I’ve lived in the Vancouver area all my life and I’m an avid hiker. I have written two hiking guidebooks and done volunteer work with several local outdoor advocacy organizations regarding park advocacy and access. I’ve also scoured the BC Parks website and chatted with BC Parks staff so I know everything there is to know about BC Parks day passes.

Quick Summary: In winter 2025/2026, you need a vehicle day pass to visit Mount Seymour Provincial Park. In summer, you need a vehicle day pass to visit Garibaldi and Golden Ears Provincial Parks and you need a trail pass (for each adult) to visit Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. In some parks, you don’t need a pass on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

In this guide to day passes in BC parks you’ll find:

• Which parks require a BC Parks day pass
• How much does a day pass cost
• Who needs to get a day pass and when you don’t need a pass
• How to get a day pass and when you can get one
• How to use your day pass
• Day passes at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park – everything you need to know
• Day passes at Golden Ears Provincial Park – everything you need to know
• Day passes at Garibaldi Provincial Park – everything you need to know
• Winter day passes at Mount Seymour Provincial Park – everything you need to know
• Tips and tricks for getting a day pass
• Why do BC Parks require day passes – what problem are they trying to solve?
• BC Parks day pass FAQ – all your questions answered

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Which Parks Require a BC Parks Day Pass?

In summer 2025, you need a day pass to visit Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, Garibaldi Provincial Park, and Golden Ears Provincial Park. More details on each of these parks is below – click the links to jump to those sections.

In previous years, BC Parks day passes were required at other parks. However, in summer 2025 you do NOT need a day pass to visit Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, Mount Robson Provincial Park, Mount Seymour Provincial Park, or Cypress Provincial Park.

In winter 2025/2026, you needed a day pass to visit Mount Seymour Provincial Park. More info on winter day passes is below – click the link to jump to that section

How Much Do Day Passes Cost?

BC Parks Day passes are totally free. There is no cost.

Who Needs a Day Pass? When Don’t You Need a Pass?

Summer Day Passes

Most visitors to Joffre, Garibaldi, and Golden Ears Provincial Parks in summer 2025 will need a day pass.

However, there are a few situations where you don’t need a day pass:

• If you have booked a day trip with Park Bus to Golden Ears, Garibaldi, or Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, you do NOT need a day pass. Note: Park Bus did not operate in summer 2024 and does not seem to be running in summer 2025.
• If you have a front-country (drive-in) camping reservation for Golden Ears Provincial Park you do NOT need a day pass.
• If you have a backcountry camping reservation (Garibaldi or Joffre), OR a backcountry permit registration (Golden Ears), you do NOT need a day pass. (Read my guide to booking backcountry camping in BC for more info.)
• If you arrive at the park outside of the hours/days that day passes are required. This varies by park by is typically before 7 am or after 4 pm every day for summer passes. Some parks do not require passes on weekdays during some time periods. As well, day passes are not required in the spring, fall, and winter in some parks – read park specific rules below. Note: This does not apply to Joffre Lakes – you need a pass 24 hours a day at Joffre.
• If you plan to visit part of Golden Ears or Garibaldi Park that is not covered by day passes. (Unpopular parking lots and trailheads do not require a day pass. See park details for Garibaldi and Golden Ears below for specific information.)
• If you arrive by bike or on foot at Garibaldi, Golden Ears, or Mount Seymour. Only motor vehicles need a pass at these parks. At Joffre, each person requires a pass no matter how they arrive.
• Kids do NOT need their own trail pass at Joffre as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Winter Day Passes

Most visitors to Mount Seymour Provincial Park in winter 2025/26 needed a day pass.

However, there are a few situations where you don’t need a day pass:

• If you have booked the Mount Seymour shuttle bus in winter 2025/26, you do NOT need a day pass
• If you have reserved paid tickets to ski, snowshoe, or snow-tube at Mount Seymour Ski Resort, you do NOT need a day pass – You only need a day pass for the free BC Parks trails outside the ski resort.
• If you arrive at the park outside of the hours/days that day passes are required. This means arriving after 4pm or on a weekday (outside of the Christmas holiday period).

How to Get a BC Parks Day Pass? When Can You Get a Day Pass?

You need to book on the BC Parks Day Pass website. This is the only way to book – there are no phone bookings.

Passes are available to book starting at 7 am two days before your visit. For example, if you want to visit on July 22, you can book your pass online starting at 7 am on July 20. Be sure to book early because passes get booked up in the first few minutes for summer weekends.

