BC Parks will allow people to access the Chief Peaks Trail at the Stawamus Chief Park with a free day-use park.
Beginning Monday, July 27, 2020, people can get a free BC Parks day-use pass and visit certain areas in six of the busiest parks, including hiking the Stawamus Chief.
In the Garibaldi Park, trailheads at Diamond Head, Rubble Creek and Cheakamus will be open for access.
Garibaldi Park had more than 120,000 visitors and Stawamus Chief Park had nearly 600,000 visitors in the 2018-2019 period.
In Mount Robson Park, the Berg Lake Trail and the Howe Sound Crest Trail, Hollyburn Mountain Trails and the Black Mountain Plateau trail in Cypress Park can be accessed with the day-pass.
Similarly, the upper mountain trails including the Seymour Main Trail, Dog Mountain Trail and Mystery Lake Trail can be accessed using the day-pass.
The free day-use passes are part of a pilot program intended to help BC Parks re-open busy areas and test the passes as a tool to manage overcrowding.
The passes can be obtained on the Discover Camping website and will be released daily at 6 a.m. for same-day bookings.
The number of passes available each day depends on the park and ranges from vehicle passes for the Berg Lake Trail and Golden Ears Park to individual trail passes in the other parks for morning, afternoon or full day.
Kris Ouellette says
So do locals have to compete with out of towners to enjoy our own town at 6am or does my ID with a Squamish address get me access whenever I want?