On Location: Your Ultimate BC Setjetting Guide

Spectacular and star-worthy, the landscapes of BC have inspired filmmakers for decades. While  they may appear untouchable and otherworldly on camera, iconic film locations like Whytecliff Park (West Vancouver) as the misty shores of Japan in Disney’s Golden Globe winning Shogun or The Watershed Grill (Squamish Valley), moonlighting as Jack’s Bar in Virgin River, are even more captivating in real life. More than ever, visitors are planning “setjetting” trips to iconic destinations featured in famous film and television productions for their cultural significance and social media moments.

BC has earned a global reputation as a premier destination for screen-based media production. Home to one of the world’s biggest animation, VFX, and virtual production clusters, the province remains North America’s third-largest foreign production centre, attracting over 330 domestic and international projects in 2023 – including The Last of Us, Percy Jackson, Riverdale and Deadpool to name a few. Sustainable production is also a top priority, driven by Reel Green™ — a leader in sustainable production strategy and collaboration. Reel Green™ leverages initiatives in clean energy, waste reduction and climate storytelling to advance environmental best practices industry-wide. 

With an epic outdoor paradise continuing to attract the world’s top filmmakers and studios, here’s how film-centric visitors can experience the cinematic magic in real life.

Take a Tour of BC’s Film-scapes

Film buffs eager to immerse themselves in their favourite fictional places are spoiled for choice in BC. From the buzz of downtown Vancouver to charming communities like Fort Langley and Hope, travellers will discover plenty of experiences to fuel a film-driven holiday:

New Location Website “Cineventure” Says Lights, Camera, Action!
Cineventure, a new initiative launched by the BC Film Commission, Screen BC, and six municipalities across the province. Act 1 of the multiphase project introduces cineventure.ca, a digital platform that delivers immersive film tourism experiences for visitors eager to step into the real-life locations of The Last Airbender, Shogun, Once Upon A Time and more. In addition to 25 free, self-guided itineraries, the site features an augmented reality map that enables visitors to hold up their smartphones and see film and TV scenes in the exact location they were filmed. Cinventure also offers multi-day planning guides covering different areas of BC, from urban forests to city landmarks. 

A Hollywood North Tour for Fringe, The Flash, and more
Storyboard Experience’s Hollywood North Tour is a three-hour walking adventure through downtown Vancouver visiting Chinatown, Gastown, and other neighbourhoods that frequently host film crews, as well as familiar film sites like the Vancouver Art Gallery (Fringe, The Age of Adaline) and Vancouver Public Library (Flash, Altered Carbon). The tour is guided by a local actor, who shares plenty of insider knowledge about the film industry. 

A Supernatural Walking Tour
Fans of Vancouver, one of Vancouver’s first film tour companies, leads walking and driving excursions to some of the city’s most popular urban filming locations. Fans of Supernatural can book a full-day driving tour dedicated to the series, with stops at the Winchester House (North Vancouver), the mysterious Crossroads (Delta), and the Men of Letters bunker exterior (Vancouver). 

Hallmark-Centric Tour of “Small-Town” Fort Langley
Fort Langley’s charming main street and antique shops are popular with setjetting-visitors who love a happy ending in a town square. The area has backdropped standout productions like Riverdale, Bates Motel, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, along with dozens of Hallmark movies. Explore at your own pace by downloading the Fort Langley Film and Television Smartphone Walking Tour, which shares notable film locations and their backgrounds, including the Fort Langley Cemetery (Riverdale, Bates Motel), Fort Langley Community Hall (Once Upon a Time, Air Bud); and Brunner’s Village Square (numerous Hallmark Christmas movies). Make sure your smartphone is fully charged! 

A Full-Day Virgin River Tour
After a dramatic six seasons, Virgin River is juicier than ever—and made even more compelling by the attention-grabbing backdrops located in New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Langley, and other municipalities. You can find Virgin River film sites on Netflix’s interactive, Canada-focused film platform Netflix in Your Neighbourhood. Alternatively, film fans who prefer a more guided, immersive experience can book with Tours by Locals, which offers a private, full-day Virgin River tour. Guided by a BC local, the tour transports visitors to locations like Doc’s office, Hope’s house, and Mel’s cabin, complete with lunch at Jack’s Bar. Other series attractions included in the tour are the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway, Porteau Cove, and Shannon Falls. 

A Self-Guided Rambo Tour in Hope
Did you know the classic blockbuster Rambo was filmed in Hope? While the movie was released more than 30 years ago, Hope continues to attract film fans eager to wander the wilderness made famous by the moody ex-Green Beret. The Hope Visitor Centre provides a self-guided walking tour that you can reference as you explore key film locations like the Othello Tunnels, Wallace Street, and Water Avenue. You can also see the police station, which was built for the movie and gifted to the community after filming; it’s located on Douglas Street and is known as the Canyon Golden Age Club. 

Build Your Own BC Film Itinerary: Film Locations from Popular Productions

Some of the film industry’s most-binged productions were filmed in BC, from romantic drama Virgin River to filthy action flick Deadpool, to apocalyptic thriller The Last of Us. Keep reading to discover visitor-friendly film sites for a selection of productions (you can find more at www.cineventure.ca).  

The Last of Us: After a global pandemic destroys civilization, leaving many humans infected with a zombie-like mutation, one survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity’s last hope. Season 2—which was filmed across BC—premiered on April 13, 2025, and is being released weekly on HBO. 

• • Jackson, Wyoming (Squamish) – That gorgeous mountain vista backdropping the Jackson, Wyoming community where Joel and Ellie have built new lives? It’s Squamish, located an hour north of Vancouver. How to experience it:  While the town is actually a purpose-built set, visitors can still immerse themselves in Squamish’s dense forests, glacial rivers, and all-ages attractions, including the Sea to Sky Gondola, Britannia Mine Museum, and Britannia Beach.