How to Use Your Day Pass?

When you book a pass, it will be emailed to you. Either print it out or take a screenshot. There is no cell service or bad cell service at most parks so you won’t be able to access your email once you arrive.

When you arrive at the park, a staff member will ask to see your pass. They will confirm that it is valid for the right park, day, time slot (morning, afternoon, or all day) and parking area. For Joffre Lakes, they will confirm that you have a pass for each adult. (Kids under 18 don’t need passes.) They will also check your ID to make sure that the person who booked the pass is present.

For Garibaldi, Golden Ears, and Mount Seymour, this check happens on the park entrance roads. For Joffre, this check happens at the trailhead.

Day Passes at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

Joffre Lakes Day Passes Quick Facts

• Required daily starting on May 17, 2025 (They haven’t announced when the day pass season will end yet, but it will likely be in mid-October.)
• Each adult requires their own pass. Kids under 18 don’t need a pass.
• There are no parking passes for Joffre Lakes. Day passes here are per person.
• Passes are valid for an entire day and are required 24 hours a day – you need a pass even if you plan to arrive at 2 am when there won’t be anyone checking passes.
• You can book up to 4 passes at once for the same day.
• Passes are available on the BC Parks day pass website starting at 7 am two days before your trip.
• The park will be closed to the public from April 25 to May 16, 2025, June 17 to 27, 2025, and September 2 to October 3, 2025 to support Indigenous harvesting and cultural practices.
• You don’t need a pass if you have a backcountry camping reservation. (Read my guide to booking backcountry camping in BC for more info.)

Info For Visiting Joffre Lakes

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks in BC. The small park is home to three gorgeous turquoise lakes, all accessed from the same trail. There are no other trails or destinations in the park.

My Joffre Lakes hiking guide has all the details you need to visit. The first lake (Lower Joffre Lake) is just 0.2 km (5 minutes) from the parking lot on a flat and easy trail.

It is a much harder hike to reach Middle Joffre Lake, Upper Joffre Lake, and the campground at the far end of Upper Joffre Lake. If you hike to the campground and back you will have hiked about 10 kilometres with 370 metres of elevation gain. Allow 4 hours for the hike, and more if you want to stop for lunch or photos.

All trails beyond the campground are unofficial mountaineering trails that lead into steep terrain prone to rockfall and glacier collapse.

READ NEXT: Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)

Day Passes at Golden Ears Provincial Park

Golden Ears Provincial Park Day Pass Quick Facts

• Required from May 16 to September 1, 2025 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and holidays. You do NOT need a pass on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
• Each vehicle requires a pass. You can have a max of 12 people (of any age) in the vehicle.
• You must have a day pass to park at Alouette Lake South Beach, Alouette Lake Boat Launch, Gold Creek Trailhea, and West Canyon Trailhead. You do NOT need a pass to park at Spirea Nature Trail, Main Corral, or Mike Lake (but those parking lots are not close to the lake or the most popular hiking trails)
• For most parking areas, you have to book an AM (7am to 1pm) or PM (arrive after 1pm) pass. You can book an all day pass for the Aloutette Lake Boat Launch parking lot.
• You can book one pass per time slot per day
• Passes are available on the BC Parks day pass website starting at 7 am two days before your trip
• You don’t need a pass if you have a reservation for drive-in camping.
• You don’t need a pass if you have a backcountry camping permit registration. (Read my guide to booking backcountry camping in BC for more info.)
• You don’t need a pass if you arrive after 3:30 pm. (This is slightly earlier than the 4 pm cut-off in previous years.)

Info For Visiting Golden Ears Provincial Park

There is one road in and out of Golden Ears Park (called Golden Ears Parkway) and all of the parking lots that require day passes are along the last part of this road. The road is open from 7 am to 11 pm. The gate is locked and you can’t drive in at night.

To help you decide which day pass to book, here’s a quick run-down of the areas at the park:

Alouette Lake South Beach Day-Use Area: This is a huge beach at the south end of Alouette Lake. It has a beach, swimming area, canoe rentals, picnic area, and washrooms. If you want to hang out at the beach, you want this pass. This is by far the largest parking lot in the park.

Alouette Lake Boat Launch: This parking lot is a short walk from South Beach day-use area and is designed as a parking lot for people with boat trailers. It is a smaller lot so it could be harder to get a pass.

