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

Ashcroft,Cache Creek,Clearwater,Kamloops,Logan Lake,Merritt

Vancouver Island

Whistler Area

Whistler Region Parks and Trails

Farwell Canyon is an exceptional sightseeing destination best known for the Chilcotin River, hoodoos, hiking and sightseeing Big Horn Sheep.

Riske Creek

Overlander Park is a sandy beach park located on the Thompson River in the community of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Larch Avenue

Kamloops

The Squamish Estuary Walking Trails explore the mudflats, marshes, wetlands, tidal channels, rivers, meadows and forests in the backyard of Squamish Village. The trail starts along a dyke following Cattermole Creek. The brush shouldering the path is sometimes almost 10 feet tall and ...

Vancouver Street

Squamish

Alert Bay is a magical and romantic destination located off the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Fir Street

Port McNeill

Influencer:

Established in 1918, the park is British Columbia's third oldest park attracting people to the region who enjoy swimming, canoeing, camping, boating, fishing and birdwatching.

Highway 2

Dawson Creek

Some of the activities enjoyed on the lake include fishing, camping and canoeing. No power boats are permitted on this lake. There is a roof top boat launch located on the lake. Fishing is best enjoyed by trolling. Trout is the fish to catch here.

Wapiti Lake FSR

Cranbrook

Moyie Lake Provincial Park is 90.5 hectares and was established in 1959. The park was established to protect the habitat around the lake as it is home to many plants and wildlife. Some of the wildlife protected in the park include beaver, muskrat, whitetail deer, songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl.

Cranbrook

Sombrio Beach near Sooke, BC on Vancouver Island is a popular beach for surfing, picnicking, camping and backpacking.

Highway 14

Sooke

A 5 km one way trail connecting Rathtrevor Provincial Park with Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park. It is a rough straight forward trail designed for walking and mountain biking.

Qualicum

Trail explores the alpine environment in the region providing hikers with scenic views. The steep route leads all hikers through alpine meadows, pass small ponds and up to an alpine mountain lake.

Erlandsen FSR

Terrace

Explore Cheakamus Lake near Whistler, British Columbia, Canada and enjoy a day of kayaking, hiking, canoeing, fishing while camping. The easy grade, very well maintained hard earth trail leading to Cheakamus Lake is 3 km in length.

Whistler

Also referred to by the locals as the "Gator Gardens, the hiking path provides a sightseeing tour of the ecological environment on the island.

Alder Street

Alert Bay

The mountain is a wilderness destination popular for many outdoor activities. Some of the activities enjoyed include mountan biking, hiking, hang gliding and sightseeing. Mountain bikers and hikers will enjoy the rough trails and wilderness environment. Bikers will particularly enjoy ...

Mount Prevost Road.

Duncan

Oliver BC Rotary Beach Park includes a playground, picnic tables, washrooms, viewing benches, grass lawns and a small sandy beach.

6759 Lakeside Drive

Oliver

The reserve is a recreation and environmental destination located behind the community of North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The activities best enjoyed in the reserve include mountain biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, dog walking, rollerblading, horseback riding and picnicking.

Lillooet Road

North Vancouver