manning Provincial Park, the Okanagan or the Interior.

For families, this is also a great option when you want a taste of a proper BC road trip without committing to a week away.

Don’t miss: Hope, Coquihalla Canyon and the Othello Tunnels, Fraser Canyon viewpoints, the Fraser River and the surrounding mountain scenery.

Best for: Shorter road trips, hiking, canyons, waterfalls, mountain scenery and families who want an adventure close to Vancouver.

4. Wells Gray Provincial Park

If you have a thing for waterfalls, Wells Gray needs to be on your list.

Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of those places that can easily turn into an entire road trip rather than simply a stop along the way. This enormous wilderness area is sometimes called Canada’s Waterfall Park, and once you start exploring, it’s easy to understand why. The park is home to more than a dozen major waterfalls, along with countless smaller cascades, rivers, lakes, forests, mountains and wide-open wilderness.

The main access point is through Clearwater, and the Wells Gray corridor makes it relatively easy to explore a number of highlights without needing to tackle huge hikes for every viewpoint. That makes it a particularly good destination for families who want a lot of scenery and adventure without having every activity require an all-day commitment.

Helmcken Falls is the big-name attraction and one of the first places most people have on their list. The waterfall plunges dramatically into the canyon below, and the viewing area makes it possible to appreciate the scale without a difficult hike. But stopping there and calling it a day would be missing the point. Wells Gray is much more than one spectacular waterfall.

Dawson Falls is another must-see. Sometimes called the “Little Niagara of Canada,” it spreads across the Murtle River in a broad, powerful cascade. The viewpoint is an easy addition to your day and gives you a completely different perspective from the narrow plunge of Helmcken Falls.

Then there’s Spahats Falls, where the Spahats Creek drops into a deep volcanic canyon surrounded by forest. The short walk to the viewpoint makes this another easy stop to add to a waterfall-chasing day. One of the fun parts of Wells Gray is seeing how different each waterfall feels, even though they are all within the same park.

Once you’ve had your fill of waterfalls, slow things down. Clearwater Lake is a great reason to stay longer, with clear water, mountain scenery and opportunities to get out on the lake. Depending on the season and conditions, you can explore by canoe or kayak, swim, fish or simply find a quiet place to enjoy the scenery.

And don’t overlook the hiking. There are trails throughout the park ranging from short walks to longer backcountry adventures. You can spend an hour exploring a forest trail in the morning and then be standing beside a massive waterfall by the afternoon. If you’re travelling with kids, having a mix of short trails and bigger adventures makes it easy to build a day around everyone’s energy level.

Wildlife is another part of the experience. The park’s vast forests and wilderness provide habitat for bears, deer, moose, mountain goats and other wildlife. As always, give wildlife plenty of space and follow current park guidance, particularly when hiking or camping in bear country.

Wells Gray is best experienced slowly. Give yourself several days if you can. Spend one day chasing waterfalls, another hiking and another getting out on the water or simply enjoying camp. You’ll have a much better experience than trying to race through the park, photograph Helmcken Falls and move on to the next destination.

It also works beautifully as part of a larger BC road trip. You can combine Wells Gray Provincial Park with a trip through the Thompson-Nicola region, continue toward the Cariboo, or connect it with other mountain destinations farther east. If you’re already making the drive to Wells Gray, adding extra time here is well worth considering.

This is the type of place where you can actually feel yourself leaving the busy world behind. Cell service and modern conveniences become less important, the scenery gets bigger, and your days start revolving around waterfalls, trails, lakes, campfires and whatever adventure you decide to find next.

Don’t miss: Helmcken Falls, Dawson Falls, Spahats Falls, Clearwater Lake and the hiking trails throughout the park.

Best for: Waterfalls, hiking, camping, wildlife, paddling and getting deep into the wilderness.

5. Revelstoke & Mount Revelstoke National Park

The surrounding landscape is spectacular, but Mount Revelstoke National Park is a major reason to make the drive.

Located just outside Revelstoke, the park packs an impressive range of landscapes into a relatively small area. You can go from dense inland rainforest to high alpine scenery in a single drive, which is one of the things that makes this area such a great road-trip stop.

