Places Welcoming You
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Burnaby Cariboo RV Park Burnaby, British Columbia |
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Northern Lights RV Park Dawson Creek, British Columbia |
Oleg_Mayorov
Starting Point
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver could easily lay claim to the most scenic city in the world. See for yourself with a visit to Stanley Park, an iconic green space that draws locals and visitors alike. The seawall trails are perfect for exploring the lush landscape by bike, while Prospect Point offers outstanding views of the mountains, bridges and waterways that frame the skyline. Head even farther into nature with a visit to Lynn Canyon Park, just north of town. The sprawling, 600-acre forest is home to picturesque hikes, swimming holes, waterfalls and a swinging suspension bridge that tests the mettle of even the most daring hikers. Before you go, be sure to experience the bustling streets markets in the city’s downtown district where the excellent food scene takes center stage.
Recommended Stopovers
Burnaby Cariboo RV Park • Burnaby, BC – (604) 420-1722
Hazelmere RV Park • Surrey, BC – (604) 538-1167
Fort Camping In Brae Island Regional Park • Langley, BC – (604) 888-3678
Drive 94 miles • 1 hour, 42 minutes
Less than two hours due east, nature and culture collide in the quirky town of Hope, where chainsaw carvings have become an unlikely art form. Home to over 30 sculptures dotting the downtown, as well as an annual world-class carving competition in August, a visit here offers the rare chance to experience these exceptional local artisans at work. Bring the region’s history into focus with a bike trip along the Kettle Valley Railway, a series of decommissioned logging routes that have become a mainstay for outdoors lovers. The Othello Tunnels, an 5-mile stretch that runs through Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, is among the route’s most dynamic and popular rides.
Recommended Stopovers
Wild Rose Campground & RV Park • Hope, BC – (604) 869-9842
© Edgar Bullon
Drive 120 miles • 2 hours, 10 minutes
Once a stopover for fur traders and gold miners, Cache Creek is now the jumping off point for exploring the vast landscape of rolling hills and desert sage known as the Cariboo Chilcotin area. You can experience the best the region has to offer with an outing on the one-of-a-kind Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit, a stunning 72-mile route that can take more than a week to complete, though less ambitious paddlers can enjoy the most impressive sights in 2-to-4 days. Just remember to bring a camera, as moose, bear, caribou and mountain goat sightings are common along the way. After a week in the wild, step back in time with a visit to Barkerville, a gold rush boom town that has reinvented itself as an immersive heritage site. Follow along as costumed reenactors bring the town’s rich history to life through storytelling, arts and crafts, gold panning and more.
Drive 197 miles • 3 hours, 25 minutes
Another Gold Rush-era town, Quesnel’s location at the junction of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers makes it the perfect spot for tapping into your thrill-seeking side. For nearly twenty years, Big Canyon Rafting has been offering extreme adventures on the region’s world-class whitewater, including everything from Class I to Class IV rapids. The company’s guides are also experts in local wildlife and First Nations history. If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, there are numerous outfitters in town that can help you arrange single or multi-day hunting and fishing trips, including outings focused on traditional guiding methods and techniques. Anglers won’t want to miss a day trip to nearby Quesnel Lake, whose picture-perfect water is teeming with trophy-sized rainbow trout.
Drive 75 miles • 1 hour, 24 minutes
Barely three years old, Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, better known as the Ancient Forest, is British Columbia’s newest park and is quickly becoming one of its most revered. Home to the only inland temperate rainforest in the world, visitors will be awestruck by the 1,000-year old red cedars and stunning cascades. The boardwalk trail is a relaxing way to experience the park’s tallest trees, but experienced hikers looking for a challenge can try the Driscoll Ridge loop trail, which winds nearly 10 miles around the south side of the park. For more hiking, try nearby Teapot Mountain or Cottonwood Island Nature Park. Anglers should have plenty to keep them busy too as Prince George is surrounded by hundreds of streams, lakes and rivers abundant with rainbow trout, grayling, burbot and whitefish.
Recommended Stopovers
Bee Lazee RV Park & Campground • Prince George, BC – (866) 963-7263
eppicphotography
Drive 250 miles • 4 hours, 28 minutes
Continue north to the historic town of Dawson Creek, known as Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway. A stopover point on almost all northern adventures, the town is chock full of quirky galleries, boutiques and cafes, as well as heritage sites and museums celebrating its unique past. The Alaska Highway House offers history buffs a deep dive into how 30,000 U.S. Army soldiers and civilians working with their Canadian allies fought through wilderness to build the highway in just nine months during World War II. A self-guided tour of the Walter Wright Pioneer Village allows guests to immerse themselves in the rugged ways of life in a boomtown. Try the Railway Station Museum and the Dawson Creek Art Gallery to learn even more about the history and culture of this one-of-a-kind crossroads.
Recommended Stopovers
Northern Lights RV Park • Dawson Creek, BC – (250) 782-9433