British Columbia's Top Five

Five Amazing Summer Adventures in British Columbia

1) Hello, Sunshine!

Hike BC’s Sunshine Coast Trail, Canada’s longest hut-to-hut trail system—and the only free one! Hikers from around the world come to do this 111-mile journey along the coast, through old-growth forests and up to panoramic mountaintop views, all with the comforts of a hut system.

2) Some Like It Hot

The Hot Springs Circle Route in the Kootenay Rockies will have you soaking in a natural oasis surrounded by wilderness. Lounge in cave hot springs, camp overlooking a lake, sink into one of Canada’s largest hot spring mineral pools, or spot bighorn sheep on surrounding red cliffs. Just a few of the many sights and hot springs on this route.

3) Are You for Wheel?

Rail trails are a near-perfect way to explore BC’s wild spaces and wine country. In all, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail is 400 miles of decommissioned tracks to be explored by bicycle, or on foot. Join a tour (wine or brewery tours pair nicely!), or rent a bike to set out on your own.

Wine touring by bike along the Kettle Valley Railway

4) Ready, Set, Salmon!

You haven’t experienced rush hour like this. Don a snorkel and swim alongside thousands of salmon fighting their way upstream. Campbell River on Vancouver Island is the “Salmon Capital of the World” and the best (and perhaps only) place to swim with the salmon!

5) Sea-to-Sky Road Trip

If you like your road trips to be more than just driving, then the Sea-to-Sky Highway should be on your short list. This 100-mile route from Vancouver to Whistler has stunning mountain, forest, and ocean views. It can be done in one to three days and is packed with adventure: stop for a hike, morning yoga with a view of Howe Sound at the Sea to Sky Gondola, or check out one of the many mountain biking trails in North Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View