The Meadows in the Sky Parkway is the highlight for many visitors. The road winds its way high into the mountains, climbing through different ecological zones as you go. At lower elevations, you’re surrounded by thick forest before the landscape gradually opens up into subalpine and alpine terrain. As you climb higher, the views become increasingly expansive, with mountains stretching across the horizon.

In summer, the upper elevations can become a completely different world. Alpine meadows burst into bloom with wildflowers, creating one of the most beautiful seasonal displays in the park. There are also hiking trails near the top, so don’t simply drive the Parkway, take a few photos and turn around. Get out and explore.

The Summit Trail is a particularly worthwhile option when conditions allow. The relatively short hike takes you through the alpine landscape and gives you the chance to experience the high country rather than viewing it entirely from the road. Weather can change quickly at elevation, though, so bring layers even when it feels warm in Revelstoke.

But don’t spend your entire visit inside the national park.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort is another reason to build extra time into your trip, especially if your family likes a little adrenaline mixed in with the scenery. In summer, the resort offers several ways to get outside and play in the mountains, including an Aerial Adventure Park, Mountain Coaster and Skybridge. The Aerial Adventure Park lets you navigate elevated obstacles and ziplines through the forest, while the Pipe Mountain Coaster sends you twisting and turning down the mountain on a gravity-powered ride. The Skywalk suspension bridge adds another perspective, taking you across a suspension bridge high above the valley with mountain views all around.

These activities are a great complement to the area’s hiking because you can spend part of the day on the trails and then switch gears for something completely different. For families travelling with kids, it’s an easy way to add some excitement without giving up the mountain scenery that brought you to Revelstoke in the first place.

Revelstoke itself is also packed with outdoor opportunities and is worth using as a base for several days. The surrounding area has everything from hiking and mountain biking to paddling, waterfalls, beaches and scenic drives. In winter, the region becomes a major destination for skiing, snowboarding and other snow-based adventures.

One of the easiest ways to experience the area’s forests is the Giant Cedars Boardwalk. The short walk takes you through a stand of enormous western red cedars, giving you a completely different perspective on the landscape than you’ll get from the alpine viewpoints. It’s an easy stop to add to a road trip and a good option when you want something that doesn’t require a long hike.

Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk is another worthwhile stop, particularly if you’re interested in wetlands and wildlife. The trail passes through a lush wetland environment along the Columbia River, with interpretive information and opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife.

And don’t overlook the waterfalls. The Revelstoke area is surrounded by rivers, creeks and steep mountain terrain, which means there are plenty of places to find impressive cascades. It’s worth leaving some space in your itinerary for the smaller stops you discover along the way.

This is also a destination where adding an extra night can make a huge difference. It’s tempting to treat Revelstoke as a convenient overnight stop when you’re travelling between destinations, but that barely scratches the surface. Give yourself a few days and you can combine Mount Revelstoke National Park with hiking, mountain biking, adrenaline activities, waterfalls, forest walks and other adventures around town.

The area also pairs naturally with Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass farther west, making it easy to turn this into a much bigger mountain road trip. If you have the time, slowing down through this part of BC is much more rewarding than simply ticking off viewpoints from the highway.

Don’t miss: Meadows in the Sky Parkway, Summit Trail, Giant Cedars, Skunk Cabbage, Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s Aerial Adventure Park, Mountain Coaster and Skybridge, plus the hiking and outdoor adventures surrounding Revelstoke.

Best for: Mountain adventures, hiking, adrenaline activities, alpine scenery, old-growth forests, waterfalls, wildlife and exploring.

6. Glacier National Park & Rogers Pass

The stretch of highway between Revelstoke and Golden is one of those drives where you should probably schedule more time than you think you’ll need.

Not because the drive is particularly difficult, but because you’ll keep wanting to stop.

As Highway 1 climbs east from Revelstoke, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic. You’ll wind through the Selkirk Mountains, pass enormous peaks and valleys, and enter some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in British Columbia. This is the kind of drive where a simple road-trip playlist can quickly turn into a series of “wait, pull over!” moments.