West Canyon Parking Lot: This small parking lot is a good place to park for hikes to Golden Ears Summit or the loop of Gold Creek Canyon. However, those are long hikes. You can also use this parking lot for the short hikes to North Beach or Lower Falls, but the Gold Creek Parking lot is much closer to those.

Gold Creek Parking Lot: This parking lot is the best place to park for the short hikes to Lower Falls (aka Gold Creek Falls) or North Beach. This parking lot is also a good place to park for the loop of Gold Creek Canyon or the summit of Golden Ears.

Other parking lots (no pass required): Three other parking lots near the park entrance don’t require day passes: Spirea Nature Trail, Mike Lake, and Main Corral. Main Corral provides access to a network of horseback riding trails. The Mike Lake parking lot is a good place to park for the short hike around Mike Lake or the long and challenging hike to Alouette Mountain. Spirea Nature Trail is a short wheelchair accessible trail with a small parking lot.

Day Passes at Garibaldi Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park Day Pass

• There are three trailheads that require passes: Diamond Head (Elfin Lakes), Rubble Creek (Garibaldi Lake) and Cheakamus. Each one has different rules.
• At Diamond Head and Rubble Creek, day passes are required from June 13 to October 13, 2025 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and holidays. Unlike in previous years, passes are not required on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
• At Cheakamus Lake, day passes are required every day between June 13 and September 1, 2025. From From September 2 October 13, they are required Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only. You can book an AM pass (arrival and departure before 1 pm) or a PM pass (arrival and departure after 1 pm). You can only book one time slot per day, but you can book both AM and PM passes if you want to stay all day.
• Each vehicle requires a pass. You can have a max of 12 people (of any age) in the vehicle.
• Passes are available on the BC Parks day pass website starting at 7 am two days before your trip
• You don’t need a pass if you have a backcountry camping reservation. (Read my guide to booking backcountry camping in BC for more info.)

Info For Visiting Garibaldi Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park is huge and has several access points between Squamish and Whistler. Only some of the trailheads require day passes.

To help you decide which day pass to book, here’s a quick rundown of the areas at the park:

Diamondhead (Elfin Lakes) Trailhead: Located up a 2WD accessible gravel road near Squamish, this parking lot is the trailhead for hikes to Elfin Lakes and beyond to the Rampart Ponds. It is a 22 km round trip hike to Elfin Lakes with 600 m of elevation gain. The hike takes 6-8 hours. My Elfin Lakes hiking guide has more info.

READ NEXT: Elfin Lakes Hike in Squamish (By a Local)

Rubble Creek (Garibaldi Lakes) Trailhead: Located on a short paved road between Squamish and Whistler, this trailhead leads to Garibaldi Lake, Taylor Meadows, and beyond to Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk. The hike to Garibaldi Lake is an 18 km round trip with 820 m of elevation gain. The hike takes 6-7 hours.

Cheakamus Lake Trailhead: Located on a 2WD accessible gravel road at the south end of Whistler. From here you can hike the flat and easy 7 km round trip to Cheakamus Lake which only takes 2-3 hours so you could do it on a single AM or PM pass. Or you can continue further down the lake to Singing Creek for a total round-trip distance of 16 km. You can also hike up to Helm Creek campground (17 km round trip with 700 m of elevation gain) or beyond to Helm Pass. You will need BOTH an AM pass and a PM pass for Singing Creek or Helm Creek.

Singing Pass Trailhead (no pass required): This trailhead is right in Whistler Village and you don’t need a day pass. It is a 31 km round trip to Russet Lake with 1280 m of elevation and will take 9-10 hours. You can also pay to take the Whistler Gondola up, then hike to Russet Lake via the High Note or Musical Bumps trails. My Russet Lake trail guide has more info.

Wedgemount Lake Trailhead (no pass required): This trailhead is on a somewhat rough (but 2WD-accessible) gravel road just north of Whistler and you don’t need a day pass. The hike to the lake is 13 km return with 1160 m of elevation gain. Allow 7 hours.

Day Passes at Mount Seymour Provincial Park

Day passes are required in winter 2025/2026 at this park.

