Natural areas in British Columbia

These thermal springs near Pemberton consist of several natural stone pools surrounded by granite boulders. The heated water flows between the basins, creating areas with different temperatures. The site sits in a forested setting and requires a hike to reach. Visitors use the springs year-round, drawn by the warm water and forest surroundings that characterize natural hot springs in the British Columbia region.

These tide pools along the Juan de Fuca coast form in natural rock basins during low tide and contain starfish, crabs and anemones. The pools provide visitors an opportunity to observe marine life in its natural habitat. Conditions are best during the lowest tides, when water recedes from the basins and exposes sea creatures in clear shallow water.

This cave system near Ainsworth Hot Springs displays karst formations with underground passages and limestone structures. Cody Caves offers guided tours that present geological features and rock markings. The British Columbia region contains numerous natural areas including hot springs, waterfalls and old-growth forests.

The Othello Tunnels pass through five concrete tunnels built in 1914, blasted through the granite rock of Coquihalla Canyon as part of the former Kettle Valley Railway. This historic route enabled transport through the rugged mountain terrain of British Columbia and now serves as a hiking trail that offers insights into early 20th-century engineering achievements while following a canyon corridor with steep rock walls and the Coquihalla River below.

This hot spring reaches temperatures of 52°C (126°F) and sits surrounded by coniferous forest in the Northern Rockies. The spring area covers 1.2 hectares (3 acres) and ranks among the accessible geothermal resources in British Columbia. Visitors find two separate pools fed by a mineral-rich source. The site provides year-round access to naturally heated water in a remote forest setting.

This salt lake southwest of Osoyoos contains high mineral concentrations that form circular patterns in various colors as water evaporates during summer months. Spotted Lake holds sacred significance to the Syilx Okanagan people and displays changing appearances throughout the season as water recedes and mineral deposits become visible. Visitors can view the lake from the nearby highway, though direct access is restricted to protect both its cultural importance and the delicate natural environment.

This national monument lies south of the Canadian border in Alaska and covers 9000 square kilometers of glacier valleys and granite walls rising 900 meters above sea level. The fjords and waterfalls show landforms created by glacial movement during the last ice age. Visitors reach the area by floatplane or boat from Ketchikan, where the steep cliffs and deep ocean inlets document the glacial history of the region.

This conservation area sits along the Niagara Escarpment and features two waterfalls with drops of 36 feet (11 meters) and 89 feet (27 meters). Ball's Falls Conservation Area preserves restored 19th century buildings including a stone mill and blacksmith shop. Hiking trails wind through forested terrain along Twenty Mile Creek. The site demonstrates early European settlement architecture in the region and combines the natural features found across British Columbia with historical structures.

This boardwalk trail spans 500 meters (1,640 feet) through a forest of cedar trees that reach 50 meters (164 feet) in height and have stood for centuries. The old-growth cedars in Mount Revelstoke National Park rank among the oldest living organisms in the region, forming a canopy over the accessible pathway. Interpretive signs explain the temperate rainforest ecology and the significance of these trees to local First Nations culture. The route accommodates visitors of all mobility levels.

This suspension bridge in Elk Falls Provincial Park spans 197 feet (60 meters) and provides viewing points of the 82-foot (25-meter) waterfall on the Campbell River as it flows through a volcanic rock canyon. Access follows a short walking trail through coastal forest, and the bridge connects both sides of the gorge with secured platforms for observing the falls and river below.

This park protects 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) of rainforest on southwest Vancouver Island with Sitka spruce trees exceeding 310 feet (95 meters) in height and 800 years in age. The area encompasses two river valleys with dense forest and multiple hiking trails following the creeks. Visitors find some of the largest trees in Canada and can explore remnants of historic logging roads.

This park covers 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) of coastal land at the northern tip of Vancouver Island with 115 kilometers (71 miles) of marked trails through rainforest and along beaches. Cape Scott Provincial Park ranks among British Columbia's remote natural areas with access to tide pools, waterfalls and historic settlement remains. The region displays typical features of the Pacific Northwest coast with old growth forest stands and marine ecosystems.

This forest section within MacMillan Provincial Park shelters old Douglas fir trees with trunks reaching 30 feet (9 meters) in circumference. Cathedral Grove sits along the main highway between Port Alberni and Parksville, preserving one of the last intact coastal rainforest remnants on Vancouver Island. Most trees range from 300 to 800 years old, with some rising over 250 feet (75 meters) tall.

The Haida Heritage Centre presents exhibitions on the history, art and traditions of the Haida. The facility displays totem poles, carvings and artifacts documenting thousands of years of Indigenous culture. Visitors learn about traditional building methods, ceremonial practices and the ongoing connection of the Haida people to their ancestral territory along the Northwest Coast.

This park covers approximately 571,000 acres (231,000 hectares) and protects glaciers, alpine lakes and mountain peaks reaching up to 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). Visitors find several marked hiking trails leading through subalpine terrain and providing access to glacier valleys. The area forms part of the Coast Mountains and borders Alaska. The region served historically as Tlingit settlement territory and a passage route during the Klondike Gold Rush. The park preserves characteristic northwestern Canadian landforms including moraine lakes and extensive icefields.

This park covers 981,000 hectares (2,424,000 acres) and provides habitat for grizzly bears, moose and other wildlife in British Columbia. Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park contains old growth forests, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes that attract hikers and nature observers. The area includes fjords and trails that pass through varied ecosystems.

