British Columbia's Mountain Playground

Hike, Bike and Adventure in Whistler

Think California has it all? You should see our nearby neighbor to the north! British Columbia, Canada, is one of the world’s best—and most beautiful—base camps for adventure. You can enjoy all kinds of outdoor pursuits in one of BC’s flagship destinations: Whistler. The winter skiing is great, but summer here is awesome. Even the two-hour drive from Vancouver to Whistler will wow you: the world-famous Sea-to-Sky Highway is a wide, winding road with vistas the entire way. Stop midway in Squamish (aka the Adventure Capital of Canada) and take the Sea to Sky Gondola to almost 3,000 feet above the spectacular fjords of Howe Sound. From the top, hiking trails head out in all directions, including the hike up the Stawamus Chief (pictured), the second largest granite monolith in North America. Then it's on to Whistler, where the energy goes up a notch. Mountain biking here, in the Bike Park or the alpine, is a rite of passage for all skill levels, or get big air with heli-biking. Hiking the High Note Trail is a Whistler must-do for its mountaintop and lake views, alpine wildflowers, and the iconic view of Black Tusk peak. After a day of adventure, stroll Whistler's pedestrian-friendly village, filled with gourmet restaurants, lively pubs, boutique shopping, spas, and a variety of lodging options.

TOP 10: Whistler is just one of the Top 10 Places to Go in British Columbia. Check out the full list!

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  1. Taking the Stage: Tyler Ranch

    Hike the recently opened Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, with 18 miles of new trails. This 6.5-mile loop up Sunol Peak is a challenge and rewards with exceptional views of seasonal iridescent hills.

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  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike (and Manly Lake Vista!) at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

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  3. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

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  4. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  1. Lava Lava

    Once a land of volcanic activity, Mojave National Preserve shares plenty about its past via a quick yet adventurous hike to the Lava Tube in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field.

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  2. Kelso Dunes

    The hike to the top of Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve is only 3 miles (out and back), but you’ll feel like you’ve hiked much farther by the time you’re done.

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  3. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

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  4. Beaudry Bountiful

    There are no cars allowed on Beaudry Loop, but this 6-mile hike takes you on a wild ride. You’ll be climbing 1,500 feet up the southern Verdugos along a chaparral-lined trail with gorgeous mountain and urban vistas every step of the way.

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