Outdoor Resources by Activity

Camping

• Super Camping BC - A list of campgrounds and RV parks in BC
• BC Parks Campsite reservations for 42 BC provincial park campgrounds and Kootenay and Pacific Rim national parks can be made at 1-800-689-9025, 689-9025 in the Lower Mainland.

Caving

• Karst Resource Management Issues of Vancouver Island
• Vancouver Island Cave Exploration Group

Cycling /Mountain Biking

• Cycling BC
• Rails-to-Trails: abandoned railway corridors that have been turned into trails.

Fishing

• Angling BC - Information for anglers who fish in BC. Includes reports for different regions of the province.
• DFO - Pacific Region Communications Home Page
• Coho Response Team Home Page
• Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
• Sport Fishing Guide
• Resources available by Phone

Four Wheel Driving

• Information on responsible four-wheel driving: www.treadlightly.org
• Four Wheel Drive Association of BC

Hiking & Backpacking

• Backpacking in BC
• The West Coast Trail - reservations are mandatory - call 1-800-663-6000.
• The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail - Can't get on the West Coast Trail? Try this trail - another oceanside trail on south east Vancouver Island.
• The Sunshine Coast Trail

Horseback Riding

• Snass Mountain Outfitters
• Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies - TRCR offers 6 to 8 day trail rides in the Canadian Rockies each summer. There is a different camp each year, and a different ride each day.

Natural History

• Vancouver Natural History Society

Paddling & Rafting

• Blackcomb Whitewater Adventures
• Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit - telephone 604-992-3111
• Canada's Canoe Source - also a source for whitewater kayaking, info on clubs, instruction, trips, guides, and equipment for BC and elsewhere.
• Juan de Fuca Marine Trail - includes a map of the trail, and how to get a hold of a guide book for the trail.
• Kumsheen Raft Adventures
• Wavelength Paddling magazine- if you're looking for paddling info you will probably find it here.
• Whitewater Kayaking Association

Rock Climbing & Mountaineering

• Bivouac Mountaineering Directory - directory of information for mountaineers interested in climbing and hiking in the BC Coast Range and the Canadian Rockies.
• The Alpine Club of Canada - the ACC is a volunteer driven organization with 23 backcountry huts in BC and Alberta and offers mountain adventure trips.

SCUBA Diving

• Diver Magazine - diving in BC and other places in Canada
• Sea to Sky Ocean Sports

Skiing

• Cross Country BC - cross country skiing in BC.
• Mt. Washington Resort
• Sun Peaks Resort
• Whistler/Blackcomb Resort

Snowmobiling

• The BC Snowmobile Federation

 

Trip Planning Resources

• www.out-there.com - comprehensive information on outdoor recreation across Canada
• BC Adventure Network
• www.cariboocountry.org - comprehensive information on outdoor recreation in the Cariboo-Chilcotin area, including free outdoor recreation maps to download.
• Reservations for the Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit: (604)992-3111
• Reservations for the West Coast Trail: 1-800-663-6000

Maps - a selection of topographic maps are available from:

• Geological Survey of Canada
• Land Data BC
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Outdoor Recreation Council of BC

Weather and Avalanche Reports

• The Weather Office - another site with weather reports For British Columbia (and elsewhere)
• www.avalanche.ca - the Canadian Avalanche Association's avalanche bulletin. Avalanche reports for British Columbia also available toll free in BC at 1-800-667-1105; or (604)290-9333 (Vancouver).
• Road Conditions in BC: 1-900-451-4997

Tourism, Travel and Accomodations

• BC Tourism Accommodations Directory
• BC Ferries - information on ferry routes and schedules.
• Bigpacific - information on travel to the Sunshine Coast.
• Discover British Columbia - Tourism BC's information and reservation line: 1-800-663-6000
• Vancouver Tourism Information Centre: (604) 683-2000

Parks and Forests

• National Parks in Western Canada
• BC Forest Service
• Regional parks in BC's Lower Mainland
• BC Parks - Information on British Columbia's provincial parks with contact numbers for BC Park's district offices. Maps of most parks are available. BC Parks Information Line: (250)387-4550
• Sooke Tourism Guide - Information on parks in Sooke (Vancouver Island).

Fish and Wildlife

• BC Environment Fisheries Branch
• BC Environment Wildlife Branch
• Squamish Streamkeepers
• Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan
• Watershed Watch Salmon Society

Other Outdoor Links

• Active Living - Go for Green!
• BC Heritage Rivers Board
• Kid's Web Site Re: The Health of Our Rivers
• Leave No Trace - an environmental ethics and land stewardship education program
• National Search and Rescue Secretariat - information on search and rescue in Canada.

Fishing Resources available by Phone

• Catch Statistics Line: (604) 666-2716
• Commercial Fishing - regulations: (604) 666-2828 (24 hour recording)
  or (604) 666-3130 (8am-4pm)
• Aboriginal Fishing - regulations: (604) 666-2107 (8am-4pm)
• Sport Fishing - Regulations: (604) 666-2828 (24 hour recording)
  or (604) 666-6331 (8am-4pm)
• Fresh Water Fishing Guide: (250) 387-4573
• Non-tidal (fresh water) sport fishing license. Contact Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: (250) 387-9589
• Recreational Fisheries Division
• South Coast (Nanaimo): (250) 756-7192
• North Coast (Prince Rupert): (250) 627-3409
• Fraser River (New Westminster): (604) 666-6512
• Shellfish Information: (604) 666-2828 (24 hour recording)
• ORR-Fish and Wildlife Violations: 1-800-465-4336
• General Information: (604) 666-0384

Easy to read booklet on the Legal Requirements of Recreational Fishing in BC available in English, Vietnamese and Chinese. Contact West Coast Environmental Law: (604)684-7378