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

Canyon Park includes 30 picnic sites (some shaded from the sun) with fire pits. There is a baseball diamond, a horse arena, a horse racing track, horseshoe pits, a playground, a bandstand shelter, a fitness circuit and some washrooms.

48th Street

Creston

Green Timbers Urban Forest is a protected area outfitted with a network of recreation trails, a lake, meadow, wetland and the Surrey Nature Centre. The activities enjoyed in the natural forest include hiking, walking, birdwatching, jogging, fishing and sightseeing.

100 Avenue

Surrey

Built in 1942-43 the high banked, curved bridge is an engineering wonder extending 162 metres (534 feet) across. The structure is a called a three span, timber truss bridge and extends about 30 metres (100 feet) above the Kiskatinaw River.

Old Alaska Highway 97

Dawson Creek

Bertram Creek Regional Park is a popular recreation destination on the shores of Okanagan Lake popular for swimming, water sports, canoeing, boating, hiking, community events, bird watching and wildlife viewing.

Kelowna

Coles Bay Regional Park is a nature retreat destination located on the western side of the Saanich Peninsula near the community of Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Inverness Road

Sidney

Mission Creek Regional Park is a recreation destination park and event grounds located in the community of Kelowna, BC in the Okanagan Valley. The is a popular destination for hiking, picnicking, biking and birdwatching.

Kelowna

Cat Lake is a little more remote than some of the other lakes in the Squamish, BC area. The isolation provides louder crowds, with some great activities. Some of the activities enjoyed in the Cat Lake region include hiking, mountain biking, swimming, canoeing, fishing and camping.

Cat Lake Forest Road

Squamish

During the summer the park enjoys activities including hiking, wilderness camping, mountain biking, ATVing, horseback riding and fishing for trout in Deep Lake. In the winter months the area is a xc ski and snowshoe destinations.

Lac du Bois Road

Kamloops

Spectacle Lake Provincial Park is popular for canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, hiking, fishing and swimming. In the winter, if it gets cold enough, the lake freezes over and ice skating and ice fishing are the activities enjoyed.

Whittaker Road

Duncan

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

The second section to this historic driving route travels 539 kilometres (335 miles) from Fort Nelson, BC to Watson Lake in the Yukon Territories.

Alaska Highway 97

Fort Nelson

The U'Mista Cultural Centre is the main attraction in Alert Bay. The centre is a First Nation museum and a special gathering place for ceremonial celebrations. The goal of the centre is to remember, protect and preserve the history, traditions and cult

Alert Bay

The lake is an ideal destination to canoe, swim and fish. If your timing is right the wilderness site is all yours creating an ideal destination for groups to play with no interruptions.

Fish Lake FSR

Fort St. James

The forested 3.5 kilometre trail follows the same route traveled by the early surveyors when planning out the railway line for the railroad companies. The trail leads to views of the Fraser River.

Guay Road

Prince George

The Cowichan Valley Trail starting from the Mt. Brenton Golf Course in Chemainus, BC to Saltair BC and then to Transfer Beach Park in Ladysmith, BC is approximately 14 kilometres one-way. The biking and hiking trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail / The Great Trail in the Cowichan Valley...

Chemainus