For information on campgrounds and day-use/picnicking areas of the park only:
SSG Holdings Ltd
Email address: ssgparks@telus.net
Ph: 1-604-466-8325
Golden Ears Provincial Park
The sani-station is closed for the winter, and will re-open on April 1, 2012. There is no drinking water available in Golden Ears Park during the winter season.
New! BC Parks Backcountry Registration System allows you to pre-pay your overnight fees for backcountry and/or marine site usage, where designated. This system will not be used for vehicle accessible (ie front country) campgrounds or controlled back country permits (ie Bowron Lakes canoe circuit and Berg Lake Trail).
Hiking Notices
An unsafe bridge over a creek at the 5.4 km point of the Golden Ears Trail (just before the Alder Flats Wilderness Campsite) has been removed. Although the flow of the creek is currently low enough to permit hikers to cross on the exposed rocks, spring rains and run-off will continue to increase the flow in the creek and crossing may become more difficult without wading. Currently, there is no timeframe for replacing this bridge.
The hanging ladder and rope (in the ravine at the 4.6 km point of the Golden Ears Trail just before Alder Flats Wilderness Campsite) have been removed due to unsafe conditions. Hikers should look for new signs that will direct them to the re-route that was put in place on August 8, 2009. The re-route will be permanent.
About This Park
As one of the largest parks in the province, Golden Ears Provincial Park is prized for its recreational opportunities. The extensive system of trails within the park provides an excellent opportunity for hiking and horseback riding. Alouette Lake is a popular spot for swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, boating and fishing. The park also has three large campgrounds. Vegetation is typical of the coastal western Hemlock forest of BC and the mountainous backcountry is extremely rugged.
Park Size: 62,540 hectares
Special Notes:
- Park hosts and a security patrol are available during the summer months.
-
Canoes/Kayaks/Pedal boats are available for rent in the park weekends only from May long weekend to late June and daily from late June to Labour Day (weather permitting)
Stay Safe:
- In the backcountry hiking area of the park, there is a small hut on Panorama Ridge, available for emergency use situations only; no overnight use.
| Campground Hours of Operation
All dates are subject to change without notice |
|
|---|---|
| Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.) |
|
| – Alouette campground | Open June 17 – September 5 (only available as overflow during Spring and Fall seasons) |
| – Gold Creek campground | Open all year |
| – North Beach campground | June 24 – September 5 (only available as 2nd overflow during Spring and Fall seasons) |
| Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
|
| – Alouette campground | June 17 - September 5 |
| – Gold Creek campground | April 1 - October 10 (Winter fee from October 10 to March 31; reduced services) |
| – North Beach campground | June 24 - September 5 |
| Campground Reservable Dates: |
|
| – Alouette campground | June 17 - September 4 |
| – Gold Creek campground | May 13 - September 4 |
| – North Beach campground | June 24 - September 4 |
| Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: | Alouette = 206 |
| Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
Alouette = 83 |
| Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts. | |
Reservations
Campsite Reservations
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
Group Camp/Picnic Reservations
Group campsite and/or group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park (minimum 20 adults). Picnic/Day Use area is available on a first-come, first-served basis only and is not reservable at this park.
Location and Maps
Golden Ears Provincial Park lies in the Coast Mountains 11 km north of Maple Ridge on the north side of the Fraser River. Access to the park is by vehicle via Dewdney Trunk Road through the Municipality of Maple Ridge. If heading west, turn right onto 232nd and if heading east, turn left onto 232nd; then turn right onto Fern Crescent and follow road into park. The closest communities, towns and cities are Maple Ridge, Mission and Pitt Meadows.
Maps and Brochures
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Map (PDF - updated June 2008)
- Gold Creek Campground Map (PDF)
- North Beach Campground Map (PDF)
- Alouette Campground Map (PDF)
- Golden Ears Brochure - web version (PDF)
- Golden Ears Brochure - Printable version (PDF)
Nature and Culture
- History - The park was named after the twin peaks of Mount Blanshard near the peak's western boundary. Originally part of Garibaldi Provincial Park, the establishment of Golden Ears Park in 1927 recognized the almost impenetrable mountain barrier between the two areas.
- Cultural Heritage - Human activity in Golden Ears, both past and present, has been confined to the accessible Alouette Valley in the south of the park. In the 1920s, the forested slopes of the valley became the site of BC's greatest railroad logging operation until a disastrous fire swept through the valley in 1931. The lake and its forested surroundings were also the traditional hunting and fishing grounds for the Douglas-Lillooet (Interior Salish) and Katzie (Coast Salish) First Nations peoples.
