The province’s free daily pass program returns to three popular parks this summer to manage traffic and protect the environment.
From June 17, visitors to Golden Ears, Joffre Lakes and three trails in Garibaldi will have to book a place online, the environment ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
“Excessive use has become a growing challenge in these three parks,” Environment Minister George Heyman said in a press release.
“We need to ensure that, above all, we protect what makes these parks special through sustainable recreation.”
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Passes can be booked online on the BC Parks website at 7 a.m., two days before the planned trip. Omissions can be canceled if plans change.
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Those visiting the Golden Ears and Diamond Head, Rubble Creek and Cheakamus trails in Garibaldi will require vehicle passes, while all visitors to Joffre Lakes Park will require an individual pass, the province said. As in previous summers, Discover Parks ambassadors will check for leaks.
There will be no first-come, first-served parking system where passes are required.
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According to the Ministry of Environment, an “uncontrolled increase” in visitors could lead to damage to trails, trampling of vegetation, displacement of wildlife and negative impacts on “local cultural values”. Parking can also be a challenge, he added.
Over the next three years, BC Parks invested $ 21.5 million to expand outdoor recreation opportunities, including adding new campsites and trails to the parks and upgrading existing facilities.
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