While most provincial parks are fully open, recent wildfires, extreme heat and flooding caused significant damage to trails, campgrounds and facilities in more than a dozen provincial parks in 2021. Repairs have been made at several parks so they can open for the coming season, but some remain temporarily closed, said BC Parks.
Parks that remain fully closed include Skagit Valley Park, Nahatlatch Park, Coquihalla Canyon Park and Skihist Park. Some parks have partial closures due to damaged backcountry trails or other circumstances.
At the popular Sasquatch Provincial Park near Harrison Hot Springs, all roads have been repaired. All affected campgrounds at E.C. Manning Provincial Park will be ready to open in time for the summer season, though some trails remain damaged and will be assessed and repaired once snow cover melts.
Some of the hardest-hit parks are in and around the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, such as Cultus Lake Provincial Park near Chilliwack. At Cultus Lake Park, floods moved rock and debris through the entire Maple Bay day-use area, covering picnic tables, the amphitheatre, grassy areas and the beach.
Crews have been removing damaged picnic tables and contouring the day-use area at Maple Bay, which is expected to open this summer with a reduced number of picnic tables and smaller area for picnicking. Restoration of all Cultus Lake Park campgrounds at Entrance Bay and Clear Creek is now finished.
