Trail Closures & Hiking around Vancouver during the COVID-19 Pandemic 

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We are doing our best to stay on top of all local trail closures and re-openings below. If you’d like some suggestions on where you currently CAN hike, please see our latest post here: Where to Hike during COVID-19 around Vancouver.

With British Columbians being asked to isolate as much as possible in the face of COVID-19, there have been conflicting messages about getting outdoors.  

On the one hand, there is a viewpoint that no one should go outside unless absolutely necessary. To get food, for example. Whistler Search and Rescue recently made an appeal to ban all backcountry recreation.

On the other hand, getting outside in nature can be an important release valve to de-stress and can play an important role in our physical and mental wellbeing.

Some doctors have encouraged people to get into nature during this time, and with many businesses being shut down, it seems that more people may be flocking onto the trails. Michael Coyle, Search and Rescue Manager at Coquitlam SAR, had a thoughtful post about this on Reddit.

As the closures and the lockdown goes on, we will need something for people to do for their physical and mental well being. We cannot stay at home.

Hiking will be a very valuable safety valve.

Michael Coyle

We’ll echo Michael’s sentiment, that getting into nature is an inherently good thing. But if you are going to go hiking right now, dial back the risk, as Michael says. We want to be doubly-sure we are not putting Search and Rescue teams in a situation where they need to do any more callouts than are necessary. They have to make tough decisions about the risk they want to subject themselves to, in order to save others.

That’s a tough position to put these incredible volunteers in. 

Reduce your risks to near zero please. This is not the time for those challenging objectives. If you must climb, ski or ride, do so at well below your maximim please. The last thing we need is an unnecessary incident that exposes the team to each other, and stresses any medical resources associated.

In April, BC Search and Rescue put out the recommendation, that yes, you can still enjoy the outdoors – for now. But those people wanting to venture outside during the pandemic should maintain social distance, plan their hikes and take safety measures.

If you’re new to hiking, please be aware it has many risks, and it’s easier than you might think to get lost or injured on the trails. Even trails that are close to residential areas can quickly lead deep into the backcountry. Please read our hiking safety guidelines and be fully prepared for any outing. 

At this time, whether you choose to get outside onto the trails is your personal choice. However, for those choosing to go on the trails, for your safety and the safety of others, please practice strict social distancing. This is the best way to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

This means, go hiking with people that you live with. On the trails, stay at least two meters away from everyone else at all times. If hikes have things like ladders and ropes, avoid those hikes, as germs may live on those surfaces. And of course, continue to wash your hands frequently. 

There are also many current closures in place, and more springing up all the time. So research your location before heading out. You may also want to choose hikes that aren’t typically busy. In our hiking trail database, you can use the search filter to search for hikes in your desired city, and select ‘moderate’ or ‘low’ for the ‘Trail Traffic’ filter.

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Turn your wrap into a makeshift mask (instructions in video below). Right now, $3 from each sale of our multiwraps go to the Canada Helps COVID-19 Community Care Fund! So far, we raised over $1,230! ($2,020) with matched funds from Gore Mutual)! Thanks to everyone who bought a buff!

Order a buff here!

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Current Park and Trail Closures around Vancouver

Last update: 12:12 pm, Aug 1, 2020

Here are the current COVID-19 related park and trail closures that we are aware of. If you become aware of other closures (or re-openings), please email us at info [at] outdoorvancouver [dot] ca or comment at the bottom of this page. We will be updating this page as new trail closures are announced, or as trails reopen.

BC Parks

BC Parks has announced, effective July 27, Day-Use Reservations will be required in some popular parks. This is being done to ensure safe social-distancing can be adhered to.

These parks include:

• Mount Seymour
• Cypress
• Garibaldi
• Stawamus Chief
• Golden Ears
• Mount Robson

Restrictions include:

• Passes can only be booked on the day of arrival. Passes are available for each day beginning at 6:00am.
• Park visitors will need to set up an account on Discover Camping to reserve a day pass.
• Passes cannot be transferred to another date, time, or location and your pass cannot be shared beyond the group reserved.

Further details, including which trails and trailheads are affected, and the link to book your reservations, can be found here.

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On May 14, BC Parks reopened many front- and back-country trails, beaches, picnic areas, washroom facilities and boat launches for day-use.

Locally, Golden Ears, Murrin Park, Alice Lake, Cultus Lake, Brandywine Falls, Pinecone-Burke, and Chilliwack Lake re-opened on May 14 for day-use only. Please note, there are restrictions in place to allow for physical distancing. For example, Golden Ears is restricting the number of cars that can enter the park daily. So just because these places are open, doesn’t mean you’ll be successful getting in over the long weekend. Check the specific park page on the BC Parks website for full details about each park.

Starting June 1 the following parks also reopened, with restrictions:

• Cypress
• Juan de Fuca
• Inkaneep
• the Kettle River Recreation Area
• Liard River Hot Springs
• Porteau Cove
• Mount Seymour
• Shannon Falls
• Nairn Falls
• Incl. other BC Parks…

Re-opening Restrictions

• Visitor centres, nature houses and concession buildings may be opened on a case-by case basis.
• In some instances, facilities such as playgrounds, hot springs, halls, and picnic shelters will remain closed.

However, some parks near Metro Vancouver will remain closed for now. This includes:

Local parks still closed until further notice include:

• Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
• Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park (Othello Tunnels)

See more details from BC Parks here and a list of open/closed parks is here.

Vancouver

Stanley Park – One lane of Park Drive in Stanley Park is now open to vehicle traffic.

North Vancouver

• Quarry Rock– The trail is currently closed.
• Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge – The bridge is currently closed, but the park is open.
• Grouse Mountain and the Grouse Grind – Open as of June 22
  • If you plan on going, there are some important guidelines in place for COVID-19 to be aware of. If you will use the Skyride (gondola) to return to the bottom, you must reserve a time in advance at grousemountain.com. Grouse Mountain Resort has additional guidelines including mandatory facemasks and temperature checks for all passengers using the gondola. Alternatively, you can hike down the BCMC trail, which is a very steep and rough trail. More details are here on the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks page, and on the Grouse Mountain Resort website.
    

Squamish

• The Chief Trail is closed.
• Sea To Sky Gondola – Phased reopening began May 22, starting with pass-holders and it is now operational. The Sea to Summit Trail remains closed.
• The Sea to Sky region is asking visitors to stay away during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Chilliwack & Mission

The following parks and facilities are closed until further notice:

• Lake Errock Community Park
• All washrooms (except Thompson Regional Park)

See more on the FVRD website here.

BC Hydro Recreation Sites

Buntzen Lake (Diez Vistas, and other trails in the Buntzen Lake Recreation Area) are now OPEN daily from 8am – 8pm as of May 21. One-way hiking trails will also be enforced.

Hayward Lake (SteelheadFalls) also reopened on May 30.

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks

“The majority of Metro Vancouver’s regional parks are currently open.
We recognize that spending time in nature is an effective way to reduce stress and support physical and mental wellbeing and our goal is to continue to provide the Regional Parks service that is such an important part of so many peoples’ daily health routines.

However, all park facilities such as playgrounds, docks, rental facilities and picnic shelters are closed, and all programs and special events have been postponed. Several parking lots have also been closed.”

• Barnston Island Regional Park – Fully closed

See the latest from Metro Vancouver here.

BC Recreation Sites and Trails

RSTBC is temporarily closing recreation facilities and suspending services at many recreation sites and trails across BC. This includes some popular places like Cat Lake.

See here for a full list of closures.