Why Netflix's "Untamed" is Set in Yosemite but Filmed in British Columbia
- outsideofficehours
- Jul 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 21, 2025
So Where Was "Untamed" Filmed Anyway?
Netflix’s Untamed opens with a body tumbling from El Capitan’s granite face, plunging viewers into the haunting wilderness of Yosemite National Park. But here’s the twist: while the story unfolds in California’s iconic National Park, the cameras never actually rolled there. Instead, the production team recreated Yosemite’s rugged beauty in the forests, mountains, and lakes of British Columbia, Canada. Why the switch? Let’s dig into the creative and practical reasons behind this cinematic sleight of hand.
The Illusion of Yosemite
Yosemite is more than a backdrop—it’s a character. Its vastness, mystery, and raw power shape the emotional terrain of Untamed. But filming in a U.S. National Park like Yosemite comes with serious limitations:
Strict regulations on where crews can shoot
Limited access to remote or protected areas
Environmental restrictions that prevent large-scale production setups
British Columbia, on the other hand, offers a filmmaker’s playground. With its towering peaks, dense forests, and glacial lakes, it mirrors Yosemite’s grandeur while allowing far more flexibility.
British Columbia’s Stand-In Locations
To recreate Yosemite’s landmarks, the production team chose sites that echo its natural drama:
Mount Seymour doubled as El Capitan, the site of the show’s pivotal fall
Grace Lake stood in for Grouse Lake, a place steeped in folklore and grief
Murdo Frazer Park Cabin became Agent Kyle Turner’s secluded home base
Whistler Olympic Park and Greenwood Park provided sweeping wilderness shots
These locations weren’t just chosen for their looks—they offered logistical ease, cinematic depth, and a haunting atmosphere that matched the show’s tone.
Budget, Bears, and Believability
Filming in Canada also made financial sense. British Columbia’s film industry offers:
Tax incentives that stretch production budgets
Experienced crews and top-tier studios like North Shore Studios
Reliable infrastructure for both urban and wilderness shoots
And while Yosemite has its own wildlife, British Columbia brought its own surprises. Eric Bana, who plays Agent Turner, joked about his “bad bear luck”—he never saw one, despite the crew’s frequent encounters.
Creative Freedom in a Fictional Yosemite
Co-creator Mark L. Smith explained the choice in an interview with Tudum: “Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that”. British Columbia allowed the team to explore those dangers—lush forests, steep cliffs, and isolated terrain—without the constraints of filming in a real national park.
Final Thoughts
Untamed may not have been filmed in Yosemite, but it captures the park’s spirit: wild, unforgiving, and deeply mysterious. British Columbia gave the creators room to roam—both literally and artistically—while still honoring the mythos of one of America’s most iconic landscapes.
Want to see how convincingly Canada plays Yosemite? Untamed is now streaming on Netflix. Just don’t be surprised if you start planning a trip to British Columbia instead.
If you're looking for some content from the actual Yosemite National Park (spoiler, there is no murder mystery), check out the Outside Office Hours YouTube Channel!
Comments