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

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

The 3 Sisters Trail is also referred to as the Mountain Lakes Trail. The backcountry trail route is considered one of the premium wilderness hikes in the region for scenery and wildlife. Backpackers, hikers, naturalists and photographers will enjoy this backcountry adventure route.

Fernie

The main features in the park are the alpine lake, sandy beach and the hiking trail. The 32 hectare lake, the 100 metre sandy beach and the 5 kilometre hiking trail attract many to the park during the summer who enjoy fishing, canoeing, wind surfing, picnicking, hiking, swimming and boating.

Rossland

A Haida Gwaii park includes sandy beaches, rolling sand dunes, forested old growth hiking trails, wetlands, bogs, rock cliffs, marine tidal pools, viewing look-outs, historical shipwrecks, forests populated with wildlife.

Highway 16

Tlell

Fountain Lake (Kwotlenemo Lake) near lillooet is popular for fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, picnicking, hiking and camping.

Fountain Valley Road

Lillooet

The Knob 2 hiking trail enjoys navigating the side of Mount Elphinstone (4,137 feet/1261 m).Prepare well with water and good hiking boots, as it takes 2 hours one way, 4 hours round trip and that is not taking into consideration the long picnic many enjoy at the summit

Wharf Road

Gibsons

Hiking trails exploring a 28 hectre park including a day use swimming area and picnic site. Trail systems interact with Trans Canada Trail and the Parkway Trail. Access from Harewood Mines Rd.

Nanaimo

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

he Sechelt Marsh draws the attention of many birds to the area like woodpeckers, buffleheads, redwing blackbirds, swallows, Canada Geese, malards and many more water friendly birds.

Wharf Street

Sechelt

Christina Crest Trail is a 20 kilometre one-way mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and horseback riding route exploring the vast wilderness landscape, in and around, the Santa Rosa Summit on the Cascade Highway located west of the community of Rossland

Santa Rosa Road

Rossland

Englishman River Falls Park. A hiking and waterfall park located near the community of Parksville, BC. The park includes a campground, day use area and a steep, well maintained, trail leading to various viewpoints and lookouts perched high above the river and the falls.

Errington Road

Parksville

The Galloping Goose Trail is a very popular route for adventures and activities like hiking, biking, rollerblading and horseback riding. There are large sections of the trail which are paved and, therefore, are very wheelchair and baby stroller friendly.

Victoria

Rivers Trail is a 40+ kilometre paved community path exploring the shores of the Thompson and North Thompson Rivers in and around the community of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Kamloops

Panorama Park is a green space waterfront park and sightseeing marine destination located in the community of Deep Cove. The park includes amenities like a day use picnic area, playground, washrooms, change rooms, boat launch, picnic shelter and sightseeing benches.

Panorama Drive

Deep Cove

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is located east of the community of Watson Lake, Yukon Territory on the British Columbia side of the Alaska Highway. The park features a campground, wildlife sightings and two natural hot springs. Together they are the largest hot springs in Canada!

Liard River