British Columbia is an RV paradise. According to the BC Ministry of Environment web site, there are 972 parks and protected areas in the province. To visit them all, at a rate of one per week, would take nearly twenty years.
Of those thousand parks, approximately 450 are designated as provincial parks or recreation areas. Most RVers have a favorite, whether it's the most scenic, has the best campsites, is close to the neatest sights or the most exciting events, or is just handiest to home.
To choose the medal-winning provincial parks, RVwest magazine polled its readership (30,000 issues are distributed) for their favorites. Here are the 2008 survey results, the best in the province. Can't visit all 450? Plan to catch at least these four.
Platinum Award - Golden Ears Provincial Park, Maple Ridge.
Buried in the Coast Mountains, Golden Ears was named after the twin peaks of Mount Blanshard near the park's western boundary.
"One of the largest parks in the province...extensive system of trails...for hiking and horseback riding. Alouette Lake...for swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, boating and fishing...three large campgrounds....Vegetation is typical of the coastal western Hemlock forest of BC and the mountainous backcountry is extremely rugged."
Some highlights of Golden Ears Provincial Park include
- Remote primitive camp sites along the lake shore accessible only by boat
- Hiking trails ranging from easy to extremely difficult
- Extensive network of horse trails
ssgparks@telus.net, 604-466-8325
Gold Award - Goldstream Provincial Park, Victoria.
"Massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, flowers, birds and fascinating fish are but a few of the attractions that draw people to Goldstream Provincial Park, a mere 16 km from downtown Victoria on southern Vancouver Island."
Highlights of Goldstream Provincial Park include
- Douglas fir and hemlock trees more than 600 years old
- Two climate zones, habitat for species unique in Canada
- An extensive trail system (including one to the highest point in Greater Victoria - Mt Finlayson)
- A salmon spawning run from late October through November
- A waterfall, Niagara Falls, that is almost as high as its namesake in Ontario and New York.
office@rlcenterprize.com, 250-474-1336
Silver Award - Champion Lakes Provincial Park, West Kootenay.
Champion Lakes Provincial Park is named after the three Champion Lakes and the creek that joins them, which in turn were named for James W. Champion, an early settler. Champion Lakes Provincial Park is located in the Selkirk Range, 18 km NW of Fruitvale.
"...Fishing, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and swimming...multi-use trails linking the [three] lakes together.....['Third Lake'] is known for its warm waters..."
championlakes@westkootenayparks.com, 250-825-4212
Bronze Award - Moyie Lake Provincial Park, East Kootenay.
"Located 20 kilometers south of Cranbrook off Highway 3/95...day use area, boat launch and 111 site campground ...only public access to the deep blue mountain waters of Moyie Lake....1300 metres of developed sandy beach...swimming, wind surfing, sailing, boating, wildlife and bird viewing...fishing."
ekparks@telus.net, 250-422-3003
All four favorite provincial parks are open year round (limited access and facilities in winter) and all accept reservations through Discover Camping. Quotes are from BC Parks, the official government parks organization website.
The four favorite parks in BC were chosen by a readership ballot. But wow! With so many parks to choose from, how did they ever decide?
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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