ORCBC disappointed in the continuation of the BC Parks day-use pass program

Hikers on Whistler's High Note trail, above Cheakamus Lake and Garibaldi Provincial Park. Destination BC / Andrew Strain photo.

The Province of BC announced today (April 20) that the BC Parks Day-Use Pass Program will return for Joffre Lakes Provincial Park (May 6), Golden Ears Provincial Park and Garibaldi Provincial Park (June 14).

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is disappointed in the continuation of the day pass program and remains concerned that too little is being done to resolve the real systemic issues; a growing population that loves the outdoors and a chronic lack of investment in expanding and maintaining trails and outdoor recreation infrastructure in southwestern BC to make space for residents and visitors.

The population in Metro Vancouver is expected to grow from 2.5 million to 3.7 million by 2050, and visits to regional parks have been growing at double the population growth rate, according to a 2018 report.

In spite of an increasing population and an increasing interest in getting outdoors, very little has been done in decades to expand existing parks in proximity to the Lower Mainland, acquire new areas and approve more trails to meet the needs of the population and visitors. We are now in a position where park and recreation agencies are trying to play catch-up and increasingly have to resort to quotas, permits and restrictions to manage the number of visitors to popular parks, trails and day-use areas.

Many parks continue to have dated or no management plan in place to guide the development of recreation opportunities, including Mt Seymour, Pinecone Burke and Callaghan. The management planning process was initiated or was supposed to be initiated for all of these parks but stalled for various reasons, including a staffing shortage.

In spring 2021, BC Parks received an $83 million funding boost over three years for the expansion of trails and new campsites within the provincial park system; it remains vital that the increased funding is used to help accommodate the growing number of park visitors so that the day pass program can be phased out in the coming years as trail and day-use area infrastructure catches up with demand.

ORCBC also calls for a cohesive recreation strategy for BC that outlines the future path for managing, developing and funding recreational opportunities for all British Columbians.

More details about the day use pass here.