In the heart of British Columbia, Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort is a boutique eco-lodge and certified National Geographic Lodge in Canada’s Wild West. Set on 10,000 acres of wild frontier—think rolling hills of flaming pink fireweed, secluded waterfalls, and lakefront meadows—this land is ready to be explored, so take your time here!

At the foothills of the Cariboo Range, this was the land of the Gold Rush, and the heritage of cowboys and adventurers from around the world is still very much alive here, as is the First Nation who were here thousands of years before. The Secwepemc First Nation has travelled the Siwash region for 5,000 years; in summers it was hunting and fishing territory, as well as land where plants could be gathered for food, medicinal, spiritual and ceremonial uses. After the Gold Rush, the area became known for its prime cattle ranching conditions and homesteading. A stage 6 wildfire in 2017 almost burned the lodge down, but it was saved by the brave owners and their team and the experience instilled a new sense of resilience and appreciation for the land seen in everything the resort does.

With history in mind, it’s no wonder the equine program at Siwash Lake Resort is highly regarded as one of Canada’s finest. Here you can get in the saddle with supportive and informative mentoring and hands-on horsemanship, before crossing the landscape on horseback. You don’t have to be an expert handler to enjoy the resort’s signature experience: a full-day safari to the River Outpost, where you’ll be treated to a gourmet picnic, try your hand at flyfishing, go tubing and learn about the land’s wild past and present.

The resort orchestrates tailor-made vacations for active families as well as private getaways for couples. Go swimming, kayaking and canoeing on the lake, whitewater rafting on the rivers, or take a helicopter ride to see it all from above.

Come back home and enjoy incredible off-the-grid dining. The heart of every Siwash meal is made from food grown on site, or foraged from meadows and the post-wildfire forest.

Then it’s time to “glamp” in your frontier-style canvas tent by the lake, or perhaps cozy in at the lodge or renovated barn made of hand-hewn spruce logs. Take a night at the Star Camp and enjoy a soak in the wood-fired cedar hot tub—a sophisticated type of “laidback.”

In a time when we are still unsure of future travel plans and crossing international borders, it’s a great opportunity to see what astounding experiences await us in our own backyard.