By Colin Dacre
While the majority of provincial parks will be opening Thursday for day use, more than 250 will remain closed for the time being.
BC Parks say it is keeping parks that attract large crowds closed due to the pandemic.
“These high-use parks require substantial staff presence, high service levels, and in-person visitor management,” BC Parks said online. “Given how busy some of our most popular parks can get, these environments do not easily allow for the physical distancing recommended by the public health officer.”
Among those remaining closed in the South Coast region are Garibaldi, Golden Ears, Joffre Lakes, Mount Seymour, Stawamus Chief, and Brandywine Falls - to name a few.
Other more remote parks and those that primarily revolve around camping are also staying closed. It is expected that the parks that are opened on Thursday will be busy.
“If you arrive to find the parking lot is full, you may have to reschedule your visit for another day or another time,” Parks BC said, adding that parking on nearby roadways is not permitted.
The BC government is planning on opening provincial camping on June 1.
A full list of all the parks, indicating which ones will open May 14 can be found here. You should check ahead to ensure the park you plan on visiting will be open.
- With additional reporting from V.I.A.
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