Experience Outdoor Adventures in Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler
From flightseeing tours with Seair and gondola rides to the top of Grouse Mountain, to accessible thermal spa therapies on Bowen Island, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region—which stretches up the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler—offers inclusive experiences for travellers with physical and cognitive limitations.
“In BC the access to sport is incredible, so it’s only natural that adaptive sports follow closely,” says Alex Cairns, a para-alpine athlete who sit-skis and is also on the board of the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association, which offers adaptive mountain biking. “I love it here and being able to play here is totally feasible.”
Like the Invictus Games, organizations in the region support sport for life by breaking down barriers to participation. Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, where Cairns learned how to sit-ski, introduces those with physical or cognitive disabilities to a range of outdoor sports including alpine skiing and snowboarding, hiking, and kayaking. The volunteer-run adventure provider “adapts the playground” with specialized equipment and with instructors who are trained to support participants as they learn a new sport.