Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The X-Files is set in a wide range of American places, including Washington D.C., rural Oregon, and Virginia, yet almost none of it was shot in the United States for the first five seasons. Vancouver and its surroundings doubled for all of those settings, with Canadian forests, suburbs, and city streets standing in for small-town America. Production shifted to Los Angeles for seasons 6 through 9, then returned to Vancouver for the revival seasons in 2016-2018.
The Studio Side
Interior and stage work in Vancouver was based at North Shore Studios, which is not open to the public for visits. After the move south, the Los Angeles seasons were produced at 20th Century Fox Studios, which likewise does not offer public access to its soundstages. Fans hoping to see production sites will need to settle for the outdoor locations, all of which are far more accessible.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Independent visits cover most locations, but a guided film and television tour adds context and stories that a map cannot provide.
Vancouver Film Locations Walk
Hollywood North Film & TV Tour in Vancouver
This guided film and television tour of Vancouver, priced at 45 USD, explores the city's long history as Hollywood North, including sites connected to The X-Files. It holds a 5 rating from 111 reviews, making it the strongest option for fans who want a local expert to connect the show to the streets it used.
★ 5.0 out of 5 · 111 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did The X-Files move from Vancouver to Los Angeles?
Production relocated to Los Angeles starting with season 6 at the request of star David Duchovny, who wanted to be closer to home. The series later returned to Vancouver for the revival seasons broadcast between 2016 and 2018.
Can you visit the X-Files filming locations in Vancouver?
Yes. Several locations are public and free, including Gastown's 1 W Cordova St, Robson Square, Lynn Canyon Park, and Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. Britannia Mine Museum requires a ticket, while Riverview Hospital is closed to the public since 2012, though exteriors can be viewed from outside.
Which X-Files location should fans prioritise?
Britannia Mine Museum is the standout for many fans because its tunnels appeared as the Strughold Mining Company in the season 2 episode Paper Clip, and the site offers guided tunnel tours. It lies north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway, so plan it as a half-day trip.
Are the Vancouver forests from the show open to the public?
Yes. Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Canyon Park are both public, with hiking trails open to visitors. Lynn Canyon is free and popular, so arriving early helps avoid crowds, while Lower Seymour served as the pilot's forest and stood in for places from Puerto Rico to Kazakhstan.
Was any of The X-Files actually filmed in Washington D.C.?
No. Although the series is set largely in and around Washington D.C., the Vancouver-era episodes used Canadian locations to double for the American capital and its surroundings. Los Angeles stood in for those settings during seasons 6 through 9.
How long does it take to see the main X-Files locations?
Downtown stops such as Robson Square, 1 W Cordova St, and 1000 Station St can be covered in a single morning on foot. The forest parks in North Vancouver add a half day, and Britannia Mine Museum or Campbell Valley Regional Park each work best as separate day trips.
Vancouver remains the essential destination for X-Files fans, holding the pilot's forests, the revival's streets, and a mine museum where Mulder and Scully's world runs underground. Most sites are free and public, so a few days in the city and its surroundings are enough to walk through the series' most memorable backdrops.
