The best road-trips from Vancouver this summer

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The natural beauty of British Columbia presents some excellent opportunities for road trips. Especially once the rain stops and the sun comes out to play, doing outdoor activities becomes a lot more enjoyable. Let’s take a look at some of the best summer road-trips, starting from shorter trips and ranging to longer excursions.

1. The Okanagan: 4-5 hours from Vancouver

The Okanagan offers some significant places to check out, with Kelowna being the biggest hub in the area. One of the biggest draws to this area is its wine country, with around 120 wineries making up the 2nd largest wine-producing area in Canada.

Another place worth checking out is beautiful crystal blue Kalamalka Lake in Vernon. The area around the lake is great for wildlife watching, and observing some of the 432 different varieties of vascular plants that have been identified.

Equally as impressive as the area itself is the drive from Vancouver. With frequent elevation changes throughout, you’ll go through ever-changing terrain. It’s a pleasant drive, but can be a nightmare if the conditions aren’t ideal, as the roads can become icy and present some hazardous conditions.

2. Tofino: 4-5 hours from Vancouver (90 minute ferry ride from Vancouver, 3 hour drive from Nanaimo)

A trip to Tofino is something that everybody in Vancouver should do at least once. I’ve been surprised how many people I’ve met who have lived here their whole lives yet never made the trip over to the jewel of Vancouver Island. Maybe its the ferry ride combined with driving that turns people off. Either way, make a point to check Tofino out.

The main draw to Tofino is the surfing. As one of the few sports in Canada with solid waves, you’ll see many people flocking here year round to surf in wet suits. The best time of year to surf is actually between October and November, after the water has had time to warm up after the summer months.

Even if you aren’t interested in surfing, it’s still worth checking out. It’s definitely a transient and hip community, with many people staying for a year or two and moving on. It’s not uncommon to hear all kinds of accents in bars and cafes, with the majority of folks wearing beanies above their ears year-round.

The summer is an obvious time when it will be beautiful in Tofino, but it’s also the busiest time of year. Consider also going for storm season over the winter months, where you’ll see gargantuan waves from various safe spots near the ocean.

3. Cannon Beach, Oregon: 6-7 hours from Vancouver

Cannon Beach is an incredible spot along the Oregon coast that is truly jaw-dropping. It’s a similar length drive from Vancouver to Portland, but the coast offers a lot more natural beauty and outdoor activities worth checking out.

Cannon Beach is the most notable of the towns along the coast, but many of the others are equally impressive, including Seaside, Astoria, and Manzanita. There are many cool hikes to do in this region, which frequently open up to majestic ocean views.

One of the more notable things about Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock, a 71-meter high sea stack that has frequently appeared in pop culture. The rock was most notably featured in the movie The Goonies. From early spring to mid-summer, you can also see the largest on-shore American population of tufted puffins, who breed and raise their young on burrows on top of Haystack Rock.

4. Whitehorse, Yukon: 27-30 hours

Giddy-up. This is a real road-trippers road trip. You’re going to need a few weeks off of work or school in order to make this trip happen. But it will definitely be worth it. The drive through Northern BC is nothing short of spectacular, with ridiculous mountain views and remote communities along the way. It’s truly an experience to be able to stop in at some of the mom and pop shops and little pubs along the way.

Once you’re in the Yukon, the world is your oyster. There’s no better spot for high-end outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and rafting. It’s also much more common to run into wildlife once you’re this far north, like grizzly bears, moose and elk.

Make sure to check out Carcross Desert, which isn’t actually a desert, but a series of northern sand dunes. The area is too humid to be considered a desert, but it definitely gives off the impression of one. With the backdrop of the colossal mountains, this is a great spot to visit and snap some pictures.

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