Golden Ears Provincial Park is a great spot for camping and is located just one and a half hours east of downtown Vancouver, near Maple Ridge. There are actually 3 separate campgrounds within the park – Gold creek, Alouette and North Beach. Alouette campground is the largest, and has the most facilities (running water, showers, playground). There are tons of trails throughout the park, and some hike-in camping is also available on the east side of the lake. (This is actually where I took my Wilderness Survival Course).
One of the most popular hikes within the park is the easy walk to Gold Creek Falls.
Activities available in Golden Ears include canoeing, climbing, cycling, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, boating, water skiing and windsurfing. Alouette Lake is also a great place to head with the family for a day out on the beach. A map of the park can be found here.
As one of the largest parks in the province, Golden Ears Provincial Park is prized for its recreational opportunities. The extensive system of trails within the park provides an excellent opportunity for hiking and horseback riding. Alouette Lake is a popular spot for swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, boating and fishing. The park also has three large campgrounds. Vegetation is typical of the coastal western Hemlock forest of BC and the mountainous backcountry is extremely rugged.
The only draw-back to Golden Ears is that is a very popular site and often booked up well in advance. If you plan on heading here, be sure to reserve your campsite far in advance, or show up very early in the morning to get your name on the waiting list for one of the non-reservable sites.
Directions:
Golden Ears Provincial Park lies in the Coast Mountains, 11 km north of Maple Ridge. Take Hwy. 7 or Dewdney Trunk Road through Maple Ridge. If heading west, turn right onto 232nd and if heading east, turn left onto 232nd. Turn right onto Fern Crescent and continue into park.
