How to Make the Most out of BC's Mountains

On Vancouver Island, hop on a 45-minute Comox Glacier Tour with 49 North Helicopters to soar over the Vancouver Island ranges towards the iconic Comox Glacier. Here, the pilot will gently land on top of a remote mountain for a chance to soak in the unique surroundings.

In Northern BC, join a floatplane tour with Alpine Lakes Air from the outdoor adventure town of Smithers. For a truly adventurous getaway you can book a drop-off and pickup at a remote lakeside cabin to give you a truly Canadian backcountry experience.

For flightseeing tours over the Bugaboo Range in the Kootenay Rockies region, book a Mt. Sir Donald or Columbia Icefield tour with Kicking Horse Aviation. Soar over granite spires, majestic valleys, and vast glacial ice fields, all covering terrain with an otherworldly feel.

At Tweedsmuir Park Lodge in Bella Coola, learn about the local geography and history of the Nuxalk First Nation. Join the First Nations and Valley Tour to visit the Petroglyph Gardens, where 5,000 to 10,000-year-old rock carvings are left intact, and learn of their significance with an experienced Nuxalk guide.

Nemiah Valley Lodge is an Indigenous-owned and -operated lodge in the remote Chilcotin range, next to Tŝ’il?oŝ Provincial Park and one of the highest alpine lakes in North America. The location allows for some truly incredible day trips before guests return to a beautiful lodge and warm hospitality at the end of the day.

For a more off-the-beaten-path adventure, plan a multi-day trek along the Sunshine Coast Trail to experience one of Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking routes. Footprint Nature Explorations can share their knowledge and help you pace the journey properly.

For a low-impact and accessible experience with incredible panoramas, check out the Sea to Sky Gondola outside Squamish. Here guests can ascend in minutes to the coastal subalpine where they’ll find well-graded trails that provide access for all abilities, backed by sweeping views of Howe Sound. Also check out the British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society for a great community of people dedicated to improving access to the outdoors for everyone.

In the Thompson Okanagan, one of the best whitewater rivers in BC sits under the towering 3,959-m (12,970-foot) peak of Mount Robson. Book a tour with Mount Robson Whitewater for a three- or six-hour experience navigating Class 3 rapids.

In Northern BC, book a trip with Frontier Experience for a jet boat or river float trip down the Bulkley River. Or join Wild River Adventure Tours for a jet boat tour of the impressive and spectacular Kinuseo Falls in Tumbler Ridge, home to the newly-designated UNESCO global geopark.

Closer to Vancouver, paddle the mighty Fraser River on an all-inclusive experience with REO Rafting Resort or Kumsheen Rafting Resort. Enjoy a riverside camping and glamping-style getaway and raft on the jade-green Nahatlatch or Thompson rivers.