Rainforest to Rockies in British Columbia Is Your Gateway to Ever-Changing Landscapes

The coastal, mountainous Canadian province of British Columbia is among the most spectacular places in North America. The sprawling region has an almost unheard-of blend of lush rainforests, mountain canyons carved by eons of water movement, glacier-fed rivers, and snow-capped peaks hiding secret waterfalls. Oh, and if all that wasn’t cool enough, there are volcanoes, too.

For UK travellers, the ever-changing landscapes of BC may evoke scenes familiar to the Alps or Norway’s fjords — but on a simply unimaginable scale. The mountains rise from sea level to more than 13,000 feet, topped with year-round glaciers and bordered by ancient forests where ferns grow shoulder-high. Linking these outdoor wonderlands are stunning drives between places like urban, culture-rich Vancouver, active Whistler, and beyond.

If you’re seeking thoughtful exploration through these dramatic and varied landscapes, the journey along Rainforest to Rockies is perhaps the finest in the province. The full route spans over 435 miles from Vancouver to Mount Robson (the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies). Along the way, it winds through coastal rainforest, glacial valleys, and canyon country. Each region is distinct, filled with natural wonders, and worth slowing down to appreciate.

From the Pacific views to soaring above sea level

Prince of Whales whale watching tours. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Prince of Whales Whale Watching

Start in Vancouver, where nature is seamlessly woven into city life. With any of Vancouver’s waterfront or downtown hotels serving as a base, travellers can trek along the Seawall to Stanley Park. This biking and walking promenade provides stellar views at every turn, along with a chance to spot curious harbour seals and other marine wildlife. Travellers can also take a free shuttle to walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which hangs 230 feet high above a roaring river canyon.

One of the most unique ways to get to know the natural side of Stanley Park is on a tour that centers the First Nations perspective, like those from Indigenous-owned Talaysay Tours. The daily Talking Trees tour helps guests learn how Indigenous Peoples have lived off the land around Vancouver for millennia.

Sea-to-Sky Highway near Horseshoe Bay. Photo: Destination BC/Hubert Kang

As visitors leave the city behind, the Sea to Sky Highway (Route 99) delivers jaw-dropping scenery almost immediately. The road hugs the edge of Howe Sound, with never-ending views of mountains plunging into emerald-hued waters and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Sea to Sky Gondola. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Sea to Sky Gondola/Paul Bride

In Squamish, the Sea to Sky Gondola carries visitors high above the valley floor, offering views of Howe Sound — the most southerly fjord in BC — and alpine ridgelines with minimal effort. At the summit, a walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge adds a thrilling perspective, with panoramic vistas in every direction. It’s one of the best spots to take in the region’s beauty, with dramatic summits like Mount Garibaldi and Black Tusk — two iconic peaks reminiscent of Europe’s Alps — showing just how wildly the terrain can shift between lush valleys and jagged mountains. Note: An expert-level hiking trail is also accessible for those wanting to stretch their legs after a long flight and the start of an epic drive.

Squamish’s lively charm — paired with eight provincial parks, craft breweries, and artisan bakeries and coffee shops — makes it an ideal stop for at least one evening. For a rainy afternoon, the nearby Britannia Mine Museum provides a chance to enter a former working mine and see how the industrial heritage buildings have been modernized and restored.

From the ultimate alpine town to a cultural hub

What We Treasure tour at Squamish Líl̓wat Cultural Centre. Photo: Squamish Líl̓wat Cultural Centre/Logan Swayze

The landscapes shift again as the journey climbs into the alpine town of Whistler. Known for world-class skiing in winter, autumn in Whistler means meadows surrounded by autumnal hues, evergreen forests with carpets of moss, and hiking and walking trails for every ability level. Whistler Village is polished yet outdoorsy, and visitors can enjoy high-elevation hikes, gourmet tasting menus, and organic spa services — often all in the same day.

Travellers from the UK will want to allocate a few days to Whistler, especially as the town has some of the best fine-dining and spas outside of Vancouver, including the amazing Scandinave Spa — ideal for hot- and cold-plunge sessions after a day spent outdoors.

Importantly, Whistler lies on the traditional land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Líl̓wat Nation, and their cultures are beautifully represented at the architecturally stunning Squamish Líl̓wat Cultural Centre, whose design is a contemporary take on First Nations structures.

Beyond Whistler, the route turns inland, trading lush rainforest for the rolling hills and semi-arid canyons of interior BC. Whistler to Kamloops is about a four-hour drive, making midway-point Marble Canyon Provincial Park an excellent detour. The canyon’s mineral springs and unique rock formations are a reminder that, popular as it is, Rainforest to Rockies rewards those who slow down and step off the main road. In Kamloops, where two rivers meet in a broad valley, you’ll find a town dotted with galleries and opportunities for farm-to-table dining. The transformation of the landscape since leaving Vancouver is striking — what began as rainforest is now punctuated by rolling hills, grassy plains, and wide-open terrain, highlighting the astonishing diversity in BC.

Scenic view of Downtown Kamloops. Photo: Destination BC/Tanya Goehring

Towns like Squamish, Whistler, and Kamloops are popular with tourists (though still far less crowded than a city). But part of their appeal lies in their role as hubs for exploring the many natural landscapes of BC, of which there are many. It’s possible to link towns by car in no time — Whistler and Squamish are less than an hour apart — but every few minutes, you’ll find a new trailhead, turnoff, or viewpoint. It’s worth leaving yourself several unhurried days to make the drive from the rainforest to the Rockies, especially so you can experience an evening or two in each town.

From waterfalls and volcanoes to epic peaks

Helmcken Falls. Photo: Destination BC/Max Zeddler

Travellers looking to escape city life will love Clearwater, especially as the small town is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park. It’s a vast wilderness playground of waterfalls, mineral springs, and extinct volcanoes, best described as raw and untamed. Here, Helmcken Falls plunges more than 450 feet into a misty gorge and is certainly the main draw, but dozens of other cascades and picturesque trails meander through the rugged Cariboo Mountains, past jagged peaks and steep canyons, and into fir and spruce forests.

After visiting Clearwater, wildlife surprises abound, from bears to bighorn sheep, as you travel toward one of the most impressive natural features in BC: Mount Robson. It’s a towering, glacier-clad peak that rises roughly 10,000 vertical feet above the valley floor. Even by Alpine standards, its scale is staggering.

Hiking in Mount Robson Provincial Park. Photo: Destination BC/Megan McLellan

Unlike the busier walks and towns of the French or Italian Alps, Mount Robson’s surrounds are remote and uncrowded — and home to massive hanging glaciers and thundering waterfalls. Fit hikers can climb Mount Robson in two days, but with so much beauty along the trail, from waterfall-filled canyons to wildflower-covered meadows, you’ll want to take your time (and lots of photos).

From Mount Robson, you can loop south through the Fraser Canyon back to Vancouver, with more chances to stop at historic towns, wineries, and mountain hot springs along the way. However you choose to wrap up your trip, brace yourself: Rainforest to Rockies packs in more scenery and cultural experiences than you might’ve encountered in a single region ever before — and that can make flying home after your epic BC trip pretty darn tough.

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