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

The coastal, mountainous Canadian province of British Columbia is one of the most gorgeous regions in all of North America, with everything from lush rainforests and alpine glaciers to dramatic, snow-capped peaks that hide secret waterfalls. For Californians, it’s reminiscent of the Sierra Nevada — if the Sierra Nevada’s peaks ran from sea level to more than 13,000 feet high and were covered in year-round glaciers and roaring rivers churning over boulders the size of houses. As if that wasn’t cool enough, there are also enormous ferns and trees that are so striking they almost seem prehistoric.

For adventurers looking to explore the beauty of BC, there’s no better journey for witnessing the ever-changing diversity of landscapes than Rainforest to Rockies. It’s a 440-mile drive from Pacific-side Vancouver to Mount Robson, the tallest summit in the Canadian Rockies. Along the way, rainforest, alpine, and canyon country unfolds in seamless succession, each landscape more dramatic than the last. Here’s how your BC journey can play out.

From ocean views to soaring above sea level

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

From California, the easiest way to explore this section of BC is by flying (or driving, if you’re so inclined) to Vancouver, where nature and urban life are inseparable. Two must-sees in the province’s biggest city: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park’s swaying bridge over a rushing canyon and rainforested Stanley Park’s cedar-lined Seawall pathway. This biking and walking promenade provides stellar views at every turn, along with a chance to spot curious harbor seals and other marine wildlife.

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

Leaving Vancouver and heading north along the Sea to Sky Highway, the road winds along the edge of spectacular Howe Sound, the most southerly fjord in North America. The drive to the climbing- and mountain-bike-friendly town of Squamish has nonstop views of mountains plunging into turquoise waters, often with bald eagles soaring overhead.

In Squamish, the Sea to Sky Gondola whisks visitors to 2,903 feet above sea level for views of glaciers and ridgelines (though ambitious visitors can hike their way up, too). At the summit, the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge offers a breathtaking walk — an exhilarating way to take in the dramatic landscape.

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

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 this journey climbs into the alpine town of Whistler. Known for world-class skiing in winter, fall in Whistler means meadows flanked by autumnal hues, evergreen forests with carpets of moss, and hiking and biking trails for every ability level. The pedestrian-friendly Whistler Village is polished yet outdoorsy, and visitors can enjoy ziplines, rafting, gourmet tasting menus, organic spa services, and more — often all in the same day.

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 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 now feels almost desert-like, highlighting the astonishing diversity of BC.

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

Towns like Squamish, Whistler, and Kamloops aren’t off the beaten tourist track, 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 travel from one town to the next by car in no time — Whistler and Squamish are less than an hour apart — but every mile or so, you’ll find a new trailhead, turnoff, or viewpoint. It’s worth leaving yourself lots of time for each leg of the drive.

From waterfalls and volcanoes to epic peaks

Helmcken Falls. Photo: Destination BC/Max Zeddler

Visitors who feel like California’s mountain towns have become too crowded 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.

Clearwater is also noteworthy for its topography and is dominated by one dramatic feature: volcanoes. The town is home to a massive volcanic field with not one, not two, but a whopping 22 volcanoes. Spend a little extra time in Clearwater, and you’ll be able to climb atop a volcanic hill at Pyramid Mountain (6 miles, 1,070-foot gain) and get a bird’s-eye view of fantastic fall foliage from the Flat Iron Trail (5.5 miles, 1,110-foot gain). Also off the beaten path — but not by too much — is Dragon’s Tongue, the dark black remains of a lava flow caused by the eruption of nearby Dragon Cone about 7,600 years ago.

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. The peak has a vertical prominence of over 10,000 feet, meaning it absolutely towers over the landscape. And unlike the more traversed mountains of the Sierra Nevada, Mount Robson’s surroundings 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).

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

From Mount Robson, it’s easy to return to Vancouver by driving south from Kamloops, where trails close to the cities of Hope, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford offer a multitude of ways to get out and enjoy the views. However you choose to wrap up your trip to BC, 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 leaving the province pretty darn difficult.

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