When BC Parks opened its online camping reservation system for the summer on June 1, it also quietly reopened several popular provincial parks in Metro Vancouver.
When most other provincial parks re-opened for day use ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend, popular spots like Mount Seymour Provincial Park and Cypress Provincial Park remained closed.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said the decision to close provincial parks in early April was made in part to prevent wildfires from starting during the pandemic.
But now, Metro Vancouverites can once again enjoy the following locations, provided visitors are symptom-free and keep their distance from others. Hikers are also reminded to choose parks close to home and avoid non-essential travel outside their community.
As usual, all hikers should dress appropriately for the weather, bring the essentials, and let someone know their itinerary and when they’ll be back.
Cypress Provincial Park
Megan Devlin/Daily Hive
Popular trails in here include Eagle Bluffs or the slightly longer St. Mark’s Summit which both offer stunning views of Howe Sound.
Mount Seymour Provincial Park
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As of early June, there is still snow on the trails up here. But as the weather warms in the coming weeks, visitors can try the first pump of Mount Seymour for a challenge, or the Dog Mountain trail for something shorter. As of June 8, readers tell Daily Hive that the Dog Mountain trail is not yet open all the way to the viewpoint.
Bowen Island Ecological Reserve
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This spot contains the beautiful and challenging Mount Gardner Loop Trail and the easier Killarney Lake trail. For now, only residents of Bowen Island should be doing these trails. The island has asked visitors to postpone their trips until non-essential travel is allowed again.
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Porteau Cove Provincial Park
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This small park along the Sea to Sky Highway has a long pier offering gorgeous mountain views from sea level during the day, and epic opportunities to stargaze by night. The campsite here remains closed and there are fewer picnic tables than usual, but the park itself is still open for short visits.
Some popular parks are still closed
There are still some summer mainstays that aren’t accepting visitors until later. Parks and trails that remain closed include:
- Garibaldi Provincial Park
- Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
- Stawamus Chief hiking trails are closed
- Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
- Quarry Rock
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