Golden Ears Provincial Park Lower Mainland Parks

1 Golden Ears Provincial Park Lower Mainland Parks

As one of the largest parks in the province, both in sheer size and number of campsites, Golden Ears Provincial Park is highly prized for its recreational opportunities. The park’s sparkling lakes, lush forests, and rugged mountains make it excellent for a variety of recreational activities, just a short drive from downtown Vancouver.

An extensive system of trails within the park provides high quality opportunities for hiking and horseback riding. Alouette Lake is a popular spot for swimming, windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, boating and fishing. The park also has three large campgrounds.

Vegetation within the park is typical of the coastal western Hemlock forest of BC and the mountainous backcountry is extremely rugged.

Interesting Golden Ears Park Facts • Human activity in Golden Ears, both past and present, has been confined to the accessible Alouette Valley in the south of the park. In the 1920s, the forested slopes of the valley became the site of BC’s greatest railroad logging operation until a disastrous fire swept through the valley in 1931.

• Alouette Lake and its forested surroundings were the traditional hunting and fishing grounds for the Douglas-Lillooet (Interior Salish) and Katzie (Coast Salish) First Nations peoples.

• Golden Ears Provincial Park is identified as a wildlife viewing site of British Columbia Wildlife Watch, the provincial wildlife viewing program. This site offers good birding, especially at Mike Lake, Alouette Lake, and Gold Creek, as well as opportunities to observe several mammal species.

www.bcparks.ca 2 Golden Ears Provincial Park Lower Mainland Parks

History Originally part of Garibaldi Provincial Park, the establishment of Golden Ears Park in 1927 recognized the almost impenetrable mountain barrier between the two areas.

The park was named after the twin peaks of Mount Blanshard near the peak’s western boundary; when viewed in bright sunlight, these intriguing peaks seem to glow gold.

Wildlife The park’s lush plant growth, numerous waterways, and mountainous terrain provide habitat to a variety of animals. Easily viewed species include Douglas squirrel and yellow pine chipmunk. Other mammals seen at the park include black-tailed deer, coyote and Northern flying squirrel. Mountain goats are occasionally seen on mountain faces. Caution: Black bears are frequently encountered throughout the park, including on hiking trails and occasionally in the public campgrounds and picnic areas.

Size and Location Access to the park is by vehicle via Highway 7 or Dewdney Trunk Road through the Municipality of Maple Ridge.

More Information http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/golden_ears/

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