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

The Haynes Point Provincial Park is situated on a spit surrounded by sandy beaches, a lake and wetlands popular for swimming, sun bathing, boating, camping, hiking and fishing.

32 Avenue

Osoyoos

On the north side of Moresby Island, in-between Onward Point and Sandspit Village is a long stretch of sandy beach to explore.

Sandspit

Surrey Lake Park is a birdwatching and walking trail destination visiting a lake, a wetland pond and a forested area. There are sightseeing benches near the lake for viewing birds.

152nd Street

Surrey

The lake is a very popular destination for many who like lake activities. On the shores of the small lake is a wilderness forestry campground with a day use area, pit toilets and a roof top boat launch. The lake attracts people to the park for the fishing, camping, swimming, picnicking.

Paska Lake Road

Logan Lake

Shelter Bay Provincial Park covers over 93 hectares. The park includes a day use area and a campground. The day use area rests on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake and enjoys a sandy beach with a swimming area, picnic tables and pit toilets.

Revelstoke

Mark Creek Nature Trail is an easy going 12 kilometre hiking and biking nature trail connecting Kimberley, BC with Marysville, BC in the Kootenays. The highlight of the trail is the 30 metre Marysville Falls.

Mckenzie Street

Kimberley

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

Nootka Sound is a recreation playground for marine enthusiasts who enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, ocean kayaking and wildlife watching. Nootka Sound is home to great blue oceans, many species of wildlife and First Nation history. The main island located in the sound is Nootka Island.

Gold River

Madelay Lake Trail located near Whistler, BC, Canada is a high elevation hiking trail exploring the alpine mountains surrounded by thick forests, waterfalls and wildlife. The single track trail follows along an earthy path navigating many switchbacks, side stepping over tree roots, deadfall tress...

Madelay Lake Rd

Whistler

James White Park is a sports park for baseball and tennis situated on the banks of the Elk River in the community of Fernie, BC

Mt. Minton Road

Fernie

A small two level park with a short pebbled walkway leading through a tunnel into an open area surrounded by brick walls fronting floral gardens.

1st Ave

Prince Rupert

Cypress Falls Trail explores an old growth forest before leading to two natural viewpoints overlooking a waterfall. There is a lower and upper viewpoint. The trail measures only 2-3 kilometres return.

Woodgreen Place

West Vancouver

Osoyoos Lake is Canada's warmest lake located in Canada's only desert - the Sonora Desert. The lake is a very popular destination for swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, wind surfing, water skiing, sailing and fishing.

Osoyoos

The park is a recreation destination for hiking, sightseeing, birdwatching and picnicking. There a few short hiking trails in the park. Some explore the cliff views, while others explore a forest.

Burrill Road

Kin Park is a small ocean beach park located in the community of Chemainus, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The ocean park is a popular spot for beachcombing, sightseeing, picnicking, swimming and for launching a boat so to access one of the nearby islands.

Maple Street

Chemainus