- Conservation - The park represents the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone and is characterized by a second-growth forest of western hemlock, western red cedar and Douglas fir. There are a series of sphagnum bogs at the south end of Alouette Lake.
- Wildlife - The park's lush plant growth, numerous waterways, and mountainous terrain provide habitat to a variety of animals including beaver, deer, black bear, and mountain goat.
Management Planning
Management Planning Information
Online Management planning information for this park is not available at this time.
Activities Available at this Park
Canoeing
Climbing
Cycling
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback Riding
There is an extensive network of horse trails. Check the park map for horse specific trails. There are over 20 kilometres of gravel/dirt horse trails in the park. A permit is only required for commercial use of the horse trails.
No camping with horses is allowed in park frontcountry (parking lots, day-use areas, or any area less than 1km from a park road). Day-use stopover is permitted at the South Beach corral area, but horses must remain within the corral or on a designated horse trail.
Camping with horses is permitted in the designated camping area on the East Canyon Trail, approximately 5km north of Gold Creek parking lot. This park provides trails only; horseback riding lesson/rentals, stables etc. are not available within the park.
Pets on Leash
Dogs must be on a leash, no longer than 2 meters long, and under control at all times, including in campgrounds and on trails within 1km of the Parkway Road. Trails beyond 1km of the Parkway Road are considered backcountry and dogs may be off a leash but must be under control at all times.
Dogs are permitted off-leash in only two swimming areas: at the North Beach day-use area near the outflow area of Gold Creek into Alouette Lake and at the Alouette day-use area between the boat launch and the canoe rental shop. Dogs are strictly prohibited at south Beach Parking Lot #2 and Campers Beach.
Pets/domestic animals are not allowed in the picnic areas, beaches, marked
off swimming areas or park buildings.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Swimming
Waterskiing
Windsurfing
Facilities Available at this Park
Boat Launch
Campfires
Drinking Water
Group Camping
Youth group camping charges per night are $1/person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum.
Regular group camping charges per night are the base rate for the site, listed in the fee schedule, plus $4/adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1/child (6-15).
Picnic Areas
Parking fees are no longer being charged. Find out more.
- Alouette (South Beach) Day-use Area: Vehicle accessible area. There
is a sandy beach with roped off swimming area; canoe/kayak/pedal
boat rentals available. Change house available and flush and pit
toilets are available during summer season. There are barbeque attachments
available on the picnic tables. Bring briquettes and barbeques, open
fires not permitted. There is a beach area for dogs between the boat
launch and the canoe rental shop. Open from April 1 - October 13,
2008 with full services (opening date subject to change depending on
storm clean-up)
- Open for winter season October 13, 2008 – March 31, 2009 with reduced services.
- Campers Beach Day-use Area: Campers Beach is a hike-in area adjacent to Alouette and Gold Creek campgrounds. Campers Beach has a sandy beach with a roped off swimming area (no dogs allowed). Only pit toilets available.
- North Beach Day-use Area: North Beach is adjacent to the North Beach campground accessible on foot from the East Canyon Parking Lot via the North Beach Trail. The beach is sandy and there are only pit toilets available. There is a beach area for dogs at this day-use.
Pit or Flush Toilets
Playground
Sani-Station/Dump
Showers
Vehicle Accessible Camping
Gold Creek:
Alouette sites:
Winter Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $11.00 per party / night
North Beach sites:
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness/walk-in camping is allowed at Alder Flats on the West Canyon Trail and Panorama Ridge on the Golden Ears trail, but no facilities are provided. Parking from the walk-in sites at Alder Flats is approximately 5 kilometres; and from Panorama Ridge is approximately 9 kilometres. Camping is on individual gravel pads in wooded area at Alder Flats and in an undeveloped wooded area on Panorama Ridge. No
campfires allowed. Cooking allowed with camp stoves only.
Rustic marine campsites are located on Alouette Lake at
Moyer Creek, The Narrows and Alouette River (north end of the Lake).
On the east shore of Pitt Lake the marine campsites are located at Raven
Creek, Osprey Creek South and Osprey Creek North. Across from Pitt Lake on
the east side is Pinecone Burke Provincial
Park on
the west shore. All of these marine campsites are only accessible
by boat,
have tent pads, a pit toilet, some have picnic tables but there are no
campfire rings and no campfires allowed.
No campfires allowed. Cooking allowed with camp stoves only.
Please pack out what you pack in as there are no garbage removal services.
Wheelchair Access
Winter Camping
Alouette and North Beach campgrounds are gated and locked in winter season. Golden Ears Park main gate locked 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in the off season. Use the self registration at the ticket booth for Gold Creek campground during winter season.
Winter Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $11.00 per party / night
