British Columbia

A British Columbia Wilderness Adventure

BY: KAITLIN NARCISO

From rocky coastlines to sandy beaches, immense forests to sprawling plains, giant mountains to inland deserts, and crystal lakes to salty waters, the diverse landscape of British Columbia provides a pristine ecosystem and vast wilderness perfect for adventure.

The outdoors have always been a kind of home to me—a city girl with a wild heart. When the opportunity arose to spend an extended period of time in British Columbia, I immediately knew I was in for the wildest adventure of my life.

After months of exploring and getting lost, I’m sharing my favorite wilderness experiences in Canada’s backyard.

Camper Van Camping

Camp Junkie provided the wheels, Adrienne provided the tunes, and I provided the navigation—which explains why one wrong turn led to another, which ended up leading to many fun, unplanned adventures.

Traveling in Betsy, our Camp Junkie camper van, was a wild ride—and honestly, a highlight in my life. There’s a certain romanticism to an old school refurbished Volkswagen Westfalia. Manual steering with automatic transmission. Retro interior with life luxuries like a stove and water. It’s the perfect camping setup.

Getting acquainted with Betsy as we drove up to our first location in the Garibaldi Highlands was exhilarating. Let me tell you, 10 point turns with manual steering will keep you on your toes. Though, once we arrived at our destination for the night, it was all worth it.

Overlooking the beautiful mountain scape, we popped up our tent roof, made a beautiful fire, cooked a pesto pasta dinner, and cracked open a Backcountry Brewing beer as the sun set.

With the crickets chirping, the bushes rustling with wildlife, and the fire burning a beautiful ember glow, it was an idyllic night spent in the Squamish wilderness.

White Water Rafting

I grew up swimming in small rapids in the Kawarthas and hiking to waterfalls on nearly every vacation. There’s something about rushing water that feels so empowering and mesmerizing.

Nestled away in Squamish, the Elaho River—surrounded by a backdrop of beautiful mountains, lush greenery, and rocky shores—is the source of one of my favorite wilderness experiences: white water rafting.

Led by Canadian Outback Rafting Company, this adrenaline filled excursion is the perfect balance of exhilarating fun and wild adventure.

As Marlie and I get situated, wetsuit, life jacket, and helmet all on and fastened, Graham—the rafting company’s owner and our guide for the day—walks us through the different rafting strokes. He instructs us on how to hold the paddle and brace for impact, leading us through several trials of the different safety maneuvers. Though his notes are filled with warnings and what if scenarios, his sturdy and confident tone is hallmarked by his experience.

On the river, the rapids push and pull us through, guiding us through massive waves that splash into the boat. We paddle hard, brace for impact, then paddle again—all on the command of our expert guide.

We’re drenched. Our smiles stretched from ear to ear the entire time.

Hiking

It’s no secret that British Columbia is equipped with stellar views at some of the most breathtaking summits in Canada. Breathtaking is the word of choice because quite literally, getting to these summits will take your breath away. They’re a trek and a half to get to, venturing through some grueling conditions, but that view at the top is not one you’ll want to miss.

Half the fun of hiking is the journey to the destination, so don’t forget to enjoy the equally awe-inspiring views along the way—whether waterfalls, grassy plains, or dense forest.

Surfing

Waves I feel come hand in hand with rushing water—so it’s no surprise that catching a wave in Tofino makes the cut for my favorite wilderness experiences in British Columbia.

Tofino is a surfer’s Disney World. With shallow waves closer to the beach at Cox Bay and bigger waves as you paddle away from shore, the bay is the perfect place for both beginners and experienced surfers.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of catching your first wave; though I should also note, there’s also nothing quite like getting rumbled and tumbled by massive waves and learning just how wild the water is! Scary—yes, though also worth it.

If you’re just learning, remember to listen to your instructor, don’t be afraid to fall down, but also don’t be afraid to get back up and have fun!