British Columbia Parks and Trails

Planning adventures in our British Columbia Parks and Trails

Parks, hiking trails, historic sites, heritage sites, rivers, lakes and natural areas in BC Canada

British Columbia parks and trails in Canada covers every type of landscape and seascape including mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, glaciers, forests, wetlands, wildlife, ecological and heritage. All play a big part in the creation of our BC parks system. Some of our BC Parks and heritage trails tells the long history of Canada. Others are for protection of wildlife, floral and fauna. Then there are those strictly designed for adventures and leisure living outdoors. There are over 11,400,000 hectares of BC parkland in Canada with over 2,700 kilometres of hiking and mountain biking trails.

British Columbia Parks & Trails

Over 800+ BC Parks in the province

There are over 800 or so British Columbia parks in Canada. This, by no means, is the total number of wilderness and recreation parks in British Columbia, Canada as there are many others that do not fall under the Provincial umbrella. Other parks in the province includes a few National parks and many smaller community, regional, hyro and forestry recreation parks located throughout the province. Only 12.5% of our province is protected by BC Parks and 0.6% is protected by National Parks.

Provincial & National Parks

Provincial & National Parks

Provincial and National Parks are the most popular parks in the province. Some of the BC parks are very well developed with day use areas, amphitheaters, museums, parking lots, campgrounds, boat launches, showers and washrooms. Then there are others, generally more rural, that are left in their natural state.

Many of the Provincial and National parks in British Columbia include access to very popular Canadian outdoor activities including backpacking, boating, water skiiing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding plus camping. There are 340 Provincial Parks with campgrounds (11,075 campsites) in British Columbia. Many have a "pay to use" format in place. Here is a list of all the activities popular in our BC Parks system.

Community & Regional Parks

Community & Regional Parks

Community and Regional Parks are, relatively a lot smaller than Provincial and National Parks. Many are located near communities and include such items as picnic tables, sitting benches, playgrounds, band stands, paved walking trails, flower gardens, skateboard parks, viewpoints, washrooms, museums, swimming, and/or info boards. It is important to read our information pages on each park for the available amenties.

Forestry Recreation Sites

Forestry Recreation Sites

Forestry Recreation Sites are the most rural and remote British Columbia park destinations. They are often located on rough gravel roads leading deep into the backcountry to rivers and lakes. The British Columbia parks and recreation sites are more campsite than park with no power, pit toilets and sometimes a gravel boat launch but more often a roof top boat launch. Forestry Recreation Sites are self maintained. Please leave no trace behind. Pack out what you pack in! Under each community on this website is a list of all the parks in the region.

British Columbia Parks and Trails in Canada Summary

British Columbia parks and trails are used for many occasions and activities. The Khutzeymateen Provincial Park is Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary. The Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is British Columbia's largest provincial park covering 989,616 hectares. On Vancouver Island the 440 metre Della Falls in Strathcona Park is Canada's highest waterfall and is one of the ten highest falls in the world!

Parks are an important part of our province providing thousands an opportunity to enjoy the wilderness outdoors. It is said 6 out of 10 people living in BC visit a park every year.

The British Columbia parks and recreation sites are here for yours and our tourism enjoyment. Please help us care for them and respect them. Do not leave garbage behind. Do not feed the wildlife. Always ask questions on the services, amenities, fees and rules to live by when in the park.

British Columbia Parks and Trails in Canada

Click the BC Regions below to view parks, trails and places in that area.

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Parks and Trails

Gulf Islands

Gulf Islands Parks and Trails

Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii Parks and Trails

Kootenay

Kootenay Parks and Trails

Lower Mainland

Lower Mainland Parks and Trails

North BC

North BC Parks and Trails

Okanagan

Okanagan Parks and Trails

Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast Parks and Trails

Thompson Shuswap

Thompson Shuswap Parks and Trails

Vancouver Island

Whistler Area

Whistler Region Parks and Trails

Bodega is best known for its 3.5 - 4 kilometre hiking trail and birdwatching opportunities following along a mountain ridge overlooking Trincomali Channel, Wallace Island Marine Park and Saltspring Island.

Cottage Way

The Mamquam River is a popular destination in the Squamish, British Columbia, Canada region for hikers, mountain bikers, fisherman and horseback riders. The main trail extends along the shores of the Mamquam River eventually leading to the fish spawning channels.

Highway 99

Squamish

Begbie Lookout Trail is a short but steep hiking path located south of the community of 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada. The hiking trail climbs up the side of Begbie Mountain to a 1923 working Forest Fire Lookout Station used during the summer months to spot wildfires.

100 MIle House

it is a 269 hectare forested destination with hiking trails, a canyon, a day use area and a campground situated on the shoreline of the Kleanza Creek (seems more like a river) located just east of the community of Terrace.

Highway 16

Terrace

Centennial Park is a recreation and sporting field destination located in the community of White Rock. There are trails, picnic tables, sporting fields, an arena and a playground.

North Bluff Road

White Rock

Boer Mountain Road

Burns Lake

Circling the lake is a well maintained 6.7 kilometre (3.8 mi.) trail used by hikers and mountain bikers. The route follows, a mainly, hard packed earthy trail crossing over many bridges and boardwalk which protect the most ecological sensitive areas in the region.

Kalum FSR (Forest Service Road)

Terrace

Mud Bay Park is a waterfront destination consisting of marsh like conditions and exposed tidal flats located in Boundary Bay south of the community of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Activities enjoyed include walking, biking and birdwatching.

Mud Bay Park Loop

Surrey

The region is ideal and appealing to the avid bird watcher, naturalist, hiker and photographer. The lake draws many people to the area with canoes and the gravel roads leading deep into the woods, while they attract the mountain bikers, 4X4 vehicles, ATVs and horseback riders.

Duck Lake Forest Service Road

Powell River

Stamp Falls Park is a waterfall educational park located near the community of Port Alberni, BC on Vancouver Island, Canada. The forested park is 327 hectares in size and home to a cascading waterfall and a popular Salmon spawning river. Popular for the salmon that is

Beaver Creek Road

Port Alberni

Shelter Bay Regional Park is located on Texada Island, BC. Hikers, mountain bikers, campers, bird watchers, kayakers and photographers should make an effort to explore this beautiful park.

Van Anda

Wickaninnish Beach is one of the more popular beaches due because it is long, beautiful and lined with high end resorts. Located in the Pacific Rim National Park, the beach is situated south of Tofino, BC and north of the Village of Ucluelet, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Pacific Rim Highway

Tofino, Ucluelet

The park is a wilderness activity destination with a varied network of trails for hiking, backpacking and mountain biking.

Roberts Creek Forestry Service Road

Roberts Creek

Doreen Lake a small remote fishing, canoeing and boating destination lake located in the back country wilderness forests behind the small community of Winfield, BC in Lake Country. The recreation site is part of a network of lakes in the area.

Beaver Lake Road

Winfield

Fisherman’s Park is separated by the Kalum River forming two distinct parks, one on each side of the river - both within the community of Terrace , British Columbia, Canada. Today, the park includes out houses, viewing benches, a picnic table and a new boat launch.

Highway 16

Terrace