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

Haig Brown Provincial Park is a 1076 hectare park established in 1977 to protect the salmon spawning beds located on the Adams River north of the community of Chase, BC and west of the community of Sorrento, BC. The river flows 11 kilometres down the centre of the elongated park while resting

Chase

The Arthur Mayse Hiking Trail is located along the shores of a channel on the banks of the Oyster River in Saratoga Beach, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The loop trail visits a fish breeding pond and explores along a 575 metre long waterway called the Arthur Mayes Side Channel.

Saratoga Beach

The park is best known for the many chainsaw wood carvings on display in the park. Every year the community holds a chainsaw carving competition. Many of the finished pieces are left on display in the park for viewing. The park is also central to the very popular Seawalk Pathway.

Campbell River

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.

East Beach and West Beach are two popular beach destinations measuring 8 kilometres long located along the waterfront in the community of White Rock. The White Rock Promenade is a pathway which follows the coastline beaches.

Victoria Avenue

White Rock

Marysville Falls Hiking Trail and Waterfall is an easy, short boardwalk walking path located in the Village of Marysville which is south of Kimberley, BC in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The hiking trail is a casual adventure leading to a viewpoint overlooking a 30 metre waterfall

Kimberley

Centennial Park is a recreation and sporting field park located in the community of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada.

White Rock

Kettle Valley Rail Trail is over 600 kilometres in length and is a popular route for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding , dirt biking, sightseeing, history walking tours, cross country ski, snowmobile and snowshoe routes.

Kelowna

Dewdney Trail connects the village of Hope with Fort Steele near Cranbrook, BC. However, we will be discussing the 43 kilometre section of the Dewdney Trail located between Rossland, BC and Christina Lake.

Cascade Highway

Rossalnd

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

Teapot Mountain Trail is a short uphill hike leading to a summit with four viewpoints providing 360 degree views of the surrounding lakes, rivers, forests and wetlands.

Talus Road

Prince George

The park is an adventure destinations located in the North Vancouver, BC. The central highlight is the 136 metre (446 feet) hanging suspension bridge which spans across a deep gorge canyon 70 metres (230 feet) high above the Capilano River.

North Vancouver

McArthur Island Park rests on the Thompson River. A location providing great river views for many who enjoy cycling, lawn bowling, golfing, sightseeing, jogging, biking, skateboarding, tennis, walking, birding, baseball, frisbee, football, picnics, etc.

12th Street

Kamloops

Juan de Fuca Provincial Park is located near the community of Port Renfrew and north of the community of Sooke on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The rainforest and waterfront park is 1,528 hectares of forested hiking trails, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.

Highway 14

Sooke, Port Renfrew

Neck Point Park is home to a family of sandy beaches including Sunset Beach, Last Beach, Indian Beach and Finn Beach. There are picnic tables, shelters and pit toilets near the beach locations and trailheads.

Morningside Drive

Nanaimo