Angela Ligouri
Freelance photographer and outdoor storyteller Angela Liguori shares her favourite Western Canada road trips, hikes, wildlife encounters and summer escapes.
Western Canada is packed with iconic destinations — what are some of your personal must-visit spots for summer travel?
Western Canada is really packed with iconic destinations, and honestly, it lives up to the hype! The Canadian Rockies in Alberta are iconic for a reason. I still get the biggest smile looking out the car window at the massive peaks as I drive through. There’s nothing like it, so they are a must-visit. I go on at least one road trip a year to the Rockies, from Vancouver, and I love being able to stop at so many different parks along the way:
- Yoho National Park: Lake O’Hara area is amazing for hiking/backpacking, and Emerald Lake is great for canoeing or a cold dip if you’re brave enough.
- Lake Louise: I love to head up to Little Beehive for a different view of the lake.
- Banff National Park: The options are endless here. I love visiting in early July when all the wildflowers are out. I love driving up the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) for amazing views, hikes, swimming opportunities, and more.
- Kananaskis Country: This area isn’t a national park, but it has some really incredible hikes with fewer tourists and more opportunities to see wildlife.
If you want more of a Pacific Northwest vibe, British Columbia is a must! You can surf on the ocean, hike in the mountains, and stay in a cabin in a rainforest all in one day. It has everything, including some of the best scenery in the country (I am biased, though). I especially love these different areas of BC:
- Vancouver: North Shore Mountains, which are only 30 minutes away from Downtown Vancouver (a must-visit).
- Sea to Sky: The Howe Sound is one of my favorite parts of Western Canada. I love driving the Sea to Sky Highway (especially at sunset) to get to Squamish and Whistler. They are both worth a stop and can keep you busy for days with outdoor activities, food options, and attractions. Make sure to go the extra mile to visit Pemberton (from Whistler).
- Chilliwack: A bit off the beaten track for visitors, but I love Chilliwack Provincial Park for hiking. It backs up onto the North Cascades in Washington and has some stunning peaks!
- Vancouver Island: This could be a trip on its own due to the sheer size of the island, but I love Strathcona Provincial Park, Tofino/Uclulet, and next on the bucketlist is Campbell River. All have really great options for a summer trip. Victoria is an incredible city right on the water with great dining and shopping opportunities.
- Golden or Fernie: If you want a little quieter and rugged Rockies experience, head to one of these mountain towns. It’s a great base for a summer trip to the BC mountains with access to hiking, rivers, and amazing road trip stops.
You’ve explored so much of Canada by road — what makes Western Canada such a special region for summer adventures?
Exploring by road is the best way to experience Western Canada! The drives can make for long days, but that’s all part of the adventure. You can find beautiful views you never even knew existed, little mountain towns, quaint shops, and local food along the way.
What makes it so special is the variety of experiences you can have in one trip. You can go from glacier lakes and high alpine views to a rugged coastline and ocean breeze all within a few days.
I also love how accessible the beauty of Canada can be. Of course, there are incredible places that require long hikes or backcountry trips to reach, but you can drive along some of the most incredible roads and be wowed right from your window. The Icefields Parkway in Alberta is one of those roads that will make you pull over many, many times. The Sea to Sky Highway, especially paired with the ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, is another favorite of mine. You can head up to Northern BC for incredible (and rugged) views or go to Vancouver Island to drive along the coastline.
What’s your ideal Western Canada road trip itinerary or route?
To me, the most ideal Western Canada road trip route would be from Vancouver to Calgary (or the other way around)—with an extension on either side to the Prairies or Vancouver Island. This combines the mountains, coast, and forest altogether. If you started in Vancouver, you could spend some time in the city, then head up the Sea to Sky Highway to Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton. If you had more time, you could go over to Vancouver Island via the ferry (try to get a sunset sailing for beautiful views) to spend some time. Then, start the 10-to-12-hour journey to Banff. Stopping along the way in places like Chilliwack (amazing hiking), Kelowna (for great wineries), Revelstoke, and Golden. Once you get to Banff and spend time there, you could extend your trip to the Prairies as well (on my bucketlist!).
For travellers looking to experience the outdoors, what are some of your favourite hiking, biking, lake, or wildlife experiences in the West?
Hiking is how I spend a lot of my time, and let me tell you.. there’s no shortage of options here in Western Canada. In BC, there are the iconic Sea to Sky and North Shore Mountains (near Vancouver) areas for hiking. If you want something a bit more low-key, Vancouver Island has great options along with Chilliwack and the BC side of the Canadian Rockies. If you want more of a remote and rugged adventure, head up to Northern BC. In Alberta, the must-see Canadian Rockies have some of the best hiking in the world.
Some of the best biking in the world is in Squamish and Whistler Blackcomb (where you can get help with the ascent). You could also head to Fernie, Golden, or Revelstoke for more biking options.
Western Canada has some incredible wildlife, especially in the summer! A great way to give yourself the best shot is to travel at sunrise and sunset when animals are more active. Head to the Vancouver area and/or Vancouver Island for whale watching and to potentially spot sea lions, bald eagles, and black bears. In the Canadian Rockies, especially Jasper National Park, you could spot grizzly bears, elk, caribou, foxes, moose, sheep, black bears, and mountain goats. If you want to book travel focused on the wildlife here, here are some ideas: whale watching around Vancouver, Tofino, Victoria, or Campbell River, the salmon run in late summer/fall is very west coast, and you can see grizzly bears (and a ton of other wildlife) through lodging stays in the Great Bear Rainforest.
The options for lakes are endless across all of Western Canada. If you opt for a road trip, there’s a good chance you’ll drive by at least a few. Depending on where you are, there’s a good chance the lakes will be glacial, so be ready for a cold dip!
Indigenous tourism experiences are becoming an important part of travel planning. Have you had any meaningful cultural experiences while travelling in Western Canada that stood out to you?
Indigenous-owned businesses are a great way to add depth and perspective to a trip to Western Canada. One experience that stood out to me was taking a boat to Hot Springs Cove in Tofino with Ahous Adventures (from the Ahousaht Nation). It wasn’t just a way to get from A to B, it was an opportunity to learn from people who have been in the area for millennia and hear from a local and Indigenous perspective. Something on my bucketlist is staying at one of the Indigenous-owned lodges in the Great Bear Rainforest. Along with exploring the area, they are rooted in storytelling with a deep connection to the land.
For families, couples, or first-time travellers exploring Western Canada, what advice would you give when planning a summer trip?
Western Canada is huge, so give yourself as much time as possible. It takes a while to get from place to place here. Depending on the amount of time you have, I’d choose to spend more time in fewer areas vs. trying to see it all. For instance, if you have 2 weeks and want to go to Vancouver Island, I’d go there and then to the Vancouver area, and probably would save the Canadian Rockies for another time. Giving time also leaves room for spontaneity, which can lead to some great stories.
What do you hope Canadians take away from exploring more of their own backyard this summer?
I hope Canadians can see that we have so much right here on our doorstep. I hope they develop a deeper appreciation for just how incredible, beautiful, and diverse our country really is. I hope that they realize they don’t have to travel far in order to go on an incredible adventure. I hope they feel more connected to nature, local communities, and the open road, because we really do have it all!
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