Mount Seymour Provincial Park Winter Day Pass Quick Facts

• Required every day from December 19, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Required only on weekends and holidays from January 9 to March 29, 2026.
• Each vehicle requires a pass. You can have a max of 12 people (of any age) in the vehicle.
• You can book an AM Pass (valid 7 am to 12 pm) or a PM pass (valid 12 pm to 4 pm)
• You do NOT need a pass if you arrive after 4 pm.
• You can book one pass per time slot per day. If you want to do a longer hike, backcountry ski, or snowshoe, you will need to book BOTH an AM and a PM pass.
• Passes are available on the BC Parks day pass website starting at 7 am two days before your trip
• If you are backcountry camping, you only need a pass for the day that you enter the park. You don’t need a pass for the second (or third, etc.) day.
• If you take the Mount Seymour Shuttle bus, you do not need a day pass.

Info for Winter Visits to Mount Seymour Provincial Park

There is one road in and out of Mount Seymour Park (called Mount Seymour Parkway) and all of the parking is at the end of this road. The road is open from 7 am to 10 pm. The gate is locked and you can’t drive in at night or early in the morning. Between October 1 and March 31, you need winter tires (M+S or snowflake symbol) to legally drive the road.

There are two main areas for winter recreation at Mount Seymour Provincial Park. One is free and requires day passes. The other is paid since it is inside the ski resort. There are different rules for each, here’s a run-down to help you decide whether you need a day pass:

Mount Seymour Resort Ski Area: You NOT not need a day pass for this area if you buy tickets for downhill skiing/snowboarding, the resort’s paid snowshoe trails, or the resort’s tube park. Your tickets include parking in Lots 2, 3, and 4 (the closest lots to the mountain).

BC Park Trails: You NEED a free day pass to access the BC Parks trails to Dog Mountain and Mount Seymour. These trails are popular with backcountry skiers and snowshoers. See my guide to snowshoeing in Vancouver for more info and trail descriptions. If you have a day pass you must park in Lots 1 or 5 (furthest from the mountain).

Pro tip: Mount Seymour is the ONLY place you need a day pass to go snowshoeing. If you’re looking for a place to go snowshoeing without a day pass, check out my guides to snowshoeing in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, the Fraser Valley, and Manning Park. I’ve got tons of other options for you – no pass required!

Tips and Tricks for Getting a Day Pass

On sunny summer weekends, especially long weekends, it can be tough to get a pass. Here are a few tips and tricks for getting a BC Parks day pass.

• Visit the day pass website in advance so you can get familiar with how it works.
• Be online at 7 am two days before your trip and click right away.
• Have everyone in your group try to get passes at the same time to increase your chances. Use a voice chat to coordinate so you don’t end up booking more passes than you need.
• If possible, use a computer instead of a phone as the system works a bit better on desktop.
• If you didn’t get passes, keep checking back as sometimes people cancel and passes become available again.
• Check back at 7 am on the day of your trip – sometimes BC Parks releases more passes at that time.

Why Do BC Parks Require Day Passes?

What BC Parks Says

The short answer is that BC Parks website says that day passes are needed to manage large numbers of visitors who have negative impacts on the environment and the enjoyment of other visitors. But the long answer is much more complicated than that.

Initially, BC Parks said that the Day Pass system was a “Pilot Program”. But they have quietly made it permanent with no officially announcement. They have changed it a little bit each year, and removed it in some areas.

My Opinion

I volunteer on the advocacy committee for the Friends of Garibaldi Park Society and the Southwestern British Columbia Recreation and Conservation Committee of the Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to parks staff, politicians, and other outdoors folk about day passes. Below is a summary of what I’ve learned.

The Day Pass System Costs Tax Payers Millions Each Year

BC Parks introduced the day pass system in summer 2020 as a response to the pandemic and a way to promote social distancing. That year, the BC government spent $900,000 to implement the day pass website software and hire staff to check passes at parking lots and trailheads.

In 2021 and 2022, BC Parks changed the wording around day passes, saying they were needed to protect park environments and reduce large crowds. In summer 2021 and winter 2021/2022, the cost of implementing day passes was $1.3 million. BC Parks hasn’t released costs for more recent seasons, but we can assume they are similar.

BC Parks Has Almost No Budget to Maintain or Build Trails

The reality is that BC Parks is grossly underfunded and has been for decades. That means that trails are in terrible condition because they have not been maintained. It also means that even though the population of the metro Vancouver area has grown by about 1 million people since 1990, almost no new trails have been built in provincial parks near Vancouver in that time.

It’s not surprising that our trails are busy if there hasn’t been any money to build more trails so that more people can get outdoors.

As well, almost no money has been spent on upgrading trails to handle more traffic (or even to withstand the traffic they already see.) If BC Parks were so concerned about the environmental degradation of increased traffic, they would spend money on long overdue trail maintenance to prevent erosion and reduce trail braiding. But they just don’t have the budget.

