Paid partnership with Destination British Columbia
Rainforest to Rockies – British Columbia in photos
Take an extraordinary journey in British Columbia along ever-changing landscapes from Vancouver on the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies.
Rugged shorelines meet lush rainforests at the edge of sophisticated cities. Fertile valleys shift into arid desert and golden grasslands. Rivers flow from alpine lakes and waterfalls, rushing through steep canyons between towering mountains before meandering their way to the sea.
Whichever route you choose to follow, it will be a road trip packed with adventure, where magnificent scenery will have you saying “Wow” around every bend, and highway loops and offshoots are an invitation to find tucked-away places, see wildlife and connect with warm and welcoming locals along the way.
THE CLASSIC: Along the TransCanada Highway
Experience nature touched by and tied to a history going back millennia on the 483-mile journey along “The Classic” Trans-Canada Highway, ending at Yoho National Park.
Clockwise from top left: Aerial photo of Vancouver; Hiking the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park in autumn with golden larch trees; A bighorn sheep in Kootenay National Park; Adventure awaits at Golden Skybridge in Kootenay Rockies, home to Canada’s highest suspension bridge
WINDING ROAD: Crowsnest Highway 3 to the Canadian Rockies
Enjoy farm-fresh, organic bounty, from 30 varieties of tomatoes to nine recognised appellations of wine on a 643-mile route via the Crowsnest Highway, ending in the mountain town of Fernie.
Clockwise from top left: Hiking in Cathedral Provincial Park; A couple enjoy the sunset on one of the trestle bridges overlooking Myra Canyon on the Kettle Valley Railway in Kelowna; Red truck driving past vineyards at Covert Farms in Oliver; Walking tour in Osoyoos with Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Indigenous Tourism BC
BIG AND WILD: North to Mount Robson
From secret trails and solitary paddles to challenging climbs and wildlife watching, this 441-mile route travels via the stunning Sea-to-Sky and Yellowhead highways, ending at Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
From left: Helmcken Falls in Thompson Okanagan in Kelowna; A vehicle travelling on a highway past Seton Lake, south of Lillooet in Cariboo Chilcotin Coast; Approaching Mt. Robson on Highway 16 in the summer
Rainforest to Rockies at a glance
Travel from Vancouver, the vibrant coastal city on the edge of a rainforest, through diverse landscapes – valleys, vineyards, Canada’s only desert, ranches, rivers, lakes and the Canadian Rockies – all in one iconic road trip.
The journey along Rainforest to Rockies allows you to explore at your own pace on main roads and by venturing off-the-beaten path on stunning highways and winding roads, to discover hidden places and wildlife.
From left: Hiking in Mount Robson national Park; Rocky Mountaineer luxury train rounding a corner through the mountain pass in Kootenay Rockies;
With ten mountain ranges, over 15,500 miles of coastline and 25% of the world’s temperate rainforest, you’ll only just begin to scratch the surface – and be planning your return before you’ve even left. Possible routes include:
THE CLASSIC: Along the Trans-Canada Highway
For a quintessential BC road trip, travel via Highway 1 from Vancouver to Hope, through Fraser Canyon to Kamloops and then on to Revelstoke, Golden and beyond. • Some highlights include taking a tour on the Fraser River and enjoying a scenic gondola ride with Hell’s Gate Airtram before arriving in Golden for the Pipe Mountain Coaster.
WINDING ROAD: Crowsnest Highway 3 to the Canadian Rockies
For a relaxed trip through the BC winelands, travel along Highway 1 from Vancouver to Hope, then take Highway 3 in southern BC, passing through vineyards, Osoyoos (Canada’s only desert) and charming mountain towns. Extraordinary landscapes, rich history and diverse cultures await travellers around every corner.
BIG AND WILD: North to Mount Robson
Take the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, then hop on the stunning Yellowhead Highway, which will lead you to Mount Robson, the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies. • Some highlights include learning about Indigenous culture with Xwisten Experience Tours, exploring Wells Gray Provincial Parks or visiting Sun Peaks Resort en route to Mount Robson.
Don’t miss
VANCOUVER
Experience West Coast culture and cuisine in Vancouver, Canada’s newest “Michelin” city. Cycle through Stanley Park and learn about the First Nations at MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, a new museum that shares Indigenous and settler stories and the history of North Vancouver. Then, indulge in the new culinary delights featured in the 2023 Vancouver Michelin Guide; eight restaurants have Michelin stars and a further dozen are Gourmands.