Glacier National Park is home to rugged peaks, glaciers, steep valleys, alpine meadows and some incredible hiking. The Trans-Canada Highway cuts directly through the park, giving you access to scenery that feels much more remote than you might expect from a major highway. One worthwhile stop is Bear Creek Falls. The short trail leads through forest to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall as it drops through a steep, rocky gorge. It’s an easy way to add a hike to your drive without committing to a major detour or a full-day adventure. If you’re travelling with kids, it’s also a good opportunity to get everyone out of the vehicle and moving before continuing toward Rogers Pass.

Rogers Pass sits right in the middle of it all and is one of the most impressive sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. Surrounded by enormous peaks, it feels less like you’re simply driving through the mountains and more like you’re travelling directly into them.

Rogers Pass also has a fascinating history. The pass was critical to the development of Canada’s railway and transportation routes through the Selkirk Mountains, and the area remains an important transportation corridor today. The Rogers Pass Discovery Centre is a worthwhile stop if you want to learn more about the history of the railway, the highway and the challenges of travelling through this rugged mountain environment.

But for outdoorsy travellers, the real appeal is getting out of the car and exploring. There are hiking trails throughout the area, ranging from shorter walks to challenging alpine routes. The scenery changes dramatically with the seasons, and even the easier trails can put you right in the middle of the massive mountain landscape.

This is also an area where you need to respect the mountains. Weather can change quickly, snow can linger at higher elevations and trail conditions vary significantly throughout the year. Check current conditions before heading out and be prepared for mountain weather, even if it feels like summer down in Revelstoke or Golden.

And don’t underestimate the value of the roadside stops. Pull into a viewpoint, stretch your legs, take in the peaks and give yourself time to appreciate the drive. Some of the most memorable moments on this route don’t require a reservation or a long hike — they’re simply the moments when you stop and look around.

Once you reach Golden, you can continue exploring the Columbia Valley or use the town as a base for adventures in the surrounding mountains.  Don’t miss the Golden Skybridge for thrills and stunning views; you can spend a whole day there. The route also connects naturally with Yoho National Park farther east, making it easy to turn this stretch of highway into part of a much larger BC and Canadian Rockies road trip. There are six National Parks within two hours of Golden.

For us, this isn’t just a route between Revelstoke and Golden. It’s a destination in itself. Give yourself extra time, because rushing through one of the most spectacular mountain corridors in BC would mean missing much of what makes the journey so memorable.

Don’t miss: Bear Creek Falls, Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park, the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, mountain viewpoints, hiking trails and the spectacular drive through the Selkirk Mountains.

Best for: Waterfalls, glaciers, hiking, dramatic mountain scenery, history and a truly memorable mountain drive.

7. Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park may be smaller than some of the other national parks in the Canadian Rockies, but it certainly doesn’t feel short on scenery.

Tucked into the western side of the Canadian Rockies, Yoho is one of those places where you can drive a relatively short distance and suddenly find yourself surrounded by turquoise lakes, towering peaks, enormous waterfalls, glaciers and mountain trails. The name “Yoho” comes from a Cree expression of awe and wonder, and it’s pretty fitting once you start exploring.

This is where you go when you want turquoise water, towering peaks, enormous waterfalls and mountain trails all packed into one road trip.

Emerald Lake is one of the most recognizable spots in the park, and for good reason. The bright turquoise water is surrounded by mountains and forest, creating one of those views that looks almost unreal in person. You can walk along the shoreline, take a canoe out onto the lake or simply find a spot to sit and enjoy the scenery. The Emerald Lake area can get busy, particularly during peak summer days, so an early start can make a big difference.

But don’t stop at the lake.

The Emerald Lake area also gives you access to hiking trails, including the relatively easy lakeshore trail and longer routes that venture farther into the surrounding mountains. This makes it easy to spend a few hours here or turn it into the better part of a day depending on how much hiking you want to do.

