There are so many beautiful parks in British Columbia that are waiting for you to come and explore them. Some parks are very well known and they can sometimes be too full of people so if you’re looking for a few parks to enjoy that aren’t as popular as others, then keep reading.
Note: Some of these parks may have restrictions or temporary closures due to the flooding and landslides the province experienced. Please check ahead on the park’s website before travelling.
Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge BC
The park is located in the heart of Maple Ridge and features fountains, a bandstand, art from local artists and plenty of seating so you can have yourself a relaxing time in the park. The park hosts plenty of great events for families to enjoy like their “Movie In The Park” and their “Twilight Tuesday- Pops in the Park” event that goes on in the summer months. The park features amazing gardens and plenty of open green space for the public to enjoy. Maple Ridge has many other beautiful parks that you can check here.
Inland Lake Provincial Park, Powell River BC
Powell River is one of the province’s best-kept secrets and the Inland Lake Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful spots in town. The park features a large 13km wheelchair-accessible trail that goes over the water for beautiful views. The park is around 2,700 hectares and there is nearby camping if you wish to stay a little longer. In the summer months, take a trip over to the nearby Shinglemill restaurant and enjoy some food while you watch the seaplanes fly in and out of the lake.
Redwood Park, Surrey BC
Anyone who loves the whimsical and magical feeling that walking in a park can give you should check out Redwood Park in Surrey. This park is full of trails but the trail on the west side of the park leads to something amazing. Awaiting you is a forest full of fairy houses (made by local preschool students!) and whimsical decorations that will delight anyone and put a smile on your face.
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Haida Gwaii BC
This park takes a bit of a trek to get to but it is worth it when you see the beauty and culture that you arrive at. The park has 1600km of the area to explore and it’s a real treat for anyone who is looking for some flora and fauna that they can’t find in many other places. The forest is a temperate rainforest so you will experience tons o different plant life and many different animals are natural to the area (orcas, sea lions, river otters and other whales) that you might be lucky enough to spot.
Wells Gray Provincial Park, Clearwater BC
This park is a natural wonder that has so many amazing features for you to explore. The area has many different campgrounds and hiking trails along with fantastic viewing platforms for amazing photo opportunities. The park is one of the few in the world that has not only volcanoes but also glaciers due to the amazing climate differences and there are guided tours on horseback for anyone who wants to explore the area.
Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Kokanee Creek BC
Anyone that wants a true nature experience without any of the added luxuries of a campground or rest stop, check out the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. The park has a large trail system that has 85km of marked trails along with tons of different places where you can go off the trails and explore the amazing nearby lakes. This park is geared towards those who want as natural of an experience as possible so come prepared.
Myra Canyon Park, Kelowna BC
Most parks are full of great spots for hikers but you prefer to explore your park on two wheels instead then check out the amazing trails in Myra Canyon Park. The trails are built on a decommissioned railway line so you can ride next to the mountain and get an amazing view. Bikers have said the ride takes around 2 hours and it’s around 24 km so it’s the perfect place to take a quick day trip.
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park (Saysutshun), Newcastle Island BC
Anyone looking for a private and quiet park experience should look into spending some time at the Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. This park is accessible only by boat so it is often quieter than other parks in the area. The park is home to two historic village sites and 22km of easy hiking trails for you to enjoy.
There are so many interesting and amazing parks that are all around the province. Make sure you do your best to research the park ahead of time so you can come prepared. If you want to explore some of British Columbia’s unique and wonderful nature then these parks are a great place to start.