Rainforest to Rockies in 15 days
- Jeremy
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Journey from Vancouver’s coastal rainforests to the stunning peaks of the Rockies on this epic road trip. Explore Vancouver Island, drive the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway, and camp under starry skies in Banff and Jasper. Along the way, discover waterfalls, alpine lakes, and scenic backroads. Adventure awaits!
Drive : 2,675 km Scenery : Island- rainforest-Mountains Season : Spring to Fall
Day 1 : Vancouver to Victoria
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Vancouver
Directions
HWY 10 to Tsawwassen 1 hour
Ferry to Swartz Bay 1.5 Hours
HWY 1 to Victoria 35 Min
Ending Point
Stay Near Victoria
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Walk around victoria harbor
Hatley Castle
Mount Douglas park
Whale watching
Day 2 Victoria to Lake Cowichan
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Victoria
Directions
HWY 14 to Port Renfrew 2 hours
Pacific marine road 1 hour
Ending Point
Lake Cowichan
Recommended campgrounds (2 Nights)
Things to do
Avatar Grove
Botanical Bay
French Beach
Day 3 Day trip to Salt Spring Island
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Drive up to Mt Maxwell Lookout (4x4 Only)
Visit Ganges
Ruckle Provincial Park
Totem walk in duncan
Day 4 Lake Cowichan to Squamish
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Lake Cowichan
Directions
Hwy 1 to Nanaimo 1 hour
Ferry to Horseshoe bay 2 hours
Sea to Sky Highway to Squamish 40 min
Ending Point
Squamish
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Paddle at gordon bay
Visit Nanaimo
Stop at Whytecliff park
Scenic ferry ride
Day 5 Sea to sky
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Squamish
Directions
Sea to sky to pemberton 1.5 hours
Ending Point
Pemberton
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Sea to Sky Gondola
Brandywine Falls
Whistler Village
Cheakamus Lake
Lots of hikes and outdoor activities
Day 6 The Gold Rush
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Pemberton
Directions
Hwy 99 and Trans-Canada Hwy 3.5 hours
Ending Point
Kamloops
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Horsting's Farm Market
Joffre Lakes
Historic Hat Creek Ranch
Day 7 Wells Gray
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Kamloops
Directions
Drive to wells Gray Provincial Park 1.5 to 2.5 hours (depending on campground)
Ending Point
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Lots of falls and viewpoints
Day 8 The Rocky Mountains
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Directions
HWY 5 to Jasper for 4 hours
Ending Point
Jasper
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Lots of viewpoints
Short Hikes
Scenic Picnic Areas
Day 9 Icefields Parkway
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Jasper
Directions
Icefield Parkway to Banff 3 hours
Ending Point
Banff
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Lots of viewpoints
Short Hikes
Scenic Picnic Areas
Day 10 Banff National Park
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Banff
Directions
2-3 hours between all the sites
Ending Point
Banff
Recommended campgrounds (2 Nights)
Things to do
Lake louise
Morraine lake
Lake Minnewanka
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Day 11 Yoho National Park
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Banff
Directions
Hwy 1 to golden 1.5 hours
Ending Point
Golden
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Yoho National Park
Emerald Lake
Lots of viewpoints
Short Hikes
Scenic Picnic Areas
Day 12 North Okanagan
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Golden
Directions
Hwy 1 and 97A 3.5 hours
Ending Point
Vernon
Recommended campgrounds
Get 10% Off at Echo Lake Resort — Use Code ELROUTLAND10
Things to do
Rogers Pass Discovery Centre
Drive the Meadows in the sky Parkway
Malakwa Suspension Bridge
Historic O'Keefe Ranch
Day 13 The Desert
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Vernon
Directions
Okanagan highway south 2.5 hours
Ending Point
Osoyoos
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Osoyoos Desert Centre
Waterfront in Kelowna
Rent a bike at Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park
Kalamalka Lake
Day 14 The Crowsnest Highway
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Osoyoos
Directions
Crowsnest Highway to Manning Park 2 hours
Ending Point
Manning Park
Recommended campgrounds
Manning Park (4 campgrounds)
Things to do
Spotted lake
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Osoyoos Desert Centre
Grist Mill & Gardens at Keremeos
Keremeos Columns Provincial Park
Stop in Coalmont and Princeton
Day 14 The Fraser Valley
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Manning Provincial Park
Directions
HWY 3 and HWY 1 to Vancouver 2.5 hours
Ending Point
Vancouver
Things to do
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park
Lightning Lake at Manning Park
Alpine Meadows at Manning Park
Cascade Lookout at Manning Park
Explore the interactive map
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