HARRISON RIVER VALLEY
The Sasquatch – known also as “Bigfoot” – is legendary in the Harrison River Valley, and sightings have been claimed here for centuries. But is it real? It’s your turn to decide at Harrison’s new Sasquatch Museum. Building on the artefacts and story around the Sasquatch (which is thought to be a mispronunciation of the Sts’ailes First Nations word Sasq’ets), the museum also includes a major section on the history of the Sts’ailes people and their ancestors, who have lived in the area since time immemorial.
LILLOOET
Lillooet is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America, dating back more than 8,000 years. Visitors can experience that history with Xwisten Experience Tours, an Indigenousowned tour operator celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. Their tours highlight two historically significant sites to the Xwísten (Bridge River) people: fishing grounds still used by the St’at’imc people to harvest salmon, and an archeological village site that was inhabited as recently as 200 years ago.
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
While the Okanagan Valley is home to British Columbia’s biggest wine region, fermented grapes aren’t the only beverage originating from these fertile lands. Vernon’s Cambium Cidery (formerly BX Press) is celebrating its apple orchard’s recent transition towards organic production, a newly launched restaurant and a full range of branch-tobottle artisan ciders. Today they grow more than two dozen varieties including modern dessert apples, nearly forgotten heritage cultivars and vintage cider fruit.
KOOTENAY ROCKIES
Rock climbing isn’t just for experts when there’s a via ferrata to help you along. Thrill seekers can experience North America’s longest via ferrata at CMH Bobbie Burns thanks to CMH Heli-hiking. Accessible only by helicopter, highlights include being nearly 2,000ft high while crossing a near 200ft long suspension bridge dangling off the summit of Mount Nimbus. After the adrenaline rush, finish the day with a gourmet meal at the Bobbie Burns Lodge.
YOHO AND KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK
High in the mountains of Yoho and Kootenay National Park, the Burgess Shale fossils are some of the oldest evidence of complex life on Earth. These well-preserved fossils are now recognised as a key part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site and were recently added to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) list of the first 100 geological heritage sites of significance in the world.
GOLDEN
This town in British Columbia is a great base to explore six of Canada’s national parks including: Yoho, Glacier, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Mount Revelstoke National Parks. They all offer sensational hiking, jaw-dropping scenery and possible wildlife sightings including bears, elk and moose. However, if you’re looking for a real adrenalin fix, try a mountain coaster at Golden Skybridge! The 3,375ft Railrider Mountain Coaster is Canada’s largest and fastest mountain coaster with speeds up to 25 miles an hour.
ROSSLAND
The new 11-mile Mxiɬ p (Cedar) Trail in Rossland, named in consultation with the Sinixt people, honours their heritage. “Mxi p” means cedar in their language, referencing the towering cedars at the trail’s start. Constructed to protect the environment, the trail was built over tree roots to avoid disturbing the land. This careful design reflects a commitment to sustainability and respect for Indigenous traditions, ensuring that the natural landscape remains preserved for future generations.
Need to know
Getting there
Vancouver is the international gateway to British Columbia with direct flights from the UK with British Airways, WestJet and Air Canada.
Best time to go
The best time to travel along Rainforest to Rockies is in the spring and autumn.
Enjoy the fruits of the Okanagan Valley during the autumn harvest season or visit in the spring for wildlife watching as the bears start to wake up from hibernation
Where to stay
There are several places to stay along the Rainforest to Rockies routes, from luxury hotels in Vancouver and Whistler to boutique accommodation and cabins in the Thompson Okanagan and Kootenays
Must-pack item / Food
Hiking boots and a light jacket.
Pair the Michelin-rated food in Vancouver and al-fresco dining in the Okanagan Valley with an Indigenous wine tour or a bottle of organic cider.
How to do it
Visitors can easily travel independently around BC by rail, air or car. Visit hellobc. com/rainforest-to-rockies. Alternatively book your Rainforest to Rockies itinerary through tour operators such as My Canada Trips, Trailfinders or Bon Voyage.
Why go
British Columbia is home to a series of ever-changing landscapes, from the Pacific Coast rainforest and wild coastline to fertile valleys, arid desert and the mighty Canadian Rockies. Each new horizon is an invitation to discover hidden places and have unforgettable experiences on this “road trip of a lifetime
More information
This article was brought to you in partnership with Destination British Columbia and Rainforest to Rockies.
Go to hellobc.com for more details, suggested itineraries and booking.
JRNY is an independent travel magazine published in the UK. Subscribe to JRNY for more stories like this.