Takakkaw Falls is another must-see. At more than 300 metres high, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada and one of the most impressive sights in the Rockies. The road into the falls is an adventure in itself, winding through the mountains before arriving at the parking area. From there, a relatively short walk brings you close enough to feel the spray from the falls when the water is flowing strongly.

Natural Bridge is another easy stop that is worth adding to the itinerary. Here, the rushing Kicking Horse River has carved its way through the rock, creating a natural bridge-like formation. It’s a quick stop, but one that gives you a chance to see the power of the river and the geology of the area without committing to a long hike.

If you’re looking for more of an adventure, head toward Yoho Valley. The area opens up a whole collection of hiking possibilities and gives you the opportunity to get deeper into the mountain landscape. The scenery becomes increasingly rugged as you leave the easier roadside attractions behind, with waterfalls, forests, alpine terrain and enormous rock walls surrounding the trails.

One of the things we love about Yoho is how easy it is to build a day around your energy level. Travelling with kids or don’t feel like hiking for hours? You can string together scenic stops like Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge and Takakkaw Falls. Have a family full of hikers? Pick a longer trail and spend the day earning those mountain views.

The park is also an easy addition to a larger Canadian Rockies road trip. You can combine Yoho with Banff and Lake Louise (Alberta) and Kootenay National Park, or approach it from the west after travelling through Revelstoke and Glacier National Park. Its location makes it particularly convenient to add to a longer route through the Rockies without feeling like you’re going far out of your way.

And while the big-name attractions deserve their place on your itinerary, leave some room for the unexpected. Stop at a viewpoint, watch the river rushing below the highway, look for wildlife or simply pull over when the mountains demand your attention. The scenery changes constantly, and some of the best moments can happen between the places you specifically planned to visit.

Yoho may be smaller than its neighbouring national parks, but that can actually be part of its appeal. You can experience a huge variety of Rocky Mountain scenery without feeling like you need a week to see the highlights. Give yourself at least a full day, and more if you want to hike and explore beyond the main viewpoints.

Don’t miss: Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge, Yoho Valley, the Emerald Lake Lakeshore Trail and the hiking trails throughout the park.

Best for: Waterfalls, turquoise lakes, hiking, mountain scenery, wildlife and classic Canadian Rockies road trips.

8. Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park deserves more attention than it sometimes gets.

Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kootenay stretches between the Columbia Valley and the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rockies. The landscape changes constantly as you drive through the park, from dry, open valleys and warm mineral springs to deep mountain canyons, glaciers, forests and towering peaks.

It’s also one of those parks where the drive itself is part of the adventure. Highway 93 South winds through the park, with plenty of opportunities to pull over, stretch your legs and explore. You don’t need to have every stop planned in advance. Some of the best parts of a Kootenay road trip are simply getting out of the car and seeing where a trail or viewpoint takes you.

Marble Canyon is one of the easiest places to add to a road trip and one of the most impressive. The short trail follows the narrow canyon carved by Tokumm Creek, crossing several bridges as the water rushes through the pale limestone walls below. It’s an easy hike with a big payoff and a great stop for families because you can experience the canyon without committing to a lengthy trek.

The Paint Pots offer something completely different from the usual mountain-and-lake scenery. These colourful mineral pools get their distinctive shades from iron-rich earth, creating an almost otherworldly landscape against the surrounding forest and mountains. The short trail makes it easy to combine the Paint Pots with Marble Canyon on the same day.

And then there are the hot springs.

Radium Hot Springs is just outside the park and makes a fantastic addition to a Kootenay road trip. After a day of hiking and exploring, there’s something pretty satisfying about ending the day with a soak in warm mineral water while surrounded by mountain scenery. It also gives you a chance to slow down after spending the day on the trails.

If you’re looking for a bigger hiking adventure, Stanley Glacier is one of the area’s standout trails. The hike climbs through forest and opens toward dramatic mountain scenery, with views of the Stanley Glacier and surrounding peaks. It’s a longer and more demanding outing than the quick roadside stops, but it’s exactly the kind of hike that shows you why it’s worth spending more than a few hours in Kootenay.