In the last few years, the BC government has made a few big announcements about funding for BC parks. However, only a small fraction of that funding is going towards trail maintenance. And so far, none of the funding has gone towards new trails in the Vancouver area.

BC Parks Has No Budget to Increase Parking Lot Sizes

BC Parks also does not have the budget to upgrade gravel parking lots to install parking stall lines (which would allow for more efficient parking), or to increase parking lot size.

Yes, in a few places, trails in BC’s provincial parks truly are overcrowded. But in most places, BC Parks day passes are not about crowding or environmental impact – they are about parking lots being too small. Once you leave the crowded parking lot and go for a hike, there is plenty of room on the trails for everyone.

In fact, BC Parks acknowledges that the reason they stopped requiring day passes at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park was that it has enough parking.

Day Passes Have Negative Knock-On Effects on Other Trails

In general, many news stories have demonstrated that hikers in Vancouver are not in favour of day passes. As well, a survey of hikers and outdoor folks from the Friends of Garibaldi Park Society concluded that 67% of respondents did not support day passes.

Day passes also have other knock-on effects. They push trail users out of provincial parks into other areas where trails are volunteer maintained or in many cases, have no maintenance at all. Day passes also mean that many hikers may choose trails that are outside their ability, increasing search and rescue call-outs.

Make Your Voice Heard

The money spent on the day pass system could fund so much trail maintenance and build so many new trails. It could also expand parking lots to increase capacity at many locations. BC Parks doesn’t have enough money to do basic trail maintenance, so it is a shame that the little money they have is being used for a system that shuts people out of parks.

If you agree with me that the money spent on the day pass system should be used for trail maintenance and building new trails, make your voice heard. Send an email or a voicemail to Premier David Eby at premier@gov.bc.ca or the Minister of the Environment and Parks, Tamara Davidson at ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca. You should also email or call your local MLA.

BC Parks Day Pass 2025 FAQ

Final Thoughts

So now you have all the info you need about BC Parks day passes. If you have more questions, leave them in the comments – I’m happy to help!

READ NEXT:

• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)
• How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
• Camping Near Vancouver, BC: 40+ Best Campgrounds
• The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver – A Local’s Guide
• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver

The post BC Parks Day Passes 2025 – Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve been backpacking in British Columbia for almost 20 years and have done dozens of trips, most of them without reservations. I know that sometimes it’s just not possible to plan ahead – you want to wait for good weather, plans change, or you didn’t get that coveted reservation.

Don’t worry! In this guide to backpacking in BC without reservations, I have all the info you need to plan a last-minute trip including:

• Which BC backpacking trips DO require reservations (Spoiler: It’s not very many places!)
• What is a BC Parks Backcountry Permit (Spoiler: It’s not a reservation and they don’t sell out!)
• The best places to go backpacking in BC without a reservation – my picks for over 50 trips around the province
• How to find even more places to go backpacking in BC without reservations
• Tips for backpacking without a reservation including how to beat the crowds

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

BC Backpacking Trips That DO Require Reservations

Very few places in BC require reservations to go backpacking. My BC Backpacking Reservation Dates post has an overview of each place along with info about how to make reservations. And my How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC post shows you how to book.

The places in BC that require backpacking reservations fit into a few categories:

National Parks in BC That DO Require Reservations

All national parks in BC require reservations for backpacking. There are six national parks in BC where you can go backpacking.

• Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island is home to the West Coast Trail and Keeha Beach – you need to make reservations for both of those trails.
• Gulf Islands National Park has several backcountry campsites that require reservations. Most are water accessed but you can backpack at Narvaez Bay on Saturna Island.
• Mount Revelstoke National Park has backcountry camping at Eva and Jade Lakes, both of which require reservations.
• Glacier National Park has reservable backcountry camping at Hermit Meadows.
• Yoho National Park has a few backcountry campgrounds including Lake O’Hara and campsites on the Yoho Valley Loop along the Iceline and Whaleback Trails. They all require reservations.
• Kootenay National Park is home to the Rockwall Trail, which requires reservations.

Provincial Parks in BC That DO Require Reservations

Most Provincial Parks in British Columbia do NOT require reservations. However, there are five exceptions. These are all very popular provincial parks.

• Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish and Whistler requires reservations for all backcountry campgrounds in the park.
• Joffre Lakes Provincial Park near Pemberton requires reservations to stay at the backcountry campground at the third lake.
• Campsites along the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park near Jasper require reservations.
• Buckhorn, Kicking Horse, and Frosty Creek Campgrounds in E.C. Manning Provincial Park near Hope requires reservations. (All other backcountry campgrounds in the park are first-come, first-served.)
• Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park near Canmore requires backcountry reservations.
• Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit in Bowron Lakes Provincial Park in Northern BC near Quesnel requires reservations.

Popular Recreation Sites in BC That DO Require Reservations

So far, only two recreation sites under the jurisdiction of Recreation Sites and Trails BC require reservations. Both are very popular destinations:

• Watersprite Lake near Squamish requires reservations to camp starting in 2022
• Tenquille Lake near Pemberton requires reservations to camp starting in 2022

Backcountry Huts That DO Require Reservations

There are several dozen backcountry huts in BC. Most are administered by a park or by a club and require reservations. See individual hut websites for info on reservations. Read my guide to Backcountry Huts in BC for more info.

Where to Go Backpacking in BC Without A Reservation

There are literally hundreds of places to go backpacking in BC without a reservation. These can be divided into places in BC Parks that have Backcountry Permits and those without. Not clear on the difference? I’ll explain it to you!

Backcountry Permits at Provincial Parks in BC

Currently, 29 BC Provincial Parks require you to purchase a backcountry permit to go backpacking. Here are some quick facts about backcountry permits:

• Backcountry permits are essentially just a way of saying you need to pay camping fees – they are NOT a reservation
• Each person in your group needs a backcountry permit
• Fees vary by park but in general, are usually $5-$10/person/night
• Buying a backcountry permit does not guarantee you a campsite or tent pad – all campsites and tent pads are first-come, first-served
• There are unlimited numbers of permits available for each park – they don’t sell out.
• You can purchase a backcountry permit on the BC Parks website up to 2 weeks before your trip. Some parks also have in-person registration with envelopes you can leave money in, but this is becoming less common.
• You can find a list of parks where backcountry permits are required on the BC Parks website.
• Carry a copy of your backcountry permit on your trip (either a print out or a screen shot on your phone. If you meet a park ranger they may ask to see it.

Still not clear on the difference between BC Park reservations and backcountry permit registrations? Check out How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC – it has a handy chart that breaks it down.

Places Without Backcountry Permits

There are tons of backcountry campsites in BC Parks that don’t require backcountry permits or reservations. There are also hundreds of BC Recreation Sites and informal campsites on Crown Land. These sites are free and you don’t need a reservation or a permit.

Below, I’ve got a list of my recommendations of places to go backpacking without backcountry permits, as well as tips on how to find even more backpacking destinations you don’t have to book in advance.

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Best Places to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations

As you might realize by now, there are loads of places to go backpacking in BC without reservations. It’s impossible to list them all here. Instead, I’ll give you a list of a few dozen that I recommend. I’ve backpacked quite a few of these, but lots are still on my some-day list. Some of these trips require backcountry permits.

Southwestern BC Backpacking Trips Without Reservations

Note: The trips in this section are all in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

• Semaphore Lakes near Pemberton
• Hanging Lake near Whistler
• Lake Lovely Water in Tantalus Provincial Park near Squamish (requires canoe or water taxi to reach the trailhead)
• Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park near West Vancouver
• Elsay Lake in Mount Seymour Provincial Park in North Vancouver
• Dennett Lake and Widgeon Lake in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park (Widgeon Lake requires a canoe to reach the trailhead)
• Viewpoint Beach, Halfmoon Beach, Alder Flats, and Panorama Ridge in Golden Ears Provincial Park (requires backcountry permits)
• Lindeman, Greendrop, Flora, and Radium Lakes in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park (requires backcountry permits)
• Tikawalus Heritage Trail in the Fraser Canyon near Yale
• Lower Stein Valley in Stein Valley N’lakapamux Heritage Provincial Park near Lytton
• HBC Heritage Trail near Hope
• Falls Lake in Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area
• Little Douglas Lake Recreation Site near the Coquihalla Summit
• Skagit River Trail, Heather Trail, Strike Lake, Skyline Trail, and Poland Lake in E.C. Manning Provincial Park (requires backcountry permits) – Note: Buckhorn and Kicking Horse Camps on the Heather Trail and Frosty Creek on the Frosty Mountain Trail in Manning require reservations but all other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
• Cabins in Tetrahedron Provincial Park near Sechelt
• Sunshine Coast Trail between Lund and Saltery Bay

