Golden Ears Provincial Park

Golden Ears Provincial Park is one of the largest provincial parks in British Columbia, Canada. It is located north of the community of Maple Ridge, BC, Canada... and was first established in 1927 measuring just over 62,500 hectares.

Golden Ears Provincial Park is located in the Coastal Mountain Range in the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone. The protected zone mainly consists of mountains, alpine lakes, wetlands, bogs, rivers, run-off creeks and forests of western red cedar and douglas fir trees.

The Maple Ridge park is best highlighted by the dual peaks of Mount Blanshard topping the charts at 1716 metres (5630 feet) and the water activities and recreational destinations on and surrounding Alouette Lake.

Prior to the arrival of the Europeans to the parkland, the land was once the hunting and fishing grounds of the First Nation people of British Columbia. The area known today as Golden Ears was especially important to the Interior Salish (Douglas-Lillooet ) and Coast Salish (Katzie) First Nation people.

Today, the Golden Ears Park is a Vancouver year round recreation and adventure destination. During the summer months (park peak months) the activities enjoyed in the park include backpacking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, biking, water skiing, windsurfing, horseback riding, picnicking, sightseeing, birdwatching, rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing and boating.

The wilderness park is a shared park with many species of wildlife. Please show respect for the wildlife and do not approach them or feed them... as one of the greatest threats to wildlife is the humanization of the species. Some of the wildlife in the park include beaver, deer, black bear, cougar and mountain goat.

There are 3 main campgrounds and 3 day use areas in the park. The main campgrounds are easy access, drive in developed campsites. They include the Alouette, Gold Creek and North Beach Campgrounds. They provide the main services like a park office, washrooms, pit toilets, playground, boat launch, sani dump and sandy beach.

There are also remote campsites like the walk in remote wilderness campsites and the water access only marine campsites. The wilderness campsites are located on the West Canyon Trail at Alder Flats and on the Golden Ears Trail on Panorama Ridge. The marine campsites are accessed on the north shores of Alouette Lake.

The day use areas include the Alouette Lake, the North Beach and the Campers Beach Day Use Areas.

Alouette Lake is the most developed day use area in the park. It includes a sandy beach, swimming area, canoe/kayak rentals, washrooms, picnic area, boat launch and an off leash dog park nearby.

North Beach Day Use Area includes a sandy beach, pit toilets and an off leash dog area nearby. Campers Beach Day Use Area is the most remote of the three as one must hike a trail to access the area. It includes a sandy beach and a swimming area.

Golden Ears Provincial Park includes a vast network of recreation trails for hiking, biking, backpacking and horseback riding. Some trails are short, level and easy going routes suitable for families and all fitness levels. Some trails are rough and rugged, considered difficult and challenging and suited for the active outdoors person.

The trails include the Mike Lake Trail (4.2 kms), Incline Trail (1.2 kms), Alouette Mountain Hiking Trail (10 kms), Alouette Mountain Fire Access Hiking Trail (7.2 kms), Menzies Trail (9 kms), Viewpoint Trail (1.5 kms), West Canyon Trail (5 kms), Golden Ears Trail (12 kms) and Lower Falls Trail (2.8 kms) and the Spirea Nature Trail (2 kms).

Horseback riding is permitted on the Mike Lake Trail, Incline Trail, Menzies Trail and East Canyon Trail. Mountain biking is permitted on the Menzies Trail and on the gravel and paved roads in the park.

Explore Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge, BC