Day Trips from Vancouver for nature seekers
In this post, I’ll talk about various day trips you can enjoy when staying in and around Vancouver, BC, no matter if it’s spring, summer, fall or winter! In particular, these activities are for explorers who want to take in all that Beautiful British Columbia has to offer, within only a few hours of Vancouver. Most of these activities can be done as day trips, and some would make for fantastic weekend or 2 day trips as well. I’ll discuss this when going over each!
While there is tons of nature in Vancouver itself, the region really sparkles when you realize that you don’t have to go far to see some of the most jaw-dropping, impressive nature on the planet.
Drive the Sea to Sky to Squamish or Whistler
Why it’s great: The journey to Squamish and then, another 45 minutes north, Whistler, snakes through North America’s most southern fjord, and the views are spectacular, rain or shine. You’ll see gorgeous mountains in all directions, waterfalls, and gorgeous lakes and rivers, as well as islands in the fjord.
Both Squamish and Whistler offer tons of affordable as well as fine dining options. Some of my favorite include Backcountry Brewing in Squamish, or Mexican at La Cantina or delicious pre-fix Thai at Mekong in Whistler.
If you love to hike, you’ll have options from Jurassic Ridge in Murrin Provincial Park to longer treks (please check weather and avalanche conditions before heading out!) in the world famous Garibaldi Provincial Park (permits or day passes required some months of the year).
If you love to mountain bike, rock climbing, or fish, this region is also famous for those activities. You can spend a day sailing in the Howe Sound, do a via ferrata in Whistler, or bike around the gorgeous valley.
If you are visiting in the summer, and either are afraid to hike alone or aren’t able to secure hiking permits, you can go on a guided hike (many amazing trails start on the ski mountain) or even take a panoramic helicopter tour to see the glacier fed high alpine lakes, without having to hike 30km roundtrip!
If you are more into relaxing versus hiking, the Scandinave Spa in Whistler is one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever spent an afternoon.
Visiting Whistler makes for a long day, but quite doable. It’s about 2 hours each way back and forth from Vancouver. If you can swing a night, then you’ll get to enjoy more that the beautiful area has to offer! A great time to visit Whistler is in the shoulder seasons of the spring and fall. That’s because in the winter, it can be expensive and busy with skiers (it is, after all, the biggest ski resort in North America!). In the summer, it can also be quite busy as that’s when most hikes are accessible. Consider some great options in Whistler like the Pan Pacific which offers suite style rooms, located directly in the village.
There’s a lot of great ways to get to Whistler. If you can rent a car, you’ll have the greatest flexibility. The roads are good and nearly everything you’ll want to see can be done in a 2WD vehicle.
There are also small vans and buses that go up to Whistler area, like Whistler Connection.
If you just want to go for the day without worrying about transportation, you can book a day tour directly from downtown Vancouver which will stop along the route to Whistler as well.
I share more information in my latest post all about a roadtrip up the Sea to Sky Highway!
Take the ferry to Bowen Island
Why it’s great: The ferry ride is scenic, and Bowen Island has a cute downtown area with restaurants and bars. You can hike to Mt. Gardner year round, or rent a kayak for the day. It gives you a sense of the islands and ferry life without spending too long on public transit. The ferry takes only 20 minutes versus the 1.5-2 hours each way you would expect if going to Vancouver Island, for example.
If you can’t drive yourself or don’t want to take the public bus to the Horsehoe Bay Ferry Terminal, you can book a trip with a tour operator. There are a few options, including a photography hiking tour or even jetskiing over to Bthe island for a drink!
You can read more about a weekend itinerary I have for Bowen Island here.
Alternatively, you can go on a tour to Bowen Island with Vancouver Water Adventures, which offers various boat tours that stop on Bowen, like this UNESCO Biosphere trip. I wrote more about the experience here.
Spend the day at a gorgeous alpine lake in Chilliwack
If you drive east of Vancouver, you end up in Chilliwack, a cute town about 1.5 hours away. The mountains that surround it are gorgeous and a little less busy than the ones closer to Vancouver or up towards Whistler. In the spring, summer, and fall, you can visit Cultus Lake, Chilliwack Lake, or even hike up to Lindeman Lake, and enjoy the torquoise blues, boating, or just enjoying the mountain views that surround.
Wine tasting or tulip frolicking in the Fraser Valley
There are a number of wineries in the Frasier Valley that you can explore. This is a more agricultural area and feels lightyears away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. In the spring, the tulips bloom and you can walk the gorgeous fields. in the fall, you can go pumpkin picking. And in the summer, enjoy some sunshine and wine!
Visit Harrison Hot Springs
About 2 hours from Vancouver, and just slightly past Chilliwack, you can head to Harrison Hot Springs in the Harrison River Valley. If you are looking for an extended stay, check out the Harrison Hot Springs Resort, otherwise day activities in the area include visiting the natural hot springs, swimming in Harrison Lake or Hicks Lake in nearby Sasquatch Provincial Park, or kayaking down the Harrison River. In the fall and winter, Eagle spotting is popular as is salmon fishing.