READ NEXT: 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners

Vancouver Island Backpacking Trips Without Reservations

Note: The trips in this section are all in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

• Juan de Fuca Trail in Juan de Fuca Marine Provincial Park near Port Renfrew (requires backcountry permits)
• Wild Side Trail on Flores Island near Tofino (requires a water taxi to reach the trailhead)
• Forbidden Plateau Core, Bedwell Lakes, Elk River Trail, and Arnica Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park (All require backcountry permits except Arnica Lake.)
• Della Falls Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park near Port Alberni (requires a water taxi to reach the trailhead)
• Nootka Trail on Nootka Island near Gold River (requires a water taxi or floatplane to reach the trailhead)
• North Coast Trail, Cape Scott Trail, and San Josef Bay in Cape Scott Provincial Park near Port Hardy (requires backcountry permits, North Coast Trail requires a water taxi to reach the trailhead)
• Tatchu Trail on the west coast (requires water taxi or float plane to reach the trailhead)
• Raft Cove in Raft Cove Provincial Park near Port Hardy (requires backcountry permits)
• Carmanah Valley in Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park (requires backcountry permits)

Interior and Eastern BC Backpacking Trips Without Reservations

• Trophy Meadows in Wells Gray Provincial Park near Clearwater (requires backcountry permits)
• Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park near Keremeos (requires backcountry permits)
• Okanagan High Rim Trail near Vernon and Kelowna
• Spectrum Lake in Monashee Provincial Park near Cherryville (requires backcountry permits)
• Gwillim Lakes in Valhalla Provincial Park near Slocan
• Kaslo Lake in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson (requires backcountry permits)
• Earl Gray Pass in Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park near Kaslo
• South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park near Lillooet

Northern BC Backpacking Trips Without Reservations

• Hunlen Falls in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola (requires backcountry permits)
• Monkman Memorial Trail in Monkman Provincial Park near Tumbler Ridge
• Wokkpash Valley and McDonald Creek in Stone Mountain Provincial Park near Fort Nelson
• Mount Edziza in Mount Edziza Provincial Park near Dease Lake

How to Find More Places to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations

British Columbia has thousands of trails and hundreds of backcountry campgrounds. And if you’re willing to go without facilities like toilets and bear caches, there are even more places to go backpacking. (But if you go that route, brush up on the Leave No Trace principles first!)

Be sure to check if camping is allowed at the park or trail before your trip. In some environmentally sensitive areas and popular destinations, backcountry camping is not allowed or is restricted to established campsites.

Here are some ways to find even more places to go backpacking in BC without reservations:

Check BC Parks

Visit the BC Parks website to find a list of BC Parks. Or use the map view to find ones in your area. You will need to click through to the individual parks pages to find info on whether there are places in that park to go backpacking or not.

The BC Parks websites aren’t very well organized, so this info can be a bit tough to find.

Tip: Scroll down to the “Camping” section and then see if there is a “Walk-in/Backcountry/Wilderness Camping” section.

You can also check the “Activities” section and read the information about hiking trails in the park.

Lastly, also check the “Park and Activity Maps” section to view a park map that may show backcountry campsites.

Check Recreation Sites and Trails BC

Many people aren’t aware that there is a separate set of campgrounds and hiking trails besides those inside BC Parks. They are administered by Recreation Sites and Trails BC, a separate government agency. These sites are usually much more basic, have little to no funding, and are often maintained by local volunteer groups and clubs.

They also have a map that shows the location of recreation sites and trails. Keep in mind that many of these sites are drive-in campsites on logging roads. You can also use their Search by Activity page to find sites with camping and hiking, which might help you find backpacking destinations. You can also filter by region.

The info on these rec site listings is really basic and often isn’t enough to plan a trip so you will likely need to consult some of the other sources below.

