Travellers may think they know the bustling West Coast Canadian metropolis of Vancouver and the nearby, world-famous ski resort of Whistler but both destinations have much more to explore. Get out into nature and embrace the wildlife spotting available in the autumn with the following suggestions. 

Located in a temperate rainforest and surrounded by stunning lakes and epic mountains, Whistler is magical in the autumn. Visit for the fall foliage as the lush green valley succumbs to yellows, golds, oranges and reds, and marvel at the snow line as it creeps down the mountainside. Nature's magnificent display can be enjoyed along the many hiking trails or plump for high alpine views with a 4X4 guided tour up Blackcomb Mountain. Early autumn is a great time to spot bears as they fuel up for hibernation. 

Top experiences include: 

Forest Bathing– become immersed in nature with a forest bathing session. Founded to help people thrive thanks to transformative experiences in nature, Society of Trees regularly features as one of the top wellness experiences in Canada. From $160 per couple. 

Hiking amongst ancient trees – visitors are spoilt for choice of hiking trails around Whistler. Highlights include the Ancient Cedars Trail, a five-kilometre trip that is particularly beautiful in the autumn time. Or the Blackcomb Ascent Trails (until late September), three interconnected uphill hiking routes that meander through beautiful old growth coastal rain forest terrain from Whistler's valley bottom to the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain. 

Bear Viewing - head out on a Whistler bear viewing tour by 4x4 for the chance to see black bears in their natural habitat. Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are home to up to 60 black bears and cubs. From $195 per person. 

With the mountains as its backdrop, the ocean and rainforest on its doorstep and the thousand-acre Stanley Park as its beating heart, Vancouver is a city enveloped in nature. Visitors landing here on their way to heed the call of the striking British Columbian wilderness should allow plenty of time to discover the city's natural appeal. In autumn this includes soaking up the colourful foliage in the city's parks and gardens, seeing the salmon run, and spotting migrating whales and birds. Be sure to visit resident Grizzly bears Grinda and Coola at Grouse Mountain before they go into winter hibernation too.   

Top experiences include: 

Seeing the salmon run – From late September to early November wild salmon travel from the ocean to the main stem of the Fraser River to spawn, in what is one of the planet's largest salmon runs. It's possible to spot all five Pacific salmon species along the 850-mile waterway. The spectacle also draws hungry bears, eagles and gulls. Learn more at the Capilano Salmon Hatchery in North Vancouver. 

Whale watching – Vancouver is one of the world's best locations for whale watching with thousands of whales migrating through its waters between March and October each year. Get out onto the water with tour operators including Prince of Whales who offer guided whale-watching tours from Granville Island. From $179 per person. 

Birding – Stanley Park boasts a vast bird population, including four nesting pairs of bald eagles. The entire coastline of the park has been designated an “Important Bird Area” by Bird Life International thanks to the high diversity of waterfowl. Around an hour to the south of Vancouver, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a fantastic spot to view migratory species as they rest on their journey north or south along the Pacific Flyway. Highlights include a flock of 75,000 snow geese passing between mid-October and mid-December. 

Take a sea safari tour for the chance to spot a seal colony, birds and sometimes bears and whales from the zodiac boat. Tours run until the end of October, departing from Horseshoe Bay and travelling up the Howe Sound. From $116 per person. 

For more information, visit Whistler.com and Destinationvancouver.com 

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High-res images can be downloaded via this Dropbox link