BC Road Trip: Calgary to Vancouver via Highway 1

Please note: The Othello tunnels will remain closed for the 2022 season due to heavy storm damage from November 2021. 

 

We asked, you answered! Have you ever driven from Calgary to Vancouver? What stops would you recommend along the way?

Driving from the Rocky Mountains near Calgary to the Coast Mountains near Vancouver should be on every road tripper’s bucket list, and our Facebook community has weighed in. We had such a huge response that we’ve broken the drive into two separate routes: via Highway 1 and via Highway 3.

First up: Calgary to Vancouver via Highway 1. Here are your recommendations for don’t-miss stops along the way.

 

1. Golden

Three national parks surround this mountain town, making it the perfect base for outdoor adventure. Head to Yoho National Park to see the impressive Takkakaw Falls, or ride laps in the Kicking Horse Bike Park. Don’t miss Boo, the resort’s resident grizzly, at the Grizzly Bear Refuge. Fuel up at Legendz Diner and rest your muscles just outside of town at Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch.

 

2. Revelstoke

Fuelled by mountain culture and filled with outdoor enthusiasts, Revelstoke is the perfect place for a pit stop. Drive up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway—one of the only vehicle-accessible meadows in BC—to enjoy endless hiking trails; jump on a mountain bike and ride the local trails; or head out of town to the Enchanted Forest and Three Valley Gap Ghost Town. 

 

3. Salmon Arm

Stop in the small community of Salmon Arm and give your legs a stretch. Better yet, head to Canoe Beach for a swim or a paddle in Shuswap Lake. This is a water lover’s paradise, with houseboating one of the best ways to enjoy time on the water. Don’t-miss stops from our fans? Grass Root Dairies, picking up fresh fruit from road-side vendors, and the Water Slides & RV Park.

 

4. Kamloops

Lookout for tumbleweeds in the sun-drenched grasslands of the interior. Listening to Music in the Park while watching the sunset over Mt. Paul is one the best ways to spend a summer night in Kamloops. Our fans also mentioned Paul Lake, Kamloops Wildlife Park, and riding the endless trails in this mountain bike mecca. Some of the top spots for two wheels: Kamloops Bike Ranch, Kenna Cartwright Park, Rosehill, and Sun Peaks Resort Bike Park.

 

5. Hope

Start the journey off right with a stop at Home Restaurant for a legendary slice of pie. Then walk it off at the Othello Quintette Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, just north of Hope. These impressive tunnels are carved out of solid granite along once active railways, and are now part of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, an impressive and lengthy bike route.

Don’t miss: some more honourable mentions from our followers.

• Descend into the Fraser Canyon on the Hell’s Gate Airtram.
• Get your sugar fix in Sicamous. Our fans raved about the ice-cream at Dutchman Dairy—a perfect road trip pit stop.
• The Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven into the ground in Craigellachie. Stop here and brush up on your Canadian history.

Up for a detour?

From Kamloops head north to Wells Gray Provincial Park, and check out Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. From Salmon Arm, head south to the Okanagan Valley and explore the wineries in BC’s largest wine region.

Featured image: Yoho National Park | Paul Zizka