This is the third year that BC Parks has introduced a day-use pass for access to a limited number of very popular hiking and day-use areas.

This year the three parks affected are:

  • Garibaldi: Cheakamus Lake, Elfin Lakes and Rubble Creek parking areas
  • Golden Ears: Most parking lots
  • Joffre Lakes: Day-use passes for hikers

We are blessed with having so many special places in BC and these are some of the best-of-the-best!

The FMCBC understands that these mostly parking restrictions are required on the weekends for these special places.  For Joffre Lakes and Garibaldi Lake our members appreciate not having the areas too crowded.  For the other locations in Garibaldi and Golden Ears, the issue seems to be mostly parking related.  If you need a place to go hiking almost as nice as Black Tusk meadows and probably better than Elfin Lakes, try out the Singing Pass trail that starts in Whistler.

We are pleased that BC Parks has not expanded the program and has removed Stawamus Chief Provincial Park this year. 

We are a bit concerned about the amount of money and administrative time that goes into setting this up and “enforcing” this.  We have talked to BC Parks and their contractor about possibly just hiking along-side of people of a few weekdays rather making this a seven-day a week program.

BC Parks talks about investing back into the trails, but unfortunately, they are so short of staff that they can’t plan and manage all the projects required.  The FMCBC has proposed a Trail Experience Program to improve and expand our BC Parks trails and BC Parks is working on a few, but not nearly enough to meet the long-neglected need for repairs to BC Parks trails.  The FMCBC has also made recommendations on the 2023 Budget to the provincial government Standing Finance Committee, requesting more operational funding and staffing for both BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails to develop and maintain trails and recreation sites.

One of our member clubs, the Friends of Garibaldi Park has prepared a detailed report on the day-use pass system. Two FMCBC directors have reviewed the report and want to share with our members.

We welcome your thoughts on the BC Parks’ day-use pass program.  There is a place to share comments a bit lower on this page.