Help us tell the story of why more funding is needed for BC’s parks
As regular users of BC’s provincial parks, you’ve probably noticed things aren’t looking the way they used to. Broken signage, damaged boardwalks, ecological damage, neglected facilities—it’s clear the BC government has been spending their dollars elsewhere. Our parks have been in dire need of funding for over a decade, and it shows.
Increased funding to BC Parks means:
Broken signage near Arnica Lake (photo by Karl Stevenson)
How you can help
The only way the government is going to put more money into our parks is if they’re aware of the public’s support. There are a few ways to have your voice heard:
Explore the map
See the photos
Cypress Provincial Park
Pinecone Burke Provincial Park - Widgeon Creek
The outhouse at the Widgeon Creek campsite in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. The brown things that look like rice are actually pupating maggots.
Bridge over Widgeon Creek
A bridge over Volcano Creek on the Elk River Trail that has been neglected for several years after a tree came down across it
Blowdown on the Philip’s Ridge Trail to Arnica Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. It's about 10 minutes from the start of the trail and is nearly impossible to get past. Several tourists managed to pick their way through, but said that the crawling under and climbing over the blowdown, with backpacks, was very difficult. They asked if there was a petition they could sign and were directed to our site. (Photo by Mandy Vaughan)
The condition of the sign at the outflow end of Cream Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. The Price Creek trail referred to on the sign has not been maintained for over 20 years.
Strathcona Park (photo by Karl Stevenson)
One of many campfires due to lack of public education on the very long-lasting, ugly, and destructive effects of campfires in Strathcona Park. (photo by Karl Stevenson)
Strathcona Park (photo by Karl Stevenson)
Shuswap Lake Provincial Park campground. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Shuswap Lake Provincial Park campground. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Shuswap Lake Provincial Park campground. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Maybe if BC spent more on patrolling parks, people would pack out their garbage. (Sheila Lake Camp in Wells Grey Provincial Park) (photo by CampingCanucks)
Decrepit infrastructure on the Upper Shannon Falls/Sea to Summit trail. This trail needs a lot of work. (photo by Andy Gibb)
A picnic area at Rosewall Creek Provincial Park that hasn't had a picnic table on it since at least 1 year ago. (Photo by Alex Goatcher)
A railing in poor condition at Rosewall Creek Provincial Park. (Photo by Alex Goatcher)
"The condition of the trail that follows the creek and supposedly to a waterfall. This trail is supposed to go for kilometres but it was washed out just past the underpasses of the highway. This appears to be a seasonal creek bed and I was stunned there was no safe way to cross. This was the trail that brought me to this park today so I was extremely disappointed with what I found." (Photo by Alex Goatcher)
Pinecone Burke Provincial Park - Widgeon Creek
Pinecone Burke Provincial Park - Widgeon Creek
A sad looking sign in Monashee Provincial Park. (photo by CampingCanucks)
The 'open concept' loo at Mowich Camp, Manning Park
Manning Park Lightning Trail
Manning Park Lightning Trail
Manning Park Lightning Trail
Manning Park Heather Trail
Steaming...you didn't really expect a picture of 2 very full pit toilets, did you? (Buckhorn Camp, Manning Park) (photo by Andy Gibb)
Dry needles and branches along a path in Mabel Lake Provincial Park campground.
This is one of many examples of fire mitigation that is not being done to help prevent the destruction of our valuable resources. The photographer was told by someone familiar with the park operations that the contractor is not prepared to spend any money on fire mitigation. He then contacted Steve Thompson (Minister of Forests) with his concerns, and was told the issue would be raised with Mary Polak (Minister of Environment).
(Photo by Gord Marshall)
Adjacent to campsites in Mabel Lake Provincial Park. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Dead, partially fallen tree on a lake trail in Mabel Lake Provincial Park. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Alongside the entrance road to Mabel Lake Provincial Park. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall
Next to the playground at Mabel Lake Provincial Park Campground. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Dead tree along a walking path in Mabel Lake Provincial Park campground. Another example of neglected fire mitigation. (Photo by Gord Marshall)
Signage at the north end of Lindsay Lake, an important junction on Eagle Ridge. (Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park) (Photo by Steve Chapman)
The trail around Lake Helen Mackenzie in Strathcona Park. (photo by John Elson)
Lacoma Lake (photo by Westbank Chainsaw Crew via the South Okanagan Trail Alliance)
Lacoma Lake (photo by Westbank Chainsaw Crew via the South Okanagan Trail Alliance)
Facedown information kiosk at a BC Parks Protected Area called Lacoma Lake,
between Peachland and West Kelowna.
