Golden Ears Provincial Park

Golden Ears Provincial Park is a Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada and is 555.9 square kilometres (214.6 sq mi). It is named after the prominent twin peaks which are commonly referred to as Golden Ears (Mount Blanshard) (elevation: 1,716 metres (5,630 ft)). The park's southern end is located on the northern edge of the district municipality of Maple Ridge on the north side of the Fraser River.

Golden Ears Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Golden Ears Summit
Location in British Columbia
Golden Ears Provincial Park (Fraser Valley Regional District)
LocationLower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest cityMaple Ridge
Coordinates49°28′0″N 122°27′0″W
Area609 km²
Established1967
Visitors956,515 [2] (in 2017-18)
Governing bodyBC Parks
WebsiteGolden Ears Provincial Park

The park was originally part of Garibaldi Provincial Park (established 1927) but was split off as a separate park in 1967.[3]

Attractions

The park is often used for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and boating.

Camping

There are three main campgrounds at Golden Ears Park, with a total capacity of 409 vehicle accessible campsites. There are also backcountry campsites available at the park, also known as "Walk-In/Wilderness Camping". These Campsites are available at Alder Flats on the West Canyon Trail and Panorama Ridge on the Golden Ears Trail, but no facilities are provided. Finally, there are two group campgrounds available for reservation, by any group booking a minimum of 15 adults, with a maximum total of 50 persons.

Alouette Campground

The Alouette campground is the largest of the three main campgrounds in the park, with 206 campsites on it. During the summer season, park operators host security patrols. Only during the summer months the park provides drinking water that is regularly monitored, water is not available during the winter or fall season. The summer season is considered to be between June 19 - September 7, and reservations can be made between June 19 - September 6. There are 83 reservable campsites in Alouette. In the campground, there are amenities such as:

  • Visitor Parking (1)
  • Pit Toilets (7)
  • Flush Toilets (4)
  • Self Guided Trails (1)
  • Playgrounds (1)
  • Shower Buildings (2)
  • Drinking Water Taps (23)

Gold Creek Campground

Gold Creek campground is the second largest of the three main campgrounds in the park, with 148 campsites on it. During the summer season, park operators host security patrols. Only during the summer months the park provides drinking water that is regularly monitored, water is not available during the winter or fall season. Gold Creek is the only campground of the three that is open year-round, however like the other campgrounds, amenities are restricted during the winter months. The summer season is considered to be between April 1 - October 12, and reservations can be made between May 8 - September 6. There are 74 reservable campsites in Gold Creek. The winter months are considered to be between October 12 - March 31. In the campground, there are amenities such as:

  • Visitor Parking (1)
  • Pit Toilets (8)
  • Self Guided Trails (1)
  • Shower Buildings (2)
  • Drinking Water Taps (15)

North Beach Campground

North Beach campground is the smallest of the three main campgrounds in the park, with 55 campsites on it. During the summer season, park operators host security patrols. Only during the summer months the park provides drinking water that is regularly monitored, water is not available during the winter or fall season. The summer season is considered to be between June 19 - September 7, and reservations can be made between June 19 - September 6. There are 53 reservable campsites in North Beach. In the campground, there are amenities such as:

  • Visitor Parking (1)
  • Pit Toilets (3)
  • Drinking Water Taps (1)

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Wilderness/walk-in camping is permitted at Alder Flats on the West Canyon Trail and Panorama Ridge on the Golden Ears Trail, but no facilities are provided. The distance from parking to the walk-in sites at Alder Flats is approximately 5 kilometres; and to Panorama Ridge is approximately 9 kilometres. Camping is on individual gravel pads in wooded area at Alder Flats and in an undeveloped wooded area on Panorama Ridge. There are no campfires are allowed in Wilderness/walk-in camping, only portable camp stoves are permitted. In addition, you must pack out what you pack in, as there are no garbage removal services. Because of the very remote location of these campsites, park operators are not able to provide current information on the sites.