This 47-mile (75-kilometer) coastal path crosses rainforests along the Juan de Fuca Strait and offers views of the Pacific Ocean where gray whales and sea lions appear. The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail connects beaches with tide pools, waterfalls and camping areas between China Beach and Botanical Beach. The multi-day hike passes through old-growth coastal forest with Sitka spruce and western red cedar over terrain that includes ladders and rope sections.

This park covers 230,000 hectares (568,000 acres) of volcanic terrain with ash fields, lava plateaus and glaciated peaks in northern British Columbia. Mount Edziza stands among the province's significant geological areas, documenting millions of years of volcanic activity. Visitors reach craters, cinder cones and frozen lava flows on multi-day hikes through subalpine and alpine terrain. The protected area sits within the traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nation in a remote region without road access.

This park covers 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) with mountain peaks reaching 2,800 meters (9,200 feet), glacier lakes and alpine meadows in the Selkirk Mountains. The area contains about 30 named lakes along with glaciers and waterfalls. The landscape ranges from forested valleys to high alpine zones, with hiking trails through different ecological elevations. Valhalla Provincial Park provides access to remote mountain terrain between Slocan Lake and Arrow Lakes. The land includes granite and gneiss formations shaped during the last ice age.

This waterfall drops 70 meters (230 feet) over a limestone wall in the Murray River and is accessible via a gravel road. Kinuseo Falls lies in the northeastern forests of British Columbia and offers visitors a direct view of the broad curtain of water descending into the gorge below. The access route passes through the Northern Rockies backcountry, where trails follow the riverbank and viewpoints overlook the drop.

Princess Louisa Inlet extends five miles (8 km) inland and is bordered by granite cliffs rising up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m), with numerous seasonal waterfalls cascading down during periods of rainfall. This fjord ranks among the most dramatic natural areas in British Columbia, offering visitors access to sheer rock faces, dense coastal forest and calm waters reached primarily by boat.

This stretch of coastline in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park extends for 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) with dark sand and shallow tide pools among large driftwood logs. Several small creeks tumble over rock faces directly into the ocean. The beach sits along the Juan de Fuca Trail, accessible via a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) forest path through dense temperate rainforest.

This waterfall in Yoho National Park drops 384 meters (1,260 feet) in two cascades and is fed by meltwater from the Daly Glacier. Takakkaw Falls ranks among the highest waterfalls in Canada and can be reached on foot from a parking area at the end of Yoho Valley Road. The name comes from the Cree language and means magnificent. Water volume peaks in early summer during snowmelt season.

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park protects 96,500 acres (39,050 hectares) of Canadian Rocky Mountain terrain, including peaks, glaciers and alpine valleys. The park takes its name from Mount Assiniboine, which reaches 11,870 feet (3,618 meters) and stands as the centerpiece of this roadless wilderness area. The trail network covers 125 miles (200 kilometers) of marked routes through high-elevation terrain with meadows, lakes and conifer forests. The park borders Banff National Park and provides access to six backcountry huts and several camping areas. Visitors reach the area through multi-hour hikes or helicopter flights, as no roads penetrate the park boundaries.

Hunlen Falls drops 401 meters (1,316 feet) through multiple cascades and ranks among the notable natural features in British Columbia. The water flows from Turner Lake down into the Atnarko River valley. The falls lie within Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and require a multi-day hiking route through old forests and alpine terrain to reach.

This lake in the Cariboo region contains minerals from glacial water that give it a green coloration, making it a notable example of British Columbia's natural waterways. Anglers find rainbow trout and salmon here, while the surrounding area provides access to trails and viewpoints that showcase the mineral character of the water.

This marine park covers 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of coastal waters and islands north of Powell River. The area offers numerous anchorages for sailboats and protected routes for kayakers navigating between forested islands and quiet bays. The waters warm to unusually high temperatures in summer for these latitudes, allowing extended time on the water.

This park protects the Stein River watershed and preserves First Nations rock paintings along with alpine hiking trails. The area spans roughly 410 square miles (1,070 square kilometers) and connects valley floors with high mountain terrain. Visitors find old-growth forests, whitewater and traditional cultural sites of the Nlaka'pamux Nation, which has maintained ties to this land for thousands of years.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve protects an archipelago off the coast of British Columbia, encompassing traditional Haida villages, temperate rainforests and marine ecosystems between the Pacific Ocean and Hecate Strait. This reserve preserves centuries-old totem poles, archaeological sites and more than 1,500 cultural features of the Haida Nation. The waters support orcas, humpback whales, sea lions and sea otters across protected bays and ocean channels.

This freshwater lake on Vancouver Island offers sandy beaches and facilities for wind sports. Nimpkish Lake sits within coniferous forests and forms part of British Columbia's natural areas, which provide visitors access to hiking trails, waterfalls and coastal landscapes across the region.

This geological formation in Yoho National Park preserves marine fossils from the Cambrian period 508 million years ago, documenting the emergence of complex life forms. The Burgess Shale contains exceptionally preserved soft-tissue impressions of arthropods, worms and other organisms that expand understanding of early ecosystems. Visitors access the fossil beds through guided hikes, as the site's scientific importance requires strict protection measures.

This classical Chinese garden in Vancouver was designed following traditional Ming Dynasty principles and features authentic architecture, water pools and plants from the 15th and 16th centuries. The garden serves as a cultural center and provides insight into Chinese garden design from the Ming period. Visitors find handcrafted buildings, courtyards and landscape elements constructed by artisans from Suzhou using historical methods.

This beach forms part of the natural coastal landscapes in British Columbia and extends along a long shoreline with driftwood accumulations. Tide pools become accessible at low tide, offering opportunities for nature observation. Combers Beach sits within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and draws visitors exploring marine habitats and open sandy shores.