Pemberton, BC is a small mountain town just a couple hours north of Vancouver. Known as a great outdoor adventure destination, Pemberton offers tons of activities to visitors. Along with plenty of hiking, camping, and mountain biking opportunities, there is also a lot of farmland and agri-tourism in the summertime. In the winter you can enjoy cross-country skiing, back-country skiing, and snowmobiling! Pemberton makes for a great getaway from Vancouver, and we already can’t wait to return. The village offers perfect laid-back vibes, and the mountain views are incomparable. Keep reading for our full guide to Pemberton, BC!
When to Visit
You can visit Pemberton any time of year, but the most popular seasons are summer and winter! Be sure to plan your visit between June and September if you’re looking for warm temperatures. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails, great spots to camp, farmer’s markets, outdoor festivals, and so much more. We visited Pemberton during August and it was perfect for enjoying summertime activities, exploring the outdoors, and soaking up the sunshine! During the winter months, Pemberton turns into a winter wonderland with tons of fun mountain sports and a Winter Festival! Along with skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling opportunities right in town, Pemberton is also only a 20 minute drive away from Whistler Blackcomb, a world-class ski resort!
Where to Stay
Along with plenty of options for camping, the Pemberton area has various small motels, cabins, and B&Bs around the village and near Mt. Currie and Lillooet Lake. The main hotel accommodation is right in town at Pemberton Valley Lodge! It’s in the most central location and is the perfect spot to stay for all Pemberton adventures. The cozy, pet-friendly, mountain resort offers amenities such as, a pool and hot tub, business centre, and cafe. It’s popular for special events and group bookings, but it’s also great for leisure travellers! The property has beautiful mountain views and very comfortable rooms. We recommend booking a one-bedroom suite if you’d like to have a full kitchen and in-suite laundry during your stay!
Pemberton Valley Lodge
We loved our experience at Pemberton Valley Lodge, and will definitely be returning. It was in the perfect location for exploring Pemberton, and they were very welcoming to our small dog Theo who came along. We received a personalized pet welcome package that included a doggie bed, food and water bowls, poop bags, and dog treats! We even met resident dog Kody, the lodge’s own “canine concierge”. We highly recommend bringing along your pup for your Pemberton stay and booking a pet-friendly room at Pemberton Valley Lodge. They allow up to 2 dogs per room, and there is a one-time pet fee of $45 CAD with a portion supporting the Pemberton Animal Well-Being Society. For more details about the hotel and to book your stay, you can visit their website here.
What to Do
Our summertime visit to Pemberton was jam-packed with hikes, nature walks, and visits to local businesses. We had such a great time and already can’t wait to return. If you’re planning your visit during the summer you will have plenty of activities to keep you busy! Keep reading for our list of things to do:
Explore Downtown Pemberton
Pemberton’s downtown area is a must-do during your visit. It has unbeatable mountain village vibes, and tons of great businesses to support! Be sure to stop by Mount Currie Coffee to get your caffeine fix in the morning, and grab lunch or dinner at Town Square Restaurant. Take a stroll down Frontier Street, and visit the Pemberton Downtown Community Barn. This is the perfect place to kick off your Pemberton adventures!
Visit a Local Farm
Along with being a mountain destination, Pemberton also has a thriving farm community. Don’t miss North Arm Farm for a “U-Pick” experience, and local favourite Laughing Crow Organics! If you visit in late summer you may even catch their Sunflower Festival. We were lucky enough to see the sunflowers in full bloom and it made for a beautiful photo taking opportunity!
Try Some Local Beer
Pemberton Brewing was one of our favourite stops in town. Grab a flight of local beer to enjoy in the tasting room or on the patio, or grab some seasonal brews to take home with you! Another great place for beer if you’re out in Pemberton Meadows, is Beer Farmers! A family owned brewery and well known Pemberton staple, Beer Farmers has a huge patio and fun farm activities. It’s right next to Laughing Crow Organics so you can do these activities together!
