Ministry of Environment
Visitors can soon start booking trips to two popular BC Parks destinations drawing outdoor enthusiasts from around the world – Berg Lake trail and the Bowron Lake canoe circuit.
Beginning at 9 a.m. PST, on Jan. 2, 2016, those looking to hike the scenic Berg Lake trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park or paddle the pristine Bowron Lake canoe circuit in Bowron Lake Provincial Park can reserve a spot for the 2016 season through Discover Camping.
BC Parks saw a record 2,295 reservations for the Berg Lake trail in 2015, a 45 per cent increase from 2014. The Bowron Lake canoe circuit also saw a six per cent increase in bookings in 2015, from 975 in 2014 to 1,030 in 2015 as more people discover these amazing adventures.
Reservations for the Berg Lake trail and the Bowron Lake canoe circuit open ahead of any other BC Parks experiences – and allow booking for the entire 2016 season.
Advanced preparation is required for both the Berg Lake Trail and Bowron Lake canoe circuit because of the type of backcountry experience involved. The limited facilities offered on these adventures ensure a true wilderness experience, so visitors need to be prepared and self-sufficient.
The Berg Lake trail is open year-round, and can be reserved from June 12 to Sept. 14. The trail covers 23 kilometres and climbs 800 metres, offering scenic views of waterfalls, lakes and icebergs.
Bowron Lake Provincial Parks' world-renowned canoe circuit can be reserved from May 15 to Sept. 21. The entire circuit boasts 116 kilometres of paddling across 10 lakes, and includes several portages that are relatively flat. The entire trip takes from six to 10 days.
The West Side experience is also available, which is less than half of the circuit and takes two to four days to complete. BC Parks recently produced a short video for the Bowron Lake circuit so visitors can better plan their trip: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/