• Greenplace Market (Kamloops) – A scene at the beginning of Season 2 features a deserted grocery store called Greenplace Market, which Ellie and her best friend Dina enter to search for infected. How to experience it:  While the market was built specifically for the show, visitors can take the opportunity to explore Kamloops, which experiences over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually—a far cry from the cold, snowy weather seen on the show. Visit BC Wildlife Park, which is home to rescued and rehabilitated bears, elks, and wolves; picnic at Paul Lake Provincial Park; or sip wine at local vineyards. 

• Seattle (downtown Vancouver) – Season 2 depicts a war-torn Seattle, which is actually Vancouver. Areas of the city used for filming include Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, and the Vancouver Aquarium. How to experience it: Bike or walk the 10-kilometre seawall around Stanley Park, where you’ll find ocean vistas, sandy beaches, and attractions like the Vancouver Aquarium. In Chinatown, explore bustling street markets, the zen-like Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, and the fascinating Chinatown Storytelling Centre. In Gastown, cobblestone streets lead to trendy cocktail bars, boutiques, and coffee shops.

Shogun: The 2025 Golden Globe winner is set in Japan in the 1600s, and follows the collision of English sailor John Blackthorne with powerful daimyo Lord Yoshii Toranaga.

• Film locations in BC include Wya Point Beach, the Wild Pacific Trail, and other sites in Ucluelet; the boat launch in Rocky Point Park and other areas of Port Moody; and Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver.

Star accolade: In an interview with Yahoo News, Hiroyuki Sanada (Lord Yoshii Toranaga) called Vancouver “a perfect place to make a samurai drama because they had a big, great, beautiful studio, and then 30 minutes drive from the studio they have everything: forest, river, beach, parks, mountains.”

Deadpool: A foul-mouthed mercenary becomes immortal—and hideously scarred—as the subject of an experiment, then seeks revenge on the man who ruined his good looks.

• Film locations in BC include Hatley Castle (Victoria), Chinatown at Keefer Street and Gore Avenue (Vancouver), and more.
• Star accolade: In an interview with CBC News, Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) said, “I struggle to find a place more beautiful than Victoria.”

Virgin River: A nurse practitioner moves from LA to a secluded town in Northern California, seeking a fresh start after a personal tragedy. The show is heading into its seventh season, with every scene filmed in BC. If you don’t go for a guided option, you can visit these locations by a drive or ferry from Vancouver to explore on your own time.

• Whonnock Lake Park (Maple Ridge) – The lake’s dock is the setting of the show’s storybook proposal. How to experience it: On clear days, you can swim, play Frisbee or volleyball, or search for tadpoles (locals say the Whonnock Lake tadpoles are the world’s biggest). 
• Watershed Grill (Brackendale) – The building’s exterior plays the bar belonging to Jack Sheridan, a former US Marine who suffers from PTSD. How to experience it: Tuck into delicious seafood, pasta, and homemade burgers while admiring the river view. Scan the skies for bald eagles; Brackendale is home to the world’s largest concentration of the feisty avians. 
• Snug Cove (Bowen Island) – Snug Cove’s main streets, library, and Artisan Lane are featured in establishing shots throughout the series. How to experience it: Small and mighty, Bowen Island is a haven for nature lovers with scenic hikes, kayaking, beachcombing, golf, and even a yoga retreat. 
• Bonus: For more Virgin River, follow Destination Vancouver’s self-guided Virgin River itinerary.

Yellowjackets: This survival epic follows the terrifying tale of a high school girls’ soccer team stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. All three seasons were filmed primarily in BC. 

• Filming locations include the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Finch’s Tea House, Brix & Mortar, and the 2400 Motel (all located in Vancouver), as well as Camp Howdy (Belcarra).
• Star accolade: In a 2023 interview with eTalk, the Yellowjackets cast expressed their love for Vancouver.

Riverdale: Archie and his friends navigate teenage romance, school drama, and family secrets—all while solving Riverdale’s darkest mysteries.

• Rocko’s Diner (Mission) – One of the series’ most iconic locales is Pop’s Chock’lit Shop, where the gang frequently regroup over burgers and shakes. How to experience it: Settle into a booth and order a classic chocolate or strawberry shake like Archie and his pals, or try something new (a recent addition: the Blue Moon Shake with raspberry, lemon, and vanilla). 
• Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Park (Maple Ridge) – The entire series hinges around the death of Jason Blossom. The tragic event happens in the very first episode at Sweetwater River, which is actually beautiful, large Alouette Lake. How to experience it: Snap pictures of the spot where Jason took his boat ride, then embrace the outdoor adventures here: hiking, windsurfing, canoeing, and camping are a few of many options. 
• Cecil Green Park House (Vancouver) – Located on the grounds of the University of British Columbia (UBC), this elegant venue is one of two properties that doubles as the Blossom Mansion. How to experience it: After admiring the view, explore other attractions on campus, including the Museum of Anthropology, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, and the Nitobe Memorial Garden. 
• Bonus: For more Riverdale, follow Destination Vancouver’s self-guided Riverdale itinerary.

The Night Agent: The most-watched show on Netflix in the first half of 2023 centres on an FBI agent and cybersecurity expert who unravel a web of political conspiracies.

• Film locations in BC include Minnekhada Lodge (Coquitlam), Shelter Island Marina & Boatyard (Richmond), and JW Marriott Parq Vancouver (Vancouver). 
• See Netflix in Your Neighbourhood for more film spots. 

For more story ideas, please visit our Media Room.
For more information about the BC Film Commission, visit Creative BC.