Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Annual and day passes are available at park gates, at all park information centers,
and at campground fee stations. Day passes are also available from automated ticket
machines at popular stopping points in Pacific Rim National Park. For more inform-
ation, check the Parks Canada website ( www.pc.gc.ca ) .
Forest Service Lands
Over half of British Columbia (59 million hectares/146 million acres) is forested and under
the control of the Ministry of Forests, which manages the land for timber harvesting, recre-
ational activities, and just plain wilderness. Many recreation areas have been provided on
forest land, but facilities are often limited. Get more information on recreation areas, forest
roads, safety, and possible fire closures from the Ministry of Forests ( www.gov.bc.ca/for ) ,
regional offices, information centers throughout the province, or the government website
www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca .
HIKING
Just about everywhere you go in British Columbia you'll find good hiking opportunities,
from short, easy walks in city and regional parks to long, strenuous hikes in wilderness
parks.
The mountains are great places to hike. Short trails lead to waterfalls, lakes, rock forma-
tions, and viewpoints, and longer trails wander high into alpine meadows tangled with wild-
flowers, past turquoise lakes, and up to snow-dusted peaks providing breathtaking views.
Rustic huts are provided at regular intervals along wilderness trails. Perhaps the best known
of British Columbia's hikes lies not in the Rockies but along the wild and remote west shore
of Vancouver Island; backpackers return time and again to the West Coast Trail, an un-
forgettable 75-kilometer (47-mile) trek along the remote coastline of Pacific Rim National
Park.
To get the most out of a hiking trip, peruse the hiking section of any major book-
store—many books have been written on BC hiking trails. The Don't Waste Your Time
series ( www.hikingcamping.com ) covers interior regions while the Canadian Rockies Trail
Guide ( www.summerthought.com ) is the topic of choice for Kootenay and Yoho National
Parks. Before setting off on a longer hike, study the trail guides and a topographical map of
the area. Leave details of your intended route and itinerary with a relative or friend. And try
to travel in groups of at least two in the backcountry.
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