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

Community & Regional Parks

Forestry Recreation Sites

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

Cypress Falls Trail explores an old growth forest before leading to two natural viewpoints overlooking a waterfall. There is a lower and upper viewpoint. The trail measures only 2-3 kilometres return.

Woodgreen Place

West Vancouver

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

The burial grounds are the resting place for many of the First Nations people who first inhabited the island. Standing tall, marking many of the grave sites, are a number of ceremonial Totem Poles. Some of which are very old, faded and have fallen to the ground - some say, they are returning back

Alert Bay

A popular trail system in the Squamish, BC, Canada region for mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts. The Garibaldi Highlands trail is a combination of deactivated roads and single track mountain biking trails.

Perch Road

Squamish

The identifying feature of Davis Bay is the long pebbled beach coastline with a well developed paved walking path lined with viewing benches while highlighted with a long wooden fishing pier jutting out from the shoreline.

Highway 101

Sechelt

Rathtrevor Provincial Park is a large beach park located in the community of Parksville, BC on Vancouver Island, Canada. The 347 hectare park enjoys a large sandy beach, fantastic marine views, hiking trails and a very popular campground.

Parksville

Okanagan High Rim Trail is a long distance hiking, backpacking and snowshoe trail exploring along the eastern slopes of the Thompson Plateau from the community of Vernon, BC to Mission Creek. The 50 kilometre wilderness trail explores many diverse eco systems.

Philpot Road

Vernon

Okanagan Falls Vaseux Lake Provincial Park is a camping, swimming, fishing, birding, canoeing and hiking destination for adventurers and wildlife viewers.

Highway #97

Okanagan Falls

The sandy beach, referred to as Cottonwood Beach, is one of the more popular beaches visited in the community every year popular for swimming, boating and sunbathing.

Cottonwood Drive

Osoyoos

Bright Angel Park is located south of Duncan, BC and north of the Village of Cobble Hill in an area of the Cowichan Valley known as Cowichan Station on Vancouver Island. The off-the-beaten-path park is a recreation destination popular for hiking, swimming and picnicking.

Tigwell Road

Duncan

Diver Lake Park has a fitness circuit trail, walking paths, picnicking, playground and a dock. Lots to do and areas to relax.

Nanaimo

The short 2 km or so hiking trail travels along an old overgrown forestry road leading out onto a lookout point with fantastic views of the Telkwa Mountain Range and the Bulkley Valley.

Barret Hat Road

Houston

The Marshall School Historic Site is marked by a ceremonial cairn and dedication plaque. The monument marks the spot where a 1912 school house once stood.

Gillies Bay Road

Van Anda