(photo by Westbank Chainsaw Crew via the South Okanagan Trail Alliance)
Lacoma Lake (photo by Westbank Chainsaw Crew via the South Okanagan Trail Alliance)
Lacoma Lake (photo by Westbank Chainsaw Crew via the South Okanagan Trail Alliance)
Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. (photo by CampingCanucks)
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Kokanee Glacier Park
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Kokanee Glacier Park
This photo is from a summer 2016 kayaking trip at Kennedy Lake. This is a day use park with No Tenting and No Fires signs. Campers were tenting at the park all summer and were told no one enforces the rules. Most of the people had been there for weeks. Seven tents were counted in the park and along the lake.
Braiding on the Heather Trail in Manning Provincial Park. The main trail is rough and can be wet, so many hikers simply step off onto the meadows. (photo by Andy Gibb)
Extreme erosion on steep trails in Golden Ears. (photo by Andy Gibb)
Extreme erosion on steep trails in Golden Ears. (photo by Andy Gibb)
The outhouse at Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The toilet did not seem to be secured down in any way.
Don't adjust your specs! This is the sign for a feature trail within Strathcona Park: Flower Ridge Trail. The sign has been fading for years and is now almost entirely illegible. Other signs in the park are in similar condition. (Photo by Mandy Vaughan)
Cypress Provincial Park - Black Mountain Loop
Cypress Provincial Park. More broom closer to Raven Ridge Chair.
Cypress Provincial Park. This photo was taken on the Baden Powell trail between where it leaves the Hollyburn section and where it joins the Cypress Bowl base area. However, this section was rerouted around this bog area last year by funding and volunteers from Friends of Cypress Provincial Park under ranger supervision.
Backcountry camping at busy Circlet Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. Tape says "tree hazard." (Photo taken on July 26, 2017)
Dodgy boardwalk at the end of Lindeman Lake In Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. This trail also has some bridgeless creek crossings, which can be tricky in high water. (photo by Andy Gibb)
Cathedral Provincial Park
Cathedral Provincial Park
Cathedral Provincial Park
Cathedral Provincial Park. One of over 130 uncleared trees on the trail.
Old bridge base just left behind
Part of a total of 250 hikers (200 in this one party) on the Black Tusk trail in mid-September 2015, after leaving much garbage in the Garibaldi Lake campsites. Not a ranger anywhere in the Garibaldi Lake area at this time. (Photo by Michael Feller)
Another mangled structure in Bedwell Trail. Many structures were unable to withstand the massive snowfall of the late 90s, plus later big snow winters. Bedwell Trail has yet to recover.
Footbed on Bedwell Trail. Big impact with zero maintenance.
The metal staircase has a broken step from the welds breaking. It has been temporarily band-aided with a piece of wood used to brace the step and g-clamps holding it into place. It is structurally unsafe.
Bent metal handrail caused by a large winter snowpack. There used to be a wooden bridge at the lower end, but it was swept into Bedwell Lake during a high water event.
Broken guy wire on a suspension bridge near Bedwell Lake Trail
The metal staircase has a broken step from the welds breaking. It has been temporarily band-aided with a piece of wood used to brace the step and g-clamps holding it into place. It is structurally unsafe
What BC Parks has done to temporarily prop up the broken metal step on the Bedwell Trail
Broken structures on Bedwell Lake Trail
More structural damage on Bedwell Lake Trail
Structural damage on Bedwell Lake Trail
Metal staircase damage on Bedwell Lake Trail
The old bridge is still floating in Bedwell Lake
Broken signage near Arnica Lake (photo by Karl Stevenson)
Collapsing boardwalk at Arnica Lake
Duct-taped sign at Arnica Lake in Strathcona Provinical Park (July 2017). Yes, that is the same duct tape as seen in last year's photo of the same sign.
Tent platform at Arnica Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park (July 2017)
Neglected tent platform - Arnica Lake/Phillips Ridge Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park.
Damaged signage at Arnica Lake