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

Sumas Mountain is a 1445 hectare (3570 acres) forested mountain located in the Fraser Valley region is popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, paragliding, hang gliding, sightseeing and off roading.

Upper Sumas Road

Abbotsford

Jungle Beach has plenty of parking, a wooden picnic shelter, pit toilets and some personality. The Black Bear marks the pull out area of the park when driving along Hwy 16.

Highway 16

Skidegate

A short hike along a well maintained boardwalk path following alongside the shores of the Hiellen River. The Blow Hole Hiking Trail leads to a coastline covered in lava-like rock formations, towering rock cliffs and shooting surge channels head-butting the shoreline sending mist into the air.

Tow Hill Road

Masset

The Lower Viewpoint Trail is a short 200 metre walk to a large wooden viewing platform looking out onto the falls, up Murray River and out over the whole valley. A 60 metre waterfall located in Monkman Provincial Park situated on the Murray River in the Hart Ranges of the Rocky Mountains.

Highway 29

Tumbler Ridge

Filberg Park is best known in the region as an event destination because of the beautiful grounds, onsite facilities and marine scenery. Events such as weddings, fundraisers and festivals are held regularly in the park.

Comox

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

Francis/King Regional Park is a 107.33 hectares nature and activity park located in the community of Saanich, BC north of Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Munn Road

Saanich

Okanagan Falls Vaseux Lake Provincial Park is a camping, swimming, fishing, birding, canoeing and hiking destination for adventurers and wildlife viewers.

Highway #97

Okanagan Falls

The park is an ideal moorage destination for boaters as it is protected from the elements and enables boaters to wait out any rough weather. Ocean kayakers also can enjoy the coastline of this park.

A recreation lake with a quiet recreation campground with hiking, biking and horseback riding and snowshoeing trails.

1660 Skimikin Rd

Salmon Arm

The lake is river fed so the water levels go up and down with the seasons. During the summer the lake warms up enough to attract people to the region for swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, camping, picnicking and kayaking.

Kamloops

Nicola Lake provides some of the best lake views while traveling the major highways in the valley. Many visit the lake, every year, for camping, boating, water skiing, canoeing, fishing and sailing.

Highway 5A

Merritt

The North Coast Backpacking Trail is an extension of the Cape Scott Backpacking Trail. The North Coast Trail is the longest and most challenging and exhaustive wilderness backpacking trail on the northern end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Although shorter than the famous West Coast

Port Hardy

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