Use a Hiking Guidebook

Hiking guidebooks are a great way to find curated information on hiking trails. You can be sure that the author actually hiked the trail and collected all the info you need to plan a trip.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many guidebooks that cater to backpackers. However, I’ve got a few British Columbia-specific guidebook suggestions for you:

• Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia by Taryn Eyton – Shameless plug: I wrote this one. It includes 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver. And 31 of the trips do not require reservations.
• Backpacking on Vancouver Island by Taryn Eyton – Okay, I wrote this one too. It includes 25 backpacking trips on Vancouver Island. And 22 of them do not require reservations.
• Exploring Strathcona Park by Philip Stone – A great guide to everything in this Vancouver Island park including several great backpacking trips. None of them require reservations.
• Okanagan Trips and Trails by Judie Steeves and Murphy Shewchuk – More of a backroad explorer’s book, but has some good ideas for backpacking. None of them require reservations.
• Coquihalla Trips and Trails by Murphy Shewchuk – Similar to above, but for the Coquihalla. None of the trips require reservations.
• Where Locals Hike in the West Kootenays by Kathy and Craig Copeland – An opinionated guide that focuses mostly on long day hikes, many of which can be backpacking trips. None of the trips require reservations.
• Mountain Footsteps by Janice Strong – A guidebook for the East Kootenays that includes lots of backpacking options, none of which require reservations.

Get My Books

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover BC’s best backpacking trips

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• 35 backpacking trips and day hikes on Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos

Get the books

Ask on Facebook Groups

The British Columbia outdoor community has several great Facebook groups where members share info on their hikers or post questions asking for help finding hikes. Most of the groups are full of beginners and focused on day hikes, but a few are good for backpackers.

• Backpacking Trips in BC – I admin this one. Over 21k members share backpacking-specific info.
• Vancouver Island Backcountry Hiking – A smaller group focused on off-the-beaten-path adventures.
• BCR – Backpacking in the Canadian Rockies – Full of really knowledgeable folks who know lots of places to backpack in the Rockies, including lots outside the National Parks so you won’t have to worry about reservations.
• Hyper-regional groups – Try searching Facebook’s groups section for hiking groups in a region or town. You’ll find lots of great locals willing to share info about backpacking destinations in the area.
• Trail or park-specific groups – Many longer trails like the Della Falls Trail, Cape Scott Park, or Juan de Fuca Trail have dedicated groups.

Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group

Use Apps

Most hiking and mapping apps aren’t great at isolating day hikes from backpacking trips, especially when a long day hike has a backcountry campground and can be done over two or more days. However, it is worth checking these apps to find backpacking trips.

In All-Trails, narrow down the region you are looking in, then filter by activity to select backpacking.

In Gaia GPS turn on the public tracks overlay to see where others are hiking. You can do the same thing with the heat map in Strava.

Tips for Backpacking in BC Without Reservations

Once you’ve chosen a backpacking destination, there are a few things you should keep in mind when backcountry camping without a reservation.

Check to make sure camping is allowed. Find out which jurisdiction the trail or campground is in (Parks Canada, BC Parks, Recreation Sites and Trails BC, other local parks) and see if there are any rules about camping or if you need to pay fees or get a Backcoutnry permit.

Popular spots can get very busy, especially on long weekends. If possible, plan to arrive on Thursday or Friday rather than Saturday and set up camp by early afternoon.

If you are in a group with more than one tent, try to fit two or more tents on each tent platform or tent pad so you leave room for others.

Some campgrounds have overflow campsites, but many do not. That means that in some places you might have to hike to another campground or return to the car if there isn’t room for you. When choosing an overflow campsite, pitch your tent on bare dirt, rocks, or snow. Avoid fragile vegetation.

If the campground has a food cache or hang it may get full, especially on weekends. Cache your food early in the evening or be prepared to construct a bear hang in a tree. You can also carry a bear canister or Ursack instead.

Trailhead parking lots can fill up and some are prone to theft. Arrive early to get a spot. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Check trail and road conditions. Less popular destinations receive little to no maintenance. Some roads require 4WD to access. Trails may be storm damaged or impassable. Backcountry campground facilities like toilets or bear caches may be missing or damaged.

Read through my list of things to do before every hike for a great checklist to get you prepped to go backpacking.

So that’s everything you need to know to go backpacking in BC without reservations. Do you have questions about planning a backpacking trip in BC? Leave them in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 30 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• 25 Spring Backpacking Trips in British Columbia
• 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners
• 2022 BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know
• How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
• Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Get my book: Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started

Guides for BC Backpacking Trips Without Reservations:

• Juan De Fuca Trail Guide: Backpacking on Vancouver Island
• North Coast Trail: Backpacking on Vancouver Island
• Cape Scott Trail Guide: Hiking and Camping on Northern Vancouver Island
• Wild Side Trail: Hiking and Camping Guide
• Tatchu Trail Guide: Vancouver Island Coastal Backpacking
• Della Falls Trail Hiking Guide (Vancouver Island Backpacking)

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The post How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.