When to Go

Deciding when in the year you’ll be visiting British Columbia usually depends on your own schedule, but the following thoughts may help you decide the best time to visit.

While British Columbia can be visited year-round, there are two major influxes of visitors: one in the warmer months and the other in winter. Summer revolves around activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, fishing—just about anything you can do outdoors. In winter, the focus is on skiing and snowboarding.

The high season for travel to British Columbia is most definitely summer, or more precisely July and August. This is the time of year when parks come alive with campers, the lakes and streams with anglers, the mountains with hikers, the woods with wildlife, and the roadsides with stalls selling fresh produce. Summer daytime temperatures in Vancouver [1] average a pleasant 23°C (73°F), while the provincial hot spot, the Okanagan Valley, experiences temperatures in the 30s (86–102°F) on many days.

Spring and fall are excellent times to visit British Columbia [2]. While April–June is considered a shoulder season, in many ways the province is at its blooming best in spring. Crowds are at a minimum, the days are long, golfers hit the links in shirts and shorts, and lodging rates throughout the province are reduced. May in the Okanagan Valley is a delight, especially for travelers who enjoy wine festivals.

Fall (mid-Sept.–Nov.) can be tremendous, particularly September, with lingering warm temperatures and a noticeable decrease in crowds immediately after the long weekend at the beginning of the month. While fall colors in general lack the intensity of those in the eastern provinces and New England, larch turn a brilliant yellow throughout high alpine areas in late September.

The two major cities, Vancouver [1] and Victoria [3], can be visited year-round, with some outdoor activities—golfing, biking, hiking, and more—possible in the dead of winter on Vancouver Island [4]. Alpine resorts throughout the province begin opening in December, and most have seasons extending through to April (or early June in the case of Whistler [5]). The best snow conditions are January– February, although for winter enthusiasts looking for a combination of good snow and warmer weather, March is an excellent time of year to visit.