WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
and
Frequently Asked Questions
General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics: A list of sites giving information about wildlife and marine life in British Columbia, wildlife safety and outdoor ethics.
Visitor Safety Information: General information regarding wildlife safety and health risks while visiting our province.
Fees: Information on user fees in our provincial parks such as camping fees, parking/day-use fees, hours of operation, persons with disabilities fees, BC seniors' fees, reservation fees and glossary.
Fishing and Hunting Information: Information on freshwater and tidal water regulations, hunting & trapping regulations and other biodiversity and wildlife information.
Other Links: Links to other web sites.
Provincial Park Camping Ethics and Regulations
BC Parks is dedicated to preserving the natural state of parks while also providing recreational access to its features. Park regulations and policies protect park values, ensuring a quality experience for all visitors, both today and in years to come. Please obey the following:
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Dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted in some provincial parks, especially in backcountry/wilderness areas. Some backcountry/wilderness areas allow pets but may not be suitable due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears, cougars, wolves, etc. Please check the park web pages for more information.
In the frontcountry parks (i.e. vehicle accessible camping), pets must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in the day-use/beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
- Campfires may not be permitted in all parks. Leaving your campfire unattended is a serious offence. Firewood is no longer provided as part of the park camping fee. Firewood can be purchased from the Park Facility Operator in some parks or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals; it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and help imprpve air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented; some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking, or charcoal briquettes in a hibachi may also be used.
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Campfires in the backcountry
- When building your campfire:
- Select your campsite carefully and with full regard for safety.
- Prepare your campfire by removing all leaves, twigs and other flammable material from an area extending at least 30 centimetres around the fire.
- Be sure to scrape or dig down to mineral soil.
- Build your campfires at least three metres from any log, stump, snag, standing tree or wooden structure
- The size of the campfire must not exceed one metre in height and one metre in diameter; the best cooking fires are small and hot.
- Equip yourself with a shovel or a pail of water containing at least 8 litres and keep near the fire at all times.
- Attend your campfire at all times and be certain it is extinguished before leaving it. Sift the ashes with your fingers to be sure.
- Parking is permitted only in designated areas and on the gravel portion of campsites. Parking is not permitted on roadsides.
- Swimming areas protect swimmers within marker buoys. All watercraft and water-skiers must stay outside markers. Lifeguards are not in attendance in BC Parks.
- Vehicles used in parks must be licensed and operated by licensed drivers.
- Visitors must leave and park gates are closed by 11:00 pm, unless otherwise stated in the park. Only registered campers are allowed in the campsite after 11:00 p.m. Check information at the park for specific details, as some park gates close or open earlier.
- Excessive noise is not permitted. Please remember that sound travels further in open air, especially music and loud talking.
- Liquor consumption is prohibited anywhere in the park with the exception of your campsite.
- Barbecues must be used on the ground unless barbecue attachments are provided on picnic tables.
- Bears: To avoid potential problems with bears, lock your food in your vehicle at night. Be sure to use the garbage containers provided and maintain a clean campsite. Never feed or approach bears. For more information on bear safety, click here.
- Trees and shrubs are easily damaged; do not use them for wiener sticks. Leave flowers and others plants to grow.
- Trails are planned to take you safely through the most interesting and beautiful parts of our parks without damaging sensitive and unique plant and wildlife habitats. Stay on the trails.
- Bicycles may only be ridden on park roads and on designated trails.
- Firearms: For your safety, firearms are prohibited. For more information, go to Fishing & Hunting Information.
Wilderness/Backcountry Areas:
- Dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted in Bowron Lake, Garibaldi, Kokanee Glacier and Cathedral provincial parks. Other backcountry areas allow pets but may not be suitable due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
- Enjoy your visit but remember if future generations are to enjoy their visits, you must leave the park undamaged. Flowers, trees, plants and even rocks are part of the park's natural resources. Damage to, collection or removal of any natural resources is prohibited.
- Motor vehicles, including motorcycles, ATV's and similar vehicles, are restricted to the vehicle roads and parking lots.
- Due to the fragility of the whole wilderness environment, open fires are not allowed within the park. Primus-type stoves should be used for all cooking in the backcountry.
- Please don't litter - pack out what you pack in. The park's lakes and streams are the source of drinking water. Help protect the delicate balance of the water system by washing yourself, your clothes and dishes at least 30 metres from lakes or streams.
Remember you can always take pictures -
please leave it as you found it so that future visitors
may also enjoy the park.
Leave No Trace Ethics:
These are not to be rules but a personal commitment to preserving our environment, especially in the backcountry/wilderness areas of our province. People or groups that don’t practice these ethics will force agencies to place more controls on park users for the future. Certainly this is not the preferred route and BC Parks would much rather protect provincial parks relying more on personal ethics than the enforcement of regulations and restrictions. Here are seven key principles of Leave No Trace that we want you to practice:
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp On Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
