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

Annex Park is a picnic and wildlife viewing park in the community of Fernie, BC which is in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The destination park is situated on the shores of the Elk River, joined by hiking trails, surrounded by trees and fields of grass lawns.

11th Street

Fernie

Discover Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park. A sightseeing recreation park located east of the community of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. The park is a popular destination for birdwatching, hiking and picnicking...

Elgey Road

Chilliwack

The park is a horticultural park with beautiful gardens, a playground, spray park, sports fields, day use picnic areas, washrooms, petting zoo, tennis courts, gazebo, bandshell, picnic shelters and a food vendor operating in the summer months.

1st Street

New Westminster

Juan de Fuca Provincial Park is located near the community of Port Renfrew and north of the community of Sooke on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The rainforest and waterfront park is 1,528 hectares of forested hiking trails, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.

Highway 14

Sooke, Port Renfrew

The park is home to many attractions and exhibits too. There is plenty to see outside and inside. Outside there is a monument, a statue, a railway car and some real unique structures like the Dawson Creek Station Museum and Art Gallery buildings.

8th Street

Dawson Creek

The Sunshine Coast trail leads through old growth forests, a marsh wetland and leads to the headwaters of Davis Creek. The Hidden Grove Trail section is just a small part of the bigger picture. The region is actually divided into four park sections.

Sechelt Inlet Road

Sechelt

Popular sandy beach destination in the region for summer enthusiasts who enjoy swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, beachcombing, sea-doing, canoeing, water-skiing, and sun worshiping.

3799 Canoe Beach Dr

Salmon Arm

Okanagan Falls Christie Memorial Provincial Park is a popular sunshine destination for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating, picnicking and suntanning.

Cedar Avenue

Okanagan Falls

A day use lighthouse park that attracts activities like picnicking and sightseeing. There is a small grass area and picnic tables for picnicking.

Georgina Point Road

The trail is a great way to tour the community while hiking and biking. Many locals in the community prefer to bike to and from work using the trail as to driving. The trail is a compliment to the community and the efforts made to promote an active lifestyle.

Golden

Olive Lake is a popular destination for many who seek adventure, wildlife and sightseeing when visiting the village of Radium Hot Springs.

Radium Hot Springs

The Malakwa Suspension Bridge spans over the Eagle River in the community of Malakwa, British Columbia, Canada. The 1915 bridge was originally built by the local farmers to connect to the community and their fields.

Summerville Husted Rd

Sicamous

The Oyster River Nature Park is a wilderness park on the Oyster River located south of Saratoga Beach and north of Courtenay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The 5 hectare (12 acre) park is a hiking, swimming, birdwatching, mountain biking, picnicking, horseback riding and sightseeing

Saratoga Beach

Begbie Creek Trail is an easy-going 2 kilometre hiking trail leading to a waterfall, the shores of Upper Arrow Lake and some mountain climbing routes. The popular trail is located south of the community of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada on the west side of Upper Arrow Lake.

Highway 23

Revelstoke

Popular day-use hiking trail created in the Naikoon Provincial Park on Graham Island. The Queen Charlotte hiking trail is a moderately easy hike that covers 5 km return and should take 2 hours one way to complete based on fitness levels and tides. Return trip should take 4 -6 hours.

Highway 16

Tlell