Glamping adventures are kind of the best of both worlds aren’t they? A special kind of getaway where the beauty of nature co-exists with the comforts of home, and maybe even a little luxury. As part of a family roadtrip, I traveled through northern British Columbia, along with my retired parents and my 4 year old son. I have traveled and camped extensively with my son and glamping at Hidden Acres Treehouse Resort in BC was a beautiful experience.
Our travels were in mid June, and the roads were clear of snow and in good condition. We stopped in Terrace as a part of a road trip from Prince George to Prince Rupert BC. This northern BC roadtrip route is stunning and a must do for anyone who enjoys getting off the beaten path.
The Hidden Acres property is in an ideal setting only a few minutes from the mountain town of Terrace. When you come onto the property you will notice flowers and food growing everywhere. The property is 90 acres of lush forest and land alongside the Skeena River. With the abundance of beautiful Pacific Northwest nature it’s a great option for BC Glamping.
The atmosphere at Hidden Acres is peaceful and calm. The raised log treehouses themselves are tucked into the trees and are very comfortable. These beautiful cabins were hand built by the owners, with simplicity in mind. Our cabin had beautiful mountain views, right out the window. The kitchen is fully equipped and the beds are incredibly comfortable.
The cabin is 250 square feet with a living room, kitchenette, 3 piece bathroom, plus a raised loft with a queen size and a twin bed. Outside there is plenty of room for storing kayaks, canoes, and all the fun outdoor gear. Hidden Acres is a pet friendly resort, with some guidelines of course. All the cabins have wifi and a TV with a DVD player.
In addition to the treehouses, Hidden Acres has added 2 tiny homes, however these are not pet or child friendly.
The outdoor spaces include a group firepit and a covered picnic area with barbeques as well as beach, and boat launch. In the colder months, I can’t imagine a cozier cabin to stay in-with a fireplace and lots of games to play. Also, Shames Mountain, a world class ski resort is very close to Hidden Acres.
My Northern BC Glamping Experience
Our entry into Hidden Acres was easy and warm. The owners of the property live on site, and they welcomed us in person at the office with a big smile and kind conversation. They offered many ideas about things to do close by, as well as favourite local restaurants in Terrace. My son was so excited coming up to our cabin when he saw a tree swing right out front. The treehouses and tiny homes are completely self contained, and you can choose whether you would like privacy, or the hosts are available should you wish to chat, or have questions.
Hidden Acres is also a working farm, and there is lots of delicious food available, they even run a market on Tuesday evenings from May to October where you can purchase fresh food. There are no restaurants on site, but Terrace is a 5 min drive and there are plenty of food options as well as the grocery store if you prefer to cook at your home away from home.
They have a large, modern and beautiful indoor/outdoor event venue barn that would be the perfect place for a wedding. I can see the photos now.
Places to Eat Around Terrace BC
While the kitchens in the treehouses at Hidden Acres are fully stocked and very easy to self cater in, we also enjoyed the local restaurants in Terrace. We had delicious food and great experiences at:
Sonbadas: A steak house with yummy Mediterranean options
Don Diegos: Tex-Mex and tacos. Delicious!
Northern Dhaba Hot House: Delicious Indian and Mexican Food and vegan options in Terrace BC
For a small city, there are a lot of really delicious restaurants and cuisine options, be sure to take a peek at www.visitterrace.com/restaurants to really explore the food scene in Terrace BC.
Nature Lover’s Paradise: Activities and Entertainment
We used Hidden Acres as an incredibly comfortable home base for exploring this area of Northern BC. One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited is 1 hour away from Hidden Acres. What an incredible experience we had exploring the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Beds Park. I had no idea that there were recently active volcanoes (these erupted 225 years ago) and lava beds in Canada at all. This park is a true hidden gem in BC. The dramatic landscape blended with the rich Indigenous culture makes this exploring this park a very special experience.
The area offers visitors a chance to explore many unique and interesting features of a volcanic landscape and to learn about the culture and legends of the Nisg̱a’a people. While exploring the region, people will see beautiful secret waterfalls, the drowned forest, lava fields and tunnels, hot springs, and Indigenous communities that share their culture, history, and ways of life. Nisga’a Memorial Lava Park is about 1 hour drive from Terrace and to fully explore the route their is a 3 hour self guided driving loop with multiple stops through the park. The park is not open to visitors during the winter.
There are many hiking trails very close to, or right in, Terrace that are suitable for different ages and abilities. We loved exploring Ferry Island, Red Sand Demonstration Forest, and Terrace Mountain while staying at Hidden Acres.
Ferry Island is just West of Terrace and Hidden Acres Resort. This little island has a campground open from May to October and multiple hiking trails. The loop trail that goes around the perimeter of the Island is 2.5 kms, and has over 50 wooden carvings hidden throughout the forest.
Red Sand Demonstration Forest has a beautiful lake with a sand beach and a 1.6 km wheelchair friendly trail. The trail has lots of signs and information about the old growth forest, as well as information about forest values.
Terrace Mountain is on Highway 16 just a few minutes from the Terrace Visitor’s Centre. At Terrace Mountain you will find a 4.5 km out and back hiking trail with stunning views. There are a couple steep sections on this hike, and benches at the viewpoint. This is a local favourite among those who live in Terrace.
Water sports are readily available on the Skeena River. You can go fishing, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, so many options to splash! Hidden Acres even has it own beach and place to get into the water. Depending on rainfall-check the conditions and whether or not the river water levels are safe for exploring.
Additionally there are plenty of opportunities for fun, regardless of season, close to Hidden Acres. Snowmobiling, skiing, nordic skiing, mountain biking, hiking, walking, you name it, its available.
This region of northern British Columbia is a true paradise for nature lovers!
Most Memorable Moments
Hidden Acres is such a calm place to visit. The mountain peaks are enormous and are right there. My son’s giggles were endless playing on the tree swing and running through the open field. The flowers were beautiful, and we loved the easy access to nature here. The people at Hidden Acres and in Terrace were so welcoming and kind, and although we were able to hike and explore some, I know that I want to come back and experience more of the mountain life around Terrace.
Our trip and experience was calm, easy, and memorable. The treehouses were so well appointed, we really had no challenges during our trip. While on our roadtrip, water levels were rising due to rain storm activity and all of this was communicated clearly and frequently to us from the hosts. We were advised to stay away from the river, even driving alongside the Skeena it was evident the water was high and fast.
Book Hidden Acres Treehouse Resort in BC
If you haven’t had the chance to explore Northern BC yet, you need to add this destination to your list! This is a true local gem-owned and run by folks who are big part of Terrace’s community. Hidden Acres makes the perfect spot for a wedding (with the Big barn building), party, or family get together. The accomodations are rustic and luxurious, everything you might want in a BC glamping experience.
Author Bio
Jessica Sproat – Next Up Adventure
Jessica Sproat is the owner and author of Next Up Adventure, a blog that helps travelers find the best experiences and hidden gems, while seeking out an adventurous life (even with children!) Jess is a photographer, writer, and child development expert and has contributed to numerous discussions and publications around the value of travel and access to nature for people of all ages. She was born and raised in Canada, and has travelled and explored Western Canada extensively. When she isn’t traveling, writing, or working as a health care professional you can find her enjoying the finest things in life. The small things, along with her family.
Our guest authors at All About Glamping are from all around the world. Each one exploring glamping sites, glamping resorts and local regions and bringing that information to you through our articles. Enjoying the outdoors with a touch of luxury is what Glamping is all about and we encourage our readers and writers to seek out those experiences and share them with the world!