Wildlife is another reason to keep your eyes open as you travel through the park. The mountains and valleys provide habitat for everything from elk and deer to mountain goats and bears. You may spot wildlife from the road or trails, but remember that these are wild animals and should always be given plenty of space.

Kootenay is also easy to combine with other destinations, which makes it ideal for a longer BC road trip. You can link it with Yoho National Park, Banff (Alberta), the East Kootenays and the Columbia Valley rather than treating each area as an isolated destination. Continue south toward Radium and Invermere, or connect the route with other mountain destinations to create a much larger loop.

The result is a road trip with a little bit of everything: hiking, wildlife, mountain scenery, interesting geological features, waterfalls, canyons and opportunities to soak after a day on the trails.

And don’t rush it. While you can hit several of the highlights in a single day, adding an extra night gives you more time for the longer hikes and lets you enjoy the drive without constantly watching the clock. Kootenay works particularly well for travellers who like a mix of easy scenic stops and bigger outdoor adventures.

Don’t miss: Marble Canyon, Paint Pots, Stanley Glacier, Radium Hot Springs and the mountain viewpoints along the route.

Best for: Hiking, hot springs, mountains, wildlife, geological features and exploring the Rockies.

9. East & West Kootenays

If you’re looking for a BC road trip where the adventure is as much about exploring the region as it is reaching one specific destination, head into the Kootenays.

The East and West Kootenays offer a huge mix of mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, hot springs, hiking trails, waterfalls, wildlife and small mountain communities. You could easily spend a week exploring and still leave with a list of places you didn’t get to.

One of the best things about the Kootenays is that there isn’t one single “must-see” route. You can build your trip around the places that interest you most and create a loop that takes you through different valleys and mountain passes. The roads themselves become part of the experience, with winding highways, mountain viewpoints, lakeside stops and little communities appearing along the way.

The East Kootenays are home to places like Fernie, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs. This side of the region is perfect for combining outdoor adventures with time in mountain towns.

Fernie is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and is a great base for hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor adventures. Kimberley brings a different atmosphere, with a charming mountain-town feel and plenty of opportunities to get outside. Further north, the Columbia Valley opens up around Invermere, where lakes and mountains create an ideal combination for summer road trips.

Then there are the hot springs. Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs make it easy to add a relaxing soak to an adventure-filled itinerary. You can spend the morning hiking, cool off in a lake in the afternoon and finish the day soaking in warm mineral water surrounded by mountains.

The West Kootenays have their own personality, with destinations such as Nelson, Rossland, Kaslo, Nakusp, New Denver and Castlegar. The landscape is filled with mountains, lakes, forests and winding roads that make the journey between communities part of the adventure.

Nelson is particularly fun to explore if you like combining outdoor activities with a lively small-city atmosphere. From there, you can branch out toward lakes, hiking trails and mountain communities, or continue along the winding roads that connect the West Kootenays.

Kaslo is another worthwhile stop, especially for travellers who enjoy smaller communities and lakeside scenery. The town sits on the shores of Kootenay Lake, with mountains rising around it, making even a simple walk through town feel scenic.

The lakes are a huge part of the Kootenays experience. Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lakes and the many smaller lakes scattered throughout the region offer opportunities for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and paddleboarding during the warmer months. On a hot summer day, finding a quiet lakeshore can be just as memorable as completing a major hike.

This is also an area where it’s worth resisting the urge to rush. Some of the best experiences come from choosing a general route and giving yourself time to explore along the way. If you see a trailhead, viewpoint or little town that looks interesting, stop. The Kootenays reward travellers who leave some room for spontaneity.

You can build your trip around hiking and camping, spend your days paddling on mountain lakes, chase waterfalls, visit hot springs or simply explore the small communities scattered throughout the valleys. There are plenty of opportunities to mix bigger adventures with slower days, which makes the region particularly well suited to longer family road trips.

And if you’re up for a longer road trip, the Kootenays can be connected with destinations like Kootenay National Park and the Columbia Valley, creating one seriously epic mountain adventure. You could start around the Rockies, travel through Kootenay National Park, continue into the Columbia Valley and then branch farther into the East or West Kootenays.

