OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS UBC and the area around it are home to immense beauty and a lot of fun.
way to come up with ideas for where to go. If you don’t have a car, you can befriend someone who does, use a car share like CLOSE TO HOME Modo or Evo (but be careful of their forestry Surrounding UBC’s campus is Pacific Spirit road travel policy), bike there or take a bus Regional Park and its 78 kilometres of to a transit-serviced trailhead. walking, cycling and riding trails. Situated If you’re looking for a hiking buddy, the to the north and east of UBC, Pacific Spirit Varsity Outdoor Club is a great place to go; is a vast second-growth forest with towering they run beginner-friendly trips throughout Douglas firs, majestic owls and plenty of the year. other wildlife. Before you travel into backcountry The rest of Pacific Spirit is a thin strip terrain, prepare yourself by packing the of shoreline surrounding campus on three essentials and knowing where you’re sides. Wreck Beach is the best place to catch going. adventuresmart.ca is a great place a sunset on campus and it’s some 440 steps for resources on how to stay safe in the down (and 440 back up when you’re done). backcountry. Be warned: this beach is clothing-optional. You’re free to keep your clothes on, but be SKIING careful where you point your camera. Skiing is a classic way to enjoy BC’s beautiful mountains. Visible from UBC across BIKING the Burrard Inlet, there are ski areas on Not only is cycling a practical way to Cypress, Grouse and Seymour mountains. commute to, from and around campus, it’s All of these ski areas are great for beginners, a great way to explore. Vancouver has loads open for night skiing and close enough that of cycling routes with the best developed you can head up after class ends. ones mapped by the city. If you’re feeling For the big mountain experience, you adventurous, you can bike across the Lions have to travel a little farther away to Gate Bridge to the North Shore, where you Whistler Blackcomb — North America’s can explore further or even attempt to tackle largest resort is two hours from UBC and the thigh-burning Triple Crown. well worth the trip. If you’re looking to ski further away than HIKING Whistler, the Ski and Board Club usually Hiking is a great way to get some exercise runs trips to mountains in the interior, so and some beautiful views. Sites like alltrails. watch out for tickets. U com and vancouvertrails.com are a great
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