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

Moricetown Canyon is the home of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation people - one of the five First Nation communities located on or near Hwy 16. The main attraction is the Bulkley River, the Morice Canyon, the fish ladders and the wooden fish huts used for fishing.

Highway 16

Nearby Community: Smithers

Babine Lake is located near the communities of Smithers, Telkwa, Burns Lake, and Houston. The popular lake rests next to the Babine Mountains and is the longest and largest natural lake in British Columbia, Canada spanning 177 kilometres long (110 miles).

Nearby Community: Smithers

This coastal hiking trail travels along the South Eastern side of Flores Island.

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Nearby Community: Ahousaht

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Telkwa Village is a small riverfront community on the shores of the Bulkley and Telkwa Rivers, east of the community of Smithers, BC., Canada. The Village of Telkwa is rich in history, close to major adventure parks, activity destinations, rivers and lakes.

Highway 16

Nearby Community: Telkwa

A wilderness outdoor playground enjoyed by many located north of the community of Smithers. Year round, people travel to the Babine Mountains Provincial Park to explore one of the many trails in the region leading to majestic mountain peaks, valley meadows, alpine forests, rivers and lakes.

Old Babine Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The Smithers Community Forest enjoys an interpretive nature loop trail that explores different ecological habitats and leads to the Pine Creek Cross-Country Ski Trails neighboring the Ski Smithers Ski Hill.

Ski Hill Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The 21 hectare park is located just south of the Babine Mountains Provincial Park. In 1967 the park was created because of discovery of fossils embedded in the rock on the east side of Dawson Creek.

Telkwa High Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

Glacier Gulch Trail in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada can be a muddy, steep hiking experience navigating rock cliffs and the muddy slopes up to the glacier on Hudson Bay Mountain. From the glacier, the views open right up looking out over the surrounding valley and providing views of Hudson Bay

Glacier Gulch Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The 2331 metre mountain is decorated in trails, bluffs, forests, valleys, ridges and meadows attracting hikers and mountain bikers in the summer and xc skiers, snowboarders, downhill skiers and snowshoers in the winter.

Hudson Bay Mountain Rd

Nearby Community: Smithers

The park is surrounded by trees, backed by mountains and situated in a rural neighborhood. Being that is so close to the community of Smithers, BC it is visited by many during the summer months for swimming, canoeing and fishing.

Bench Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The Perimeter Trail is 13 kilometres long and follows the shores of the Bulkley River, Chicken Creek and Kathlyn Creek. The footpath is an excellent way to explore the many community parks and designated green space in the Smithers region.

Fulton Avenue

Nearby Community: Smithers

Part of a massive trail network exploring the lower slopes of Hudson Bay Mountain, especially the south facing slopes called the Smithers Community Forest.

Hudson Bay Mountain Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The hiking trail route involves navigating some very steep sections and requires some level of fitness. But... the good news is that all is worth it because from the peak there are views of the valley below and the Smithers townsite.

Zobnick Rd

Nearby Community: Smithers

A short hiking trail leads to Twin Falls which attracts people of all ages to the area every year so they can get a glimpse of the side-by-side, brother and sister waterfalls.

Glacier Gulch Road

Nearby Community: Smithers

The highlights of the park are the lake, 200 metre sandy beach and campground. The park measures over 40 hectares in size. The heavily forested park is popular for activities including hiking, boating, canoeing, swimming, bird watching, camping and fishing.

Telkwa High Road

Nearby Community: Telkwa

A unique fishing village situated on pylons and rustic docks connected by raised wooden boardwalk paths leading to spanning views overlooking Inverness Passage.

Hwy 44