The biggest mistake would be trying to see everything in one quick pass. The distances can look deceptively manageable on a map, but the winding mountain roads and abundance of places to stop mean you’ll want more time than you initially expect. Pick a section, slow down and actually explore it.

The Kootenays are the kind of place where the itinerary can be as simple as find a mountain, find a lake, find a trail and see where the road takes you next.

Don’t miss: Fernie, Kimberley, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs, Nelson, Rossland, Kaslo, Nakusp and the many lakes, trails, waterfalls and hot springs throughout the region.

Best for: Hiking, camping, lakes, hot springs, paddling, wildlife, mountain towns and getting off the more predictable tourist routes.

10. Manning Provincial Park

For a mountain escape from the Lower Mainland, Manning Provincial Park is hard to beat.

It’s close enough that you don’t need to dedicate an entire week to the trip, but once you leave the highway behind and enter the park, it feels a world away from the city. The landscape changes quickly, with dense forests, mountain peaks, alpine meadows and clear mountain lakes creating the kind of scenery that makes the drive feel like part of the adventure.

Manning is also one of those destinations where you can build the trip around your interests and the amount of time you have. If you’re looking for a relaxed weekend, you can spend time around the lakes, take shorter walks and enjoy the scenery without trying to check every trail off your list. If you’re looking for more adventure, there are plenty of hiking opportunities that take you farther into the mountains and into the park’s alpine landscapes.

Lightning Lake is an easy place to start. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forest, and there are trails around the shoreline that make it easy to spend a few hours exploring without committing to a major hike. It’s also a great spot for families because you can enjoy the scenery at a much slower pace.

But Lightning Lake is only part of what makes Manning worth visiting. The park has an extensive trail network, with options ranging from shorter, easier walks to more challenging hikes with bigger elevation gains and mountain views. In summer, the alpine areas become especially appealing, with wildflowers, open mountain landscapes and views that feel surprisingly remote considering how accessible the park is from the Lower Mainland.

Manning also changes dramatically with the seasons. Summer is popular for camping, hiking, swimming and spending time around the lakes, while fall brings cooler temperatures and colourful forests. Winter transforms the park into a destination for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and other snow-based adventures.

Camping is a big part of the Manning experience. There are several campgrounds throughout the park, making it easy to turn a quick road trip into a proper outdoor getaway. Waking up surrounded by forest and mountains gives you much more time to explore without having to make the drive home the same day.

For families, that’s part of the appeal. You don’t have to plan every hour or choose only the biggest hike. You can spend the morning on a trail, have lunch by the lake, explore another area of the park and still have plenty of time to simply enjoy being outside. And if the kids aren’t up for a huge adventure, there are plenty of ways to make the trip worthwhile without forcing a full-day hike.

If you have more than a weekend, Manning can also be combined with other stops along the route, turning it into a longer Fraser Valley and mountain road trip. The drive itself offers plenty of opportunities to stop, take in the scenery and explore smaller communities along the way.

The key is not to treat Manning as somewhere you simply drive to, take one photo at Lightning Lake and leave. The park is big enough that it’s worth slowing down and giving yourself time to explore beyond the most obvious viewpoint.

Don’t miss: Lightning Lake, the hiking trails, alpine scenery, mountain viewpoints and the drive through the mountains.

Best for: Camping, hiking, lakes, families, alpine scenery and shorter mountain getaways.

How long to go: A weekend is enough to get a taste of Manning, while three or more days gives you more time for hiking, camping and exploring different parts of the park.

11. Okanagan & Similkameen

The Okanagan might be famous for something other than hiking boots, but don’t overlook it if you’re an outdoor lover.

Yes, the region is well known for wineries, orchards, restaurants and long summer days, but there’s a whole other side to the Okanagan once you start looking beyond the vineyards. Warm lakes, sandy beaches, hiking trails, cliffs, waterfalls, cycling routes and wide-open landscapes make this one of the easiest places in BC to combine outdoor adventure with a classic summer road trip.