Rustic Marine Campsites

Rustic marine campsites are located on Alouette Lake at Moyer Creek, The Narrows and Alouette River (north end of the lake). There are no campfires are allowed in Wilderness/walk-in camping, only portable camp stoves are permitted. In addition, you must pack out what you pack in, as there are no garbage removal services. Because of the very remote location of these campsites, park operators are not able to provide current information on the sites.

Hiking
BC Parks trail marker in Golden Ears Provincial Park

There is an extensive network of hiking trails in the park ranging from short walks to strenuous backcountry trips.

Golden Ears Trail

This trail takes you to the Northern summit of the Golden Ears massif. The trail is approximately 12 km one-way from the west canyon parking lot with an elevation gain of 1500 meters. This is mostly a wilderness trail after the Alder Flats campsite, which is located a few kilometers from the parking lot. There are plenty of great camping spots along the ridge, however there is no permanent source of water. In 2017 Parks BC build 6 tent platforms near the summit of Golden Ears. Depending on the season, water can be melted from the snow fields that remain in the northern shadow of the peak and there is often freshwater flowing from a creek near the top. Views from the top are panoramic, overlooking the Fraser Valley to the south and surrounding peaks.

Canoeing

Canoeing is very popular on Alouette Lake. Canoe/kayak/pedal boat rentals are available for rent in the Alouette (South Beach) day-use area on weekends only from May long weekend to late June and daily from late June to Labour Day (weather permitting).

Climbing

There are no recommended technical climbing opportunities in Golden Ears Park. There are two mountains accessible by official trails that require intermediate skills to reach the peaks. Both are long strenuous hikes requiring proper equipment and experience.

Horseback Riding

There is an extensive network of over 20 kilometres of gravel/dirt horse trails in the park. Check the park map for horse specific trails. [PDF 458KB] Horses are not permitted on trails other than those designated on the park map. A permit is only required for commercial use of the horse trails.

No camping with horses is allowed in park frontcountry (parking lots, day-use areas, or any area less than 1 km from a park road), or in the vehicle accessible campgrounds. Day-use stopover is permitted at the South Beach corral area, but horses must remain within the corral or on a designated horse trail.

Camping with horses is permitted in the designated camping area on the East Canyon Trail, approximately 5 km north of Gold Creek parking lot.

This park provides trails only; horseback riding lesson/rentals, stables etc. are not available within the park.

Incidents

Some incidents have resulted in the injury to or death of park patrons.

For example, in July 2018, police received a call from BC Ambulance that a 21 year old man had been swept away by the current from Gold Creek in Golden Ears Provincial Park. A second man tried to help, and both were carried over the falls. The second man was found downstream with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (RMSAR) was deployed, and though an initial search did not find the first man, when the search continued the following morning, a body was found and recovered.

The previous year, in April 2017, emergency services were called to Golden Ears Provincial Park after receiving a report of a man being swept away by swift water in Gold Creek.

In September 2015, Ridge Meadows RCMP were called to Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park after a boat capsized on the lake. Four friends had experienced engine troubles with their 15-foot craft, and after pulling in to North Beach to check it out, were later swamped by a large wave. The boat took on water and sunk.[4] Two of the boaters made it to shore and found campers at Gold Creek, while a third made it to shore and headed into the Alouette campground. The three survivors were treated for hypothermia, and released from a hospital a day later. Members of the Maple Ridge Fire Department, Ridge Meadows RCMP, British Columbia Ambulance Service, Ridge Meadows SAR, RCMP Air 1, British Columbia Ambulance Service's Air Ambulance searched for the fourth missing boater. The woman was never found and presumed deceased.

In July 2013, a 21-year-old man drowned in what appeared to have been a swimming accident in the park.

Filming location

See also

References
  1. "Golden Ears Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  2. "BC Parks 2017/18 Statistics Report" (PDF). bcparks.ca. 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  3. "Golden Ears Park". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  4. "1 person still missing after boat capsizes on Alouette Lake". CBC News. September 20, 2015. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  5. "IMDb: Filming Location Matching "Alouette Lake, Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb.
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