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

Bourbor Falls Trail in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada is a short 800 metre path connecting to a cliff side viewpoint looking out over a river at Boubor Falls. The 1 hour return hike provides a great opportunity to view a towering waterfall without a long, hard hike.

Murray River Forest Service Road

Tumbler Ridge

The moderate hiking route provides explorers with far reaching canyon, river and mountain views. The route is an opportunity to view Murray Canyon while learning about the local flora and fauna.

Highway 29

Tumbler Ridge

The public park is separated and sheltered from the highway by a family of Ponderosa Pines. Because of the location of the park to the highway, the park is a popular stop when traveling the Okanagan Valley.

Hardy Road

Peachland

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

Florencia Beach is one of the lesser known sandy beaches located in the Pacific Rim National Park. The beach is located near the Village of Tofino and Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Pacific Rim Highway

Tofino, Ucluelet

The park located in the centre of the community includes activities like birdwatching, walking, jogging, fishing, picnicking and rollerblading. The paved, level trails also make the park very wheelchair and baby stroller friendly.

Pinetree Way

Coquitlam

Nootka Island Trail is located on Nootka Island in Nootka Sound off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada near Gold River, BC. Nootka Island is accessed via boarding a walk on only ferry or floatplane which departs from the marina in Gold River or by kayak.

Gold River, Friendly Cove, Kyuquot

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

Sandspit

Hosmer Mountain Trail leads up to a peak offering far reaching views of the valley below. The mountain recreation trail is tucked away in the back country forests located north of Fernie, BC in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada.

Hartley Lake FSR

Fernie

One of the larger accessible fresh water lakes on Moresby Island in the Haida Gwaii Islands Archipelago. The lake, as well as Mosquito Lake, is a popular destination for fishing, canoeing and swimming.

Sandspit

Barnet Marine Park is a sightseeing marine destination with trails, change rooms, outdoor showers, grassy lawns, swimming area, BBQs, washrooms, canoe launch, off leash dog area, fishing pier and various day use picnic sites.

Takeda Drive

Burnaby

Yoho National Park is a mountain recreation destination in the Kootenay region of British Columbia Canada located east of the community of Golden, BC, Canada and west of Banff Alberta. The park is part history and part recreation consisting of alpine peaks, waterfalls, lush green forests.

Golden

Misty Meadows in Naikoon Provincial Park is a beach of sand dunes. The great storms blow sand inland forming massive sand dunes.

Highway 16

Tlell

Chemainus River Provincial Park is a recreation day-use park located southwest of the community of Chemainus, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The 119 hectare park follows the banks of the Chemainus River and is best known as a swimming hole. A very popular swimming hole.

Hillcrest Payne

Chemainus