The Okanagan is especially appealing if your family likes having options. You can spend the morning hiking through the hills, find a beach for an afternoon swim and then head into town for dinner. Or skip the bigger attractions altogether and spend the day paddling, cycling or exploring a quieter section of shoreline.

Penticton is a great place to base yourself for a few days. Sitting between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, it gives you easy access to beaches, swimming, paddling, hiking and cycling. The lakes are warm enough in summer that you can actually look forward to getting in after a hot hike, which is a pretty ideal combination for a family adventure.

Further south, Osoyoos offers an even warmer, drier landscape. The area around Osoyoos feels noticeably different from the greener parts of BC, with rolling hills, dry grasslands, vineyards and the lake stretching through the valley. It’s a great place to slow down for a few days and make the most of the water.

The hiking can also be surprisingly varied. Trails throughout the Okanagan take you through grasslands, forests and rocky hillsides, often with expansive views over the surrounding lakes and valleys. You don’t always have to climb a huge mountain to get an impressive viewpoint here.

And don’t limit your trip to the main Okanagan Valley.

Add the Similkameen Valley and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a more rugged, dry interior landscape. The scenery changes as you travel through communities such as Keremeos and Princeton, with dramatic hills, river valleys, orchards and open grasslands replacing some of the busier lake-and-resort atmosphere.

The Similkameen is particularly good for travellers who enjoy road trips where the landscape keeps changing. You can stop at a farm stand, hike a trail, explore a small community or simply find a viewpoint and take in the scenery. It feels quieter and less polished than some of the Okanagan’s major destinations, which is part of its appeal.

This is a great option for a summer road trip when you want mountain adventures but also want to finish the day swimming in a lake. The combination of hot weather and warm water makes it particularly easy to build a family itinerary around outdoor activities without every day needing to be packed with major attractions.

Cycling is another great way to experience the region. There are routes for different abilities, from easier family-friendly rides to more challenging mountain and road cycling. You can also spend time on the water with kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and boating opportunities throughout the valley.

For families, the Okanagan is also a nice change of pace from some of BC’s more rugged mountain destinations. You can still get your hiking and adventure fix, but there’s usually an easy way to end the day with a swim, ice cream or time relaxing on the beach.

It’s also easy to combine with other routes through southern BC, making it a useful stop on a longer adventure. You could connect the Okanagan with the Fraser Valley, Hope, the Kootenays, the Thompson-Nicola region or the Similkameen Valley to create a much bigger road trip rather than making the Okanagan the only destination.

The best time for this kind of trip is summer, when the lakes are warm, the days are long and most outdoor activities are in full swing. Just be prepared for hot temperatures, particularly in the southern Okanagan and Similkameen, and plan your hikes accordingly.

The Okanagan proves that you don’t have to choose between a relaxing summer vacation and an adventure-filled road trip. You can have both — sometimes within the same afternoon.

Don’t miss: Penticton, Osoyoos, the Similkameen Valley, Okanagan lakes, hiking trails, beaches, cycling routes and outdoor recreation throughout the region.

Best for: Swimming, hiking, paddling, cycling, beaches, warm-weather adventures and combining outdoor activities with a relaxed summer road trip.

12. The Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is proof that not every BC road trip needs to involve crossing multiple mountain ranges.

The adventure begins with a ferry ride, and once you arrive, the pace changes. The road winds along the coastline, forests surround you, and there is a noticeably slower rhythm to the communities scattered along the way. It feels less like you’re racing toward the next attraction and more like the drive itself is part of the experience.

You can start in Gibsons, a great first stop after arriving on the coast, and then continue north through Sechelt and beyond. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, whether you want to stretch your legs on a trail, spend some time at the beach, grab something to eat or simply pull over for a view.

The Sunshine Coast also works particularly well for families because you can choose your own level of adventure. You might spend one day hiking through the forest, another paddling on the water and another simply exploring the small coastal communities. There are beaches to discover, camping opportunities, kayaking and plenty of places where you can slow down and enjoy being outside.

One of the highlights farther along the coast is Skookumchuck Narrows, where massive tidal currents create dramatic rapids as the water moves through the narrow passage. The hike to the viewpoint is part of the experience, making this a great stop for families who want to combine a walk with something genuinely impressive to see.

