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

The walking trail follows the shoreline of Okanagan Lake. The 4.5 km Peach Orchard Loop Trail extends from Beaver Road to the Rotary Walkway to Peach Orchard Road.

Lakeshore Drive South

Nearby Community: Summerland

Oak Bay's Uplands Park enjoys a series of walking trails, beach access points, boat ramps, memorial, cairn, sightseeing benches, scenic driving route, picnic area and parking area

Dorset Road

Nearby Community: Victoria

The massive lake is popular for camping, water skiing, canoeing, boating, hiking, fishing and swimming during the summer months. During the winter months people arrive at the lake to ice fish.

Highway 97

Nearby Community: Lac La Hache

Overlander Park is a sandy beach park located on the Thompson River in the community of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Larch Avenue

Nearby Community: Kamloops

The Desous Mountain trail system is designed for mountain bikers, but be aware that hikers and horseback riders also explore the back country in this area. The trails start at the top of Desous Mountain at an elevation of 1327 metres from a large gravel parking lot.

Desous Mtn. Road

Nearby Community: Williams Lake

Grice Bay is a launch point located in the Pacific Rim National Park near the Villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada. It is a popular location for launching adventures like boating, wildlife watching, kayaking, and fishing.

Pacific Rim Highway

Nearby Community: Tofino, Ucluelet

The Johnstone Strait marine route is located along the inside passage of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. It is a major marine transportation route between the island the mainland of British Columbia for sailboats, freighters, kayaks, tour companies, Coast Guard vessels, tug boats, cruise liners

Pioneer Park is influenced by a railroad theme. Onsite is a few railway cars on display dedicated to the railway of old. And from the sandy beach one can see in the distance the CN Railway Bridge crossing the river.

7th Anenue

Nearby Community: Kamloops

A family friendly park in the heart of Duncan. Lawn Bowling, Tennis, Spray Park, Community Garden, Fun for the whole family.

325 First Street

Nearby Community: Duncan

Influencer:

Box Lake Trail is an easy going 1.3 kilometre loop walking trail located east of Nakusp, BC in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada

Highway 6

Nearby Community: Nakusp

The second section to this historic driving route travels 539 kilometres (335 miles) from Fort Nelson, BC to Watson Lake in the Yukon Territories.

Alaska Highway 97

Nearby Community: Fort Nelson

Moonraker trails and roads are popular for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in the summer months. During the winter months the network of trails become routes for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Dogtooth Canyon Forest Service Road

Nearby Community: Golden

The park consists of two levels. The upper plaza level is highlighted by the canopy and is surrounded by a row of sitting benches and a few picnic tables. The lower plaza is at street level and is identified by the large standing clock on the sidewalk.

Oliver Street

Nearby Community: Williams Lake

Popular sandy beach destination in the region for summer enthusiasts who enjoy swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, beachcombing, sea-doing, canoeing, water-skiing, and sun worshiping.

3799 Canoe Beach Dr

Nearby Community: Salmon Arm

Gyro Park is a very popular community recreation day park in the heart of Nelson, BC which is situated in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The garden park extends onto a rock outcropping viewpoint which overlooks the downtown sector of Nelson, BC and the west arm of Kootenay Lake.

Park Avenue

Nearby Community: Nelson