Hike One Mile Lake
One Mile Lake completely blew us away with how beautiful it is! Just a couple minutes outside of town, this hike is an easy walk along a boardwalk, circling the lake. The views of the mountains are gorgeous and you will definitely want to stop and take some photos! The boardwalk is bike friendly, wheelchair accessible, and dogs are allowed. There’s also an off-leash dog beach halfway around the lake so your pup will have a blast. Near the parking there is also a swimming beach, as well as canoe and paddle board rentals. This is a popular spot and an absolute must-do while you’re in Pemberton!
Book an Adventure Activity
For any thrill-seeking travellers, the Pemberton area has amazing summertime activities you can book. Go paragliding with Sea to Sky Paragliding, sky dive with Whistler Skydiving, or book a helicopter tour with Blackcomb Helicopters! If you’d rather have an adventure on water or land, check out boat tours or white water rafting activities, or try mountain biking on Pemberton’s world class biking trails!
Check out Pemberton’s Industrial Park
The industrial park is home to tons of awesome local businesses like Pemberton Brewing, and the Pemberton Distillery! The distillery is a family owned craft distillery that uses Pemberton Valley’s famous potatoes to make organic spirits. You can tour the facility and pick up some award winning vodka, gin, whiskey, absinthe, schnapps, or brandy. Another perfect stop in the industrial park is The Hwy Cafe! A newly opened, fully plant-based cafe offering breakfast, lunch, and baked goodies. The food is amazing and the owners are very friendly. Enjoy!
Hike to Nairn Falls
If you’re looking for a great hike in Pemberton, you need to add Nairn Falls to the list! Just south of the city centre, Nairn Falls Provincial Park is only a short drive outside of town along Hwy 99. There’s a beautiful trail to the Falls which is 3km round trip, and a beginner/intermediate level hike. It makes for a perfect afternoon activity when you’re heading into town, or at the end of your trip. The park has some unique wildlife including the rubber boa, the smallest of the boa constrictor family. They’re nocturnal so not always easy to spot on the trail, but keep an eye out on your way to the waterfall!
Visit the Local Lakes
Pemberton is a beautiful lake region and you will find plenty of lakes to explore both close to the city centre, and within a short drive. Along with One Mile Lake, Mosquito Lake and Ivey Lake are both local favourites. Just 15 minutes outside Pemberton they offer a beautiful getaway into nature! If you venture a bit further outside of town you can visit Lillooet Lake, a large lake with beautiful mountain backdrops. About 30 minutes east of Pemberton are Joffree Lakes. Well known for their beautiful vibrant colour, the three lakes are a quintessential West Coast experience. Finally, about 1 hour north of Pemberton is Birkenhead Lake, part of a gorgeous provincial park that is worth a visit if you have the time.
Lesbian Friendly
We feel so fortunate to be from such an LGBTQ+ friendly country as Canada. Vancouver and the surrounding area is very safe and inclusive, and we always feel comfortable being out and open as a lesbian couple. We’ve travelled all around the province of BC and have been welcomed everywhere we go! Pemberton is no exception and is absolutely a lesbian friendly travel destination. We highly recommend it to other LGBTQ+ travellers who are looking for a great mountain getaway near Vancouver! While the village is small and there is no dedicated gaybourhood or gay scene, we certainly felt comfortable being ourselves during our visit. Business owners and locals in town were all very friendly and made us feel right at home. The Pemberton Valley Lodge is a large supporter of the community and is welcoming to queer visitors. The general manager of the hotel is openly gay and the lodge is definitely LGBTQ+ friendly! If you’re looking for gay culture in the Pemberton area, the nearby Whistler resort has regular LGBTQ+ events including a huge Pride festival each year. Pemberton should definitely be added to your list of lesbian friendly travel destinations in BC!
Have any of you visited Pemberton? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by Pemberton Tourism. Pemberton Valley Lodge did generously host us during our visit, and we had a really lovely time staying at their property. We enjoyed our trip to Pemberton so much and can’t wait to return!
