Top 7 Thrilling Experiences for Adventure Seekers

If you're into heart-pumping adventures, you'll find them in Vancouver. Adventure seekers can raise their adrenaline year-round by soaring through the sky on ziplines, zooming down snowy ski runs, watching whales jump, and more.

Ziplines and Ropes Courses

Fly through the forest canopy or balance on obstacles swinging far above the ground at Grouse Mountain. The Mountain Ziplines course includes three ziplines that reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. Or tackle the Mountain Ropes Adventure. You'll clip into a harness, then navigate plank bridges, nets, and mini ziplines on a course suspended amongst the treetops. The Mountain Ziplines and Mountain Ropes Adventure are open in spring, summer, and fall.

Or head to Wild Play Maple Ridge to brave their three aerial ropes courses. They have a Classic Course for everyone, a Kids Course best for children 5 to 12, and an Extreme Course if you want to test your limits. The truly courageous can plunge 40 feet off a platform on the Face Your Fears jump.

Suspension Bridges and Canopy Walks

Peer into the depths of a deep canyon at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The 450-foot suspension bridge sways over the Capilano River. After you cross the bridge, follow the elevated pathways through the Treetops Adventure to get a squirrel's eye view of the coastal rainforest. Don't miss the cantilevered Cliffwalk, which clings to the side of the granite cliff.

You can learn about the unique rainforest ecosystem at the Greenheart TreeWalk at the UBC Botanical Garden. Suspended walkways and tree platforms hang from huge cedar and Douglas fir trees. You can experience the TreeWalk on your own or book a guided tour with a naturalist. The Treewalk is open between April and October.

Ride the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish for incredible views of the mountains and the turquoise waters of Howe Sound. At the top, walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge for great views of glaciers.

Flightseeing

Get a bird's eye view of Vancouver from one of the city's iconic floatplanes. Book a flightseeing tour with Harbour Air or Indigenous-owned Gulf Island Seaplanes to soar above Vancouver's skyline and the nearby mountains. You can also buzz high above the city and through the mountains on a helicopter tour with Sky Helicopters.

Or go flightseeing without leaving the ground at FlyOver Canada. Climb into a seat in front of the wrap-around screen, then brace for lift-off. The immersive experience includes motion, wind, mist, and scents to transport you to locations around the world. Soar over Canada's landscapes at Awaken Canada or discover the lush beauty Maui at Hawaii from Above.

Rollercoasters

Open from May to September each year, Playland at the PNE is home to Vancouver's legendary Wooden Roller Coaster. Built in 1958, it reaches speeds of 45 miles per hour through its many twists, turns, and bumps. The park also includes other roller coasters, as well as lots of other rides that will spin, swing, drop, and twist you into a frenzy.

For a much less urban experience, try the Eagle Coaster at Cypress Mountain. Open each summer, this gravity-fuelled mountain coaster careens along a curving track through the forest. Riders can control the speed of the coaster using a handbrake.

In the summer of 2025, Grouse Mountain is launching the Mountain Coaster. It will weave through the trees and include incredible views of Vancouver.

Whale Watching

From March through October several species of whales frolic through the waters around Vancouver. In addition to orcas (killer whales), you can also see humpback whales, grey whales, minke whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, river otters, eagles, and many species of sea birds.

Local whale watching tour operators focus on marine education, conservation, and responsible viewing. In Vancouver, you can book with Wild Whales Vancouver or Prince of Whales, both of which launch at Granville Island. Or start your trip from Richmond’s Steveston neighbourhood with Vancouver Whale Watch or Seabreeze Adventures.

Skiing and Snowsports

Thanks to the nearby North Shore Mountains, Vancouver has three ski resorts within 30 minutes of downtown, open between December and March.

Grouse Mountain is the closest. It has 33 ski runs and 4 chairlifts, many with great views of the city. You can also go snowshoeing and tobogganing.

Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver has 53 ski runs spread across two mountains. They also have a cross-country ski area, snowshoe trails, and a tube park.

Family-owned Mount Seymour in North Vancouver has 41 ski runs and 3 chair lifts as well as a tube park, toboggan hill, and snowshoe trails.

Mountain Biking

Vancouver's North Shore Mountains have some of the best mountain bike trails in the world. There are a variety of trails from easy greens to pro-level double black diamonds. Our guide to mountain biking in Vancouver has lots of recommendations. It's easy to explore the trails on your own with the Trailforks App. Local bike shops can help you out with rental bikes and guiding services.

Grouse Mountain also has a Mountain Bike Park slated to open in June 2025. It will feature a mix of green and blue flow trails as well as a few intermediate and expert trails with more technical features. At the bottom you can ride the Screaming Eagle Chairlift back up to the top.