Every spring, BC comes alive with colourful blooms, vibrant sunsets, and the promise of new outdoor adventures. Whether you want to chase some waterfalls, explore a small town, or visit a national park – here are 12 stunning road trip destinations to add to your map in BC this spring.
Penticton
Situated in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, Penticton is a thriving hub for outdoor adventures and arts and culture events. During the warmer months, visitors can enjoy swimming in warm waters, and during the spring, there are endless opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, and perusing the town’s shops, museums, and galleries.
Oh, and if you want to check out a bit of local history, consider visiting the S.S. Sicamous Heritage Park!
Where: Okanagan Valley, BC
Vernon
Bordered by the beautiful Okanagan Lake and Lake Kalamalka, Vernon is another hotspot in the Okanagan Valley. Hike along the rail trail, stay afloat on one of the three inviting lakes, go wine tasting, bike your way through the challenging bike trails, or take a stroll along the cute little downtown street, which is lined with holiday decor this time of year. Consider Vernon as the less crowded version of Kelowna. Sweeping views and tons to do, minus the waves of tourists.
Where: Okanagan Valley, BC
Strathcona Park
Spanning a total of 250,000 hectares, Strathcona Park offers nature enthusiasts and adventurers plenty of rugged mountains, ancient forests, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes to explore. Hikers can backpack through an extensive network of trails along riverside paths, or challenge themselves at summit ascents, like Golden Hinde. The latter offers the most daring explorers stunning panoramic views from its summit.
Where:Â Westmin Road, Comox-Strathcona D, BC
SG̱ang Gwaay
Haida Gwaii is home to some of the richest Indigenous history in the province, and that includes the long-uninhabited 19th-century Haida village of SG̱ang Gwaay (formerly known as “Ninstints”). Comprised of a larger island and 27 small islets, the village is home to upright and fallen totem poles, house pits, and the ruins of longhouses – all of which are being allowed to decay naturally, as per Haida tradition.
Where:Â Haida Gwaii, BC
Lillooet
Lillooet is your typical BC beauty lined with mountains, lakes, and rushing creeks scattered in the hilly areas. Naturally, there are enough trails and water activities to keep you busy all day long, plus a ton of first-come-first-serve campsites that are perfect for getting away from the city and enjoying a good campfire & smores setup. So long as you have plenty of layers and are okay with the cold!
Where:Â Northeast of Vancouver, BC
Harrison Hot Springs Village
Situated in the picturesque Harrison River Valley surrounded by ancient forests and emerald lakes, the town has something to offer everyone. Whether you’re into thrilling outdoor sports like axe-throwing, looking forward to the salmon run this year, or prefer to unwind at their world-famous mineral hot springs.
Where:Â Fraser Valley, BC
S⨱ótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake Park
Okay, this is a gigantic park with several trails with different difficulty levels. And every trail will take you past some eye-popping fall foliage. But one of our fave trails here is the Lindeman Lake loop. It’s short, moderately difficult and has great views, especially once you hit the lake.
Distance:Â 2 hours and 10 minutes from Vancouver
Coombs
Situated in the historic village of Coombs on Vancouver Island, the Old Country Market was created in the early ’70s by Norwegian immigrants Kristian and Solveig Graaten. In typical Norwegian style, the market was built directly into the hillside with a sod roof, which would later become home to a gaggle of famous rooftop goats, which you can visit from May through late October every year.
Other attractions to check out in Coombs include multiple heritage buildings like the Coombs General Store (in operation since 1910), the Coombs Emporium, and exciting annual events like the Coombs Country Arts & Crafts Fair that happens mid-July, and the Emerald Forest Bird Garden.
Where:Â Coombs, BC
Liard River Hot Springs
Situated in the Liard River Hot Springs provincial park, these hot springs are the second largest in Canada, providing road trippers with a quality place to unwind after a long day on the road. Open year-round, the hot springs are surrounded by lush forests, complete with a public Alpha pool with water temps ranging from 42°C to 52°C.
From April 1st to October 31st, there is a day-use fee of $5 for adults, $3 for children or $10 for families. Annual passes are also available onsite for $10 for adults and $20 for families.
Where: Kilometre 765 of the Alaska Highway
Goldstream
Goldstream Park boasts majestic 600-year-old trees, powerful waterfalls, vibrant wildflowers, and a river that meets the sea – and that’s just for starters. Hikers can explore an extensive network of trails that cater to all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, from wheelchair-accessible hikes to more challenging adventures along creeks and up past abandoned gold-digging sites.
Where:Â 16 km northwest of Victoria
Nairn Falls
Finally, we come to Nairn Falls, which is situated just a quick walk past Whistler. The provincial park is home to two beautiful falls that measure around 60 metres in height. The cool part about these falls is there is no visible connection between the second and third falls. Why? Well, because later in the season the water travels underneath a natural rock wall!
Where: Whistler, BC
Gibson Marine Park
In addition to great hiking & camping opportunities year-round, Gibson Marine Park offers visitors the chance to relax in natural warm springs connected by historic trails and sandy beaches.
Where:Â Alberni-Clayoquot, BC
And that’s a wrap on some truly magical road trips you can take in BC this spring.
Happy adventuring!
