With its snow-capped mountains, misty fjords and vast forests, British Columbia is the stuff of travel dreams, but beyond the well-trodden tourist trails of Tofino and Whistler, there are lesser-known sights waiting to be discovered. Here are three that I recommend making a detour for.
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Follow in the footprints of dinosaurs at Tumbler Ridge
When two young boys tubing down a river discovered fossilized dinosaur tracks in 2001 near Tumbler Ridge, BC, little did they know that their find would lead to the creation of one of Canada’s most important dinosaur research centres and museums.
Today, the Tumbler Ridge Museum welcomes visitors from far and wide who come to learn about British Columbia’s paleontological history. Its Discovery Centre has rich displays of fossils ranging from dinosaurs to Ice Age mammals.
Located in the northern half of the province, the museum isn’t exactly easy to get to, but dinosaur lovers will find it worth the effort.
Explore a Canadian desert
In a province famous for rainforests, rivers and lakes, finding a desert in B.C. feels like you’ve stumbled through a portal to another world. While the Osoyoos Desert is technically a semi-arid shrub-steppe and not a true desert, the cactus, rattlesnakes and intense dry heat you’ll experience there will convince you otherwise.
It’s also home to the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, where you can learn about the ecology and traditions of the Osoyoos Indian Band that have called this unique ecosystem home since time immemorial.
Take a walk along the interpretive trails, sip some award-winning wine at nearby vineyards while discovering a side of B.C. that many visitors don’t even know exists.
https://destinationosoyoos.com/immerse-yourself-in-the-osoyoos-desert/
Soak in the wild at Liard River Hot Springs
Way up in northern B.C., not far from the Yukon border, Liard River Hot Springs offers an experience that feels worlds away from the polished spas of the south. Here, you bathe in naturally heated mineral pools surrounded by boreal forest, steam rising into the cool northern air as moose graze just beyond the boardwalk.
It’s part of Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, a beloved stop for road-trippers driving the Alaska Highway. But even if you’re not doing the full drive, it’s worth the detour for one of the most surreal, and relaxing, natural soaks in the country.
Nicknamed the “Tropical Valley,” possibly by the Alaska Highway building crews who were amazed by the lush ferns that grow there, the park is home to some interesting flora and fauna. Among them are heat-adapted lake chub that visitors can see swimming around the main bathing pool.
