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

Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island of the Discovery Islands, BC, Canada is located on the southern tip of the island so to protect and mark the entrance to the Discovery Passage.

Lighthouse Road

Cypress Provincial Park is a year round, summer and winter recreation destination based in the North Shore Mountains located behind the community of West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

West Vancouver

Columbia Basin Wetlands is a hot spot for multi day canoeing, wilderness camping, birding and fishing in the Kootenays of British Columbia, Canada.

Invermere

The 31+ kilometre long community recreation trail connects with parks, picnic day use areas, wetlands, farmlands, viewpoints, dykes, marshes and green space areas.

PO Box 2933

Abbotsford

Beatton Park is popular for hiking, swimming, boating, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, camping, xc skiing, cross country, ice fishing and snowshoeing.

244 Road

Fort St. John

Swansea Mountain is a hang gliding hot spot with 3 launch sites. For those who do not like to jump off mountains, Swansea is also the place to access to enjoy some far reaching views over looking the Columbia Valley.

Swansea Mountain Road

Invermere

During the summer seasons the trails are used by naturalists and backpackers primarily and when the winter arrives the trails transform into single track cross country ski and snowshoeing trails.

Lund

Craigdarroch Castle is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The castle is a Victorian era, Scottish Baronial mansion considered by many as an architectural wonder.

1050 Joan Crescent

Victoria

The West Coast Trail (WCT) is one of Canada's most famous multi-day backpacking and wilderness camping hiking trails. It is located in the world famous Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The trail measures over 74 kilometres long...

Bamfield, Port Renfrew

Cottonwood Falls Park is a small community park with flower gardens and a waterfall. The park rests at the foot of Cottonwood Falls and on the banks of Cottonwood Creek in the community of Nelson, BC which is in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada.

Government Road

Nelson

Transfer Beach Park is the central gathering place, heck the IT place, on the waterfront for many who visit Ladysmith, BC, Canada on Vancouver Island. The large park is a major gathering spot for summer activities

Ladysmith

Canim - Mahood Waterfall Trail is a short, leisurely 1 kilometre hike along a very well maintained wheelchair access hiking trail leading to two, yes two, spectacular waterfalls.

Mahood Lake Road

100 Mile House

Winegarden Waterfront Park is located downtown Gibsons on the waterfront near the marina and yacht club. The park was a group effort by the community to provide a comfortable, clean area for sightseeing, walking and relaxing.

Gibsons

The park is recreation destination and a children's park, as well as, a destination for community facilities. Activities enjoyed include walking, dog walking, swimming and biking.

Kelly Street

New Westminster

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