There are also plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. Kayaking lets you experience the coastline from a completely different perspective, while beaches and sheltered coves provide easy places to spend an afternoon. If you’re travelling with kids, having a mix of active days and slower beach or waterfront stops can make the road trip much easier to enjoy.

You don’t need to build a rigid itinerary here.

In fact, I’d argue that you shouldn’t.

Pick a general direction, find a few outdoor adventures you don’t want to miss, and leave room for the unexpected. Stop when you find a beach that looks inviting. Take the short trail you weren’t planning on doing. Explore a community you hadn’t heard much about. That’s where the Sunshine Coast really shines.

And if you have more time, keep heading north rather than turning the trip into a quick weekend loop. The farther you go, the more the landscape shifts, with quieter stretches of coastline, forests and smaller communities giving you even more of that feeling of getting away from it all.

For a Lower Mainland family, it’s also a road trip that doesn’t require a huge amount of planning to feel like a real getaway. The ferry adds an extra element of adventure for kids, and once you’re on the other side, you can settle into a much slower pace.

Don’t miss: Gibsons, Sechelt, coastal hiking, beaches, kayaking and Skookumchuck Narrows.

Best for: Coastal adventures, kayaking, camping, hiking, beaches and slowing down.

How long to go: A long weekend works well for exploring Gibsons and Sechelt, while a week gives you time to travel farther north and experience more of the Sunshine Coast without rushing.

13. Fraser Valley: Abbotsford, Chilliwack & Beyond

How To Plan A BC Road Trip

The biggest mistake you can make on a BC road trip is trying to do too much.

The distances can look deceptively manageable on a map, especially when you’re used to driving around a city. But British Columbia is big, and mountain roads, ferry schedules, construction, weather, wildlife, traffic and all those “we have to stop here” moments can quickly turn a planned four-hour drive into a full day.

And honestly? That’s part of the fun.

A BC road trip is not just about getting from one destination to the next. Some of the best parts happen between the places you originally planned to visit. A roadside viewpoint turns into an unexpected photo stop. You spot a waterfall from the highway and decide to pull over. A small town has a bakery everyone recommends. You find a lake that looks too inviting to drive past.

Build some breathing room into your itinerary so you actually have time for those moments.

If you know there’s a hike you’ve been wanting to do, don’t plan a seven-hour drive immediately afterward. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the trail without constantly watching the clock. If you’re travelling with kids, build in opportunities to get out of the car, stretch your legs, grab a snack or explore somewhere unexpected. You’ll have a much better trip when you aren’t trying to make every minute fit into a rigid schedule.

It’s also worth thinking about where you’ll stop for fuel, food and supplies. In more remote parts of BC, communities and gas stations can be surprisingly far apart. Don’t assume you’ll be able to fill up whenever you need to. If you see a gas station and your tank is getting low, it can be worth stopping rather than gambling on the next one being open and nearby.

Download maps and directions before leaving areas with reliable cell service. Cell coverage can disappear quickly once you get into the mountains, and having an offline map can make a big difference if you’re trying to find a trailhead, campground or small community.

Ferries are another important consideration when planning a BC road trip. If your route involves a ferry, check the current schedule and give yourself plenty of time. During busy travel periods, sailing waits can add significant time to your day, so avoid building an itinerary that depends on making a particular sailing with only a few minutes to spare. During peak times, it is also best to make a reservation for the ferry to guarantee you’ll get on and not delay your adventure.

Most importantly, check conditions before you head out.

Mountain weather can change quickly, and conditions at your destination can be very different from what you left behind. Check road conditions, weather forecasts, ferry information, park alerts, trail conditions and any seasonal closures or restrictions before you leave.

And remember that the road trip itself is part of the adventure.

You don’t need to see every waterfall, hike every trail or squeeze every attraction into one weekend. Pick a few things you’re genuinely excited about, leave room for unexpected stops, and let the landscape between destinations be part of the experience.

That’s when a BC road trip starts to feel less like a checklist and more like an adventure.

 

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