Vancouver Island stretches 460 kilometres (285 miles) from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia on the southern tip, to Port Hardy and the rugged and remote Cape Scott Park in the north. There is a rich diversity of landscapes, ranging from Douglas-fir forests and beaches along the coast to drier alpine conditions of the rocky mountain elevations that form the spine of the island. This diverse topography favours a fabulous selection of outdoor recreation and adventure, the most popular of which are camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, surfing, and skiing and snowboarding on Mount Washington BC.
