Britannia Beach, British Columbia

Escape to the vanishing horizon of the Pacific Ocean, where time is measured by the rhythm of waves.Located near West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay neighbourhood, Whytecliff Park is home to more than 200 marine animal species and is one of the first Marine Protected Areas in Canada. You're almost gua...

Head out to Horseshoe Bay, and catch the ferry out to Bowen Island (Snug Cove). As you get off the ferry you will see a parking lot immediately to your left. If there is no parking there, there is some further up the road just before the local grocery store. Make your way back to the harbor, and ...

Only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Deep Cove is a great place to paddle in tranquil ocean waters. You can rent ocean kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards from Deep Cove Kayak.The bay in front of the community is one of the few in Indian Arm that has both a sheltering shape and the shal...

Setting out from Deep Cove’s pebble shoreline, it only takes a few minutes before you are away from small village and paddling the calm waters of this gorgeous arm. Seals can be frequently spotted as you follow the path of off oceanfront homes, some living off the grid, deeper into the mountains....

This is a great place for families to relax at.  You can kayak or paddle the calm water.  There is a paved path running along the beach that is great for jogging, biking, and dog walking. Benches line the park and beach, making it easy to take breaks when needed.  This is also where a lot of ferr...

Buntzen Lake is located in a beautiful recreation area just north of Port Moody. Although the lake is man-made and maintained by BC Hydro, the surrounding area is full of forests, nice beach areas, and many trails for hiking including the Buntzen Lake Trail, which loops around the lake.Beginning ...

The Sechelt Inlet provides the perfect place for an afternoon adventure or multi-day kayak trip. Kayaks and canoes can be rented from a number of outfitters in the Sechelt area, and many allow multi-day rentals for those keen paddlers.A great place to set off is from Porpoise Bay Provincial Park...

Set off from Sechelt, a small seaside community on the Sunshine Coast - about two hours from Vancouver which is accessed by ferry or float plane.As soon as you start paddling from the harbour in Sechelt, the calm waters are so clear that starfish and other marine life are easily visible beneath t...

Cheakamus Lake is tucked in behind Whistler Mountain. If you've hike the Musical Bumps trail, or any of the paths off the peak of Whistler, chances are you saw a huge turquoise lake below you. This is Cheakamus Lake.From Whistler Village, drive south on HWY99 to the stop lights at Function Juncti...

Where the beautiful Callaghan and Cheakamus Rivers converge, there is a great campsite aptly named after these two turquoise rivers. This is a quiet area, shaded by huge stands of West Coast forest, and easily accessible from HWY 99, about 20 minutes south of Whistler Village.Hiking and mountain ...

The 12km (7.5 mi) drive on Neaves Road to Pitt Lake from Pitt Meadows is one of BC's most scenic routes. As soon as you start this section of the drive you already feel miles from the city, but this route is only 30-45 minutes from Vancouver, depending on city traffic.Once you reach the parking l...

The coast of British Columbia defies description. It is a wonderland of natural treasures both living and geological, and the vast majority of it is only accessible by water or seaplane. The Miller Islet at the entrance to the glacier-carved Jervis Inlet is both a harbor seal and seabird colony a...

Located in Whistler Creekside, Alpha Lake Park is one of Whistler's hidden gems. Just off of Lake Placid road on the North Side of the Highway, there is lots of parking in the parking lot, or it is accessible directly via the valley trail for walkers and bikers. To access, turn on to Lake Placid ...

Whistler is better known for the winter activities, but in summer months, with the famous mountains towering above you, the weather is so warm. Nothing beats cooling off on top of or in the water. This paddle is a picturesque, great way to experience something different in the ski capital.The pad...

The name Green Lake says it all: this is a beautiful glacier-fed lake right next to Whistler village. There's easy access to the water from paved roads, making this a great outing for anyone visiting Whistler for a couple of days and looking for an afternoon adventure.Getting There To reach Green...

The South Coast Mountains are full of high elevation alpine lakes. There are a few of considerable size (Garibaldi Lake, Duffey Lake, Lake Lovely Water, etc) and Callaghan Lake is one of them. This huge silvery lake sits up in the beautiful Callaghan Valley, a destination for ski touring, snowsho...