Experience Rainforest to Rockies
Everything that makes BC famous in one unforgettable journey.
Journey along the most remarkable route in BC.
At the Pacific edge, ocean and rainforest meet beneath mountains and the glint of a city skyline. Inland, the land shifts—cedar valleys stretch into canyons, desert hills give way to meadows, and alpine forests rise toward the towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
Each turn reveals something new: protected areas that sustain ancient ecosystems, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds who express their connection to this route through storytelling, events, food, and craft. Throughout the journey, these lands also reflect the enduring ties of First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, shaping how they’re cared for today.
Thompson Okanagan | Destination BC/Abby Cooper 
Mount Robson Provincial Park | Destination BC/Abby Cooper 
Cache Creek | Destination BC/Hubert Kang 
Mount Robson Provincial Park | Destination BC/Abby Cooper 
Friends hiking and admiring the natural scenery in Lynn Canyon Park. Sea to summit
Few routes in the world share their contrasts so clearly. Nearly a quarter of the world’s temperate rainforest is found in BC. Towering trees and ocean views meet in Vancouver at Stanley Park (also known as the village of X̱wáýx̱way by the Squamish Nation), Pacific Spirit Regional Park, and Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver. Soaring Douglas firs, thousand-year-old red cedars, and rainforest trails are just minutes from downtown. At Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lynn Canyon, the forest sways with you. Towards Squamish and Whistler, the Sea-to-Sky Highway climbs above island-dotted Howe Sound. Take in panoramic ocean-and-mountain vistas from the Sea to Sky Gondola’s summit.
As the landscape stretches inland, grasslands open and rivers carve canyon walls painted with mineral hues. The Giant Cedars Boardwalk in Mount Revelstoke National Park is part of a rare inland temperate rainforest—a living corridor that continues north to Wells Gray Provincial Park, home to more than 40 named waterfalls. Here, Helmcken Falls thunders into a canyon, one of the most powerful natural spectacles in BC.
Within the Columbia Mountains range, the Selkirk, Monashee, and Purcell mountains shape weather, ecosystems, Peoples, and travel itself. Spaces long known to First Nations—and now recognized as national parks—include Yoho, Kootenay (both part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Glacier National Park. Here, glacial lakes, the Burgess Shale fossil beds, and ridges lined with summer wildflowers or autumn larch follow the seasons, watched over by Yexyexéscen / Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre | Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre/Logan Swayze 
Inez Cook, the owner of Salmon N Bannock in Vancouver, serves food to a couple at the restaurant. Connected cultures
More than 204 First Nations and many other cultures live here—and you’ll feel the presence of many along this route.
In or close to Vancouver, connect with First Nations cultures through Talaysay and Takaya Tours, the Bill Reid Gallery, or the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. Explore Chinese and Japanese Canadian heritage at the Chinese Canadian Museum and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden—or learn about a powerful chapter of Japanese Canadian history at the site of Canada’s first internment camp in Greenwood.
In Harrison, visit the Sasq’ets / Sasquatch Museum, the Tuckkwiowhum Heritage Village in Boston Bar, or join Xwísten Experience Tours in Lillooet to learn about a significant St’át’imc village site.
Food also tells important stories. Try Indigenous cuisine at Salmon n’ Bannock in Vancouver or Tthe Ancestor Cafe by Tradish in Fort Langley. Or savour the flavours along Richmond’s Dumpling Trail, Surrey’s Spice Trail, or at the Richmond Night Market. Follow the Circle Farm Tour through the Fraser Valley for u-picks, dairy farms, and local markets. East of there, the Similkameen Valley bears fruit: stands, organic farms, and wineries.
In Osyoos, the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre shares knowledge and ties to this desert-like land. In West Kelowna, the Sncewips Heritage Museum highlights Secwépemc knowledge, while the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre in Cranbrook connects visitors with Ktunaxa culture.
As the elevation climbs, towns like Revelstoke, Golden, Rossland, and Nelson welcome you with a vibe that’s all their own: arts, events, outdoor adventure, and a laid-back pace let you know you’re in the heart of mountain culture—where community spirit runs deep and the views are astounding.
Whale watching or sea safari on zodiac Adventure within reach
Adventure unfolds here by train, car, trail, waterway or some combination of them all. This is a journey that invites you to slow down. It’s not about pushing limits, but finding a rhythm. Along the way, scenic trails, alpine lakes, and mineral hot springs offer natural pauses to take it all in. And as you journey inland, the seasons bring their own highlights.
Witness one of BC’s most vital fall events—the Pacific salmon run—at Tsútswecw Park (Adams River) on Secwépemc (Shuswap) Nation land, and Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, located on the shared land of the Sinixt, Syilx Okanagan, and Ktunaxa Peoples near Nelson. After thousands of kilometres at sea, sockeye return to their birthwaters to spawn, nourishing forests, wildlife, and people, and reminding us how deeply everything is connected.
Not far from Adams River, the Shuswap region invites you to go at a slower pace. Warm lakes, forested trails, and towns like Salmon Arm and Sicamous invite you to paddle, picnic, houseboat or float. This is classic lake country—relaxed and welcoming—with plenty of chances to swim, sip, and savour as you go.
The Columbia Wetlands—part of the BC Bird Trail within the Rocky Mountain Trench—support hundreds of bird and wildlife species, which have been protected through generations of stewardship and conservation. Bring binoculars: fall migration can turn the skies into a colourful and song-filled dance.
The trail down to Island Lake at Island Lake Lodge near Fernie, BC Travel with care
Rainforest to Rockies winds through lands that First Nations have cared for since time immemorial—places filled with beauty but also meaning, knowledge, and connection. Today, people from all walks of life live, work, and explore here, helping keep these landscapes so remarkable. The best way to get to know this route? Slow down, get curious, and check in with those who know it best—whether through local guides, cultural centres, art, or conversations along the way.
A little care goes a long way. Stick to trails, give wildlife space, follow all rules around fire use, pack out what you bring in, and be mindful near First Nations and private lands. Small towns and neighbourhoods appreciate a gentle touch, too. Wherever you roam, every choice you make helps keep this route special.
Rainforest to Rockies: North to Mount Robson
7-10 Days709 km | 441 miFind adventure as you travel from Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean to Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies’ highest peak.
Emperor Falls in Mount Robson Provincial Park | Brayden Hall Rainforest to Rockies: Along the Trans-Canada Highway
7-10 Days778 km | 483 miA quintessential Canadian journey from Vancouver on the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies along the scenic Trans-Canada Highway 1.
Emerald Lake, with views of the mountains in Yoho National Park near Field | Dave Heath Crowsnest Highway 3 to the Canadian Rockies
7-10 Days1035 km | 643 miThis epic journey from Vancouver to Fernie via Crowsnest Highway reveals spectacular BC scenery and memorable detours for culture buffs and foodies.
Touring Highway 3 at the city of Castlegar.
Routes of Rainforest to Rockies
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Credit: Destination BC | Abby Cooper