This winter was a tough one for British Columbia's parks. Extreme weather has battered trails, campsites, and infrastructure across the province, leading to temporary closures and costly repairs. As the long weekend approaches, some British Columbians may find their favourite trails impassable or parks looking different than last summer.
Repeated Damage to Chilliwack Trail
After rain and snowmelt washed away part of the Vedder Rotary Trail in Chilliwack late last year, city crews worked to restore access. A team of 30 people removed debris, regraded, and reapplied gravel to the trail, which sees an average of 3,000 users daily. By January, the trail was mostly open. However, it was damaged again in subsequent storms.
"This winter was a tough one," said Drew Pilling, senior operations technician with the City of Chilliwack. Three storms in three months, including atmospheric rivers in December and January, and a March storm with high water and winds, each left debris and closed parts of the trail.
Province-Wide Impact and Costs
Across BC, extreme weather has caused temporary closures of dozens of parks, trails, and campsites over the past five years, costing millions in repairs. The BC Environment Ministry has spent $40 million restoring access to provincial parks since 2021, with federal disaster assistance. The total cost is likely higher when local, regional, and national parks are included.
Some repairs have taken years. Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is expected to reopen this month after flooding in fall 2021. The Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island is set to reopen this summer after storm damage in late 2024. Golden Ears Provincial Park, which suffered landslides and sinkholes in October 2024, reopened in time for the 2025 summer season after prioritized repairs.
Aging Infrastructure and Increased Demand
BC Parks has seen a 30% surge in visitors over six years. Combined with aging infrastructure, the repeated destruction has led to calls for better funding. "They really need to be proactive," said Michael Noonan, associate professor at UBC Okanagan. "But that's very hard when you're already playing catch-up."
The province recently completed a $21.5 million recreation expansion program, but funding for the Ministry of Environment and Parks was reduced by $6 million in the 2026-27 budget. In 1980, BC Parks' budget was 0.5% of the provincial budget; last year it was 0.07%.
Difficult Decisions Ahead
The ministry acknowledged navigating a "difficult balance" between preserving recreation and ensuring sustainability. This was evident when the province closed part of the Kettle Valley Trail after flood damage, opting for a $20 million decommissioning instead of $60 million in repairs. The ministry called it an example of "harsh realities of climate-impacted management."
Cathedral Lakes Lodge, a heritage lodge, cancelled bookings for two years after a wildfire destroyed an access bridge. Owner Glenda Patterson said parks have changed: "People have to change their perception of a beautiful park. Fire might be a part of that landscape now."
Safety Risks and Closures
Extreme weather also creates safety risks. Lindeman Lake trail in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park remains closed after a windstorm felled dozens of trees. Hiker Annalise Schatz found the trail "completely different" with uprooted old-growth. Dangerous trees have also closed five campgrounds near Harrison Hot Springs.
A recent BC Supreme Court case denied damages to a family of a hiker killed by a falling tree, noting hikers accept risks but expressing concern over lack of tree condition data.
Climate Change and Future Challenges
Christopher Lemieux, associate professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, noted that park infrastructure built between the 1950s and 1970s is now over 50 years old and designed for past climate conditions. BC's population has grown by 4.5 million since 1950, with annual park visits reaching 27 million. "There's not an easy solution," he said.
Park staff must balance recreation with conservation, said Noonan. "We need to decide as a province what role we want parks to play." Research indicates demands will increase with climate change, as warmer springs and longer falls boost visits.
Parks are critical for climate resilience, storing carbon and providing buffers against storms and heat. But climate change also damages parks, with storms, pests, and invasive plants. Signs in Pacific Spirit Park warn of risks from falling trees after "years of storms, heat/drought events and insect infestations."
Adapting to a New Reality
Planner Josephine Clark said Metro Vancouver is working to adapt, considering climate resilience in infrastructure and species selection. In Chilliwack, crews applied less gravel after the March storm to be "fiscally responsible." Pilling said the city may leave natural surfaces in some areas if storms continue.
BC Parks is "building back better." After 2021 flooding, parts of the Berg Lake Trail were moved out of the floodplain, and bridges rebuilt at slower river points, as part of a $4.65 million restoration. But doing this across all vulnerable areas would be costly.
Guidebook author Taryn Eyton said the challenges feel "almost insurmountable." At Garibaldi Lake, a section of trail is routinely flooded. "The answer is money and there just isn't any," she said.
