Golden Ears Provincial Park

At over 62,000 hectares, Golden Ears Provincial Park is one of the largest parks in British Columbia, and one of the most impressive in Metro Vancouver.

NOTE: From May 16th to September 1st, 2025, Golden Ears Provincial Park requires free day-use vehicle passes on Friday–Monday and holidays for all lots beyond the Spirea trailhead (Alouette Lake boat launch, South Beach, Gold Creek, West Canyon). Campers with a paid reservation or backcountry permit are exempt. Passes release at 7:00 am two days prior (reserve up to 48 hours ahead). One pass per vehicle (max 12 people). No passes are required in slower seasons.

To learn more about day-pass requirements, see the BC Parks website.)

This article contains the following information about Golden Ears Provincial Park:

Alouette Lake | Gold Creek | Camping in Golden Ears Park | Other Information

Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge in 2025

Mountainous Golden Ears Provincial Park is home to three campgrounds. Alouette, Gold Creek (open year-round) and North Beach. From mid-October to April, however, the park is open only from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. During the warmer months, the gates are usually open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm.

The park is located about 10 km north of Maple Ridge and connects with the even larger Garibaldi Provincial Park to the north. Garibaldi itself stretches all the way up past Whistler.

Alouette Lake

In the summer, kayaks and canoes are available for rent most weekends at the Alouette Lake Beach day area, and daily during peak season.

Alouette Lake day use area also has a large boat launch for folks with their own watercraft. Overnight parking is allowed, but it’s not recommended to leave boats in the water overnight due to theft.

Other popular park activities include hiking, cycling, mountain climbing, fishing, camping and horseback riding. Alouette Lake is also suitable for water-skiing and windsurfing. Dogs are permitted in most areas of Golden Ears as long as they are on leash, but not at the beaches.

TIP: The day area at Alouette Lake Beach features a large parking lot, which on hot sunny days in the summer can still fill up quickly. To improve your chances of finding a parking spot on a sunny weekend or statutory holiday, try to arrive before 11:00 am.

If you arrive later in the afternoon, on an especially busy day you might find the park closed to late-comers due to overcapacity. It can be a very popular place!

People Swimming at Alouette Lake — Alouette Lake

Gold Creek

Gold Creek Campground sits beside Alouette Campground, and both are farther up the road from the Alouette Lake day-use area. The nearby Gold Creek River area is a beautiful spot for playing in the water.

Close to the gravel parking lot is a great 2.7 km trail to Gold Creek’s Lower Falls. The hike is fairly level the whole way and takes about one hour in each direction. Dogs on leash are welcome, but bikes and horses are not allowed (both have plenty of other trails elsewhere in the park to explore).

Halfway up the trail to the Lower Falls is a beach area by the river, which is a great rest spot and a popular place for picnics.

River at Golden Ears Park — Gold Creek at Golden Ears Provincial Park

NOTE: Cell phone reception is poor or non-existent in parts of Golden Ears Park, making it an especially nice escape, unless you need to stay connected.

Golden Ears Park is not far from the much smaller Rolley Lake Provincial Park, which also has a great campground, and Stave Falls, a BC Hydro Powerhouse with an interesting visitors’ centre.

Camping in Golden Ears Park

Golden Ears Provincial Park offers over 400 sites for campers across its three main campgrounds at Alouette Lake, Gold Creek and North Beach. Amenities at each campground vary, but all three areas have pit toilets at a minimum. Unlike North Beach, the campgrounds at Alouette and Gold Creek also offer flushable toilets and hot shower facilities during camping seasons.

There are special metal rings for campfires at each of the three main campgrounds. Campfires are prohibited elsewhere in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Water taps can be found at most points of interest in the park, though they become unavailable in winter. Sani-stations cost about $5 per use and only accept loonies and toonies.

Groups of friends and family can reserve two group campgrounds in advance. One is located near the West Canyon parking lot, while the other is near Alouette Lake’s boat launch. At Gold Creek and Alouette, the camping fee is $35 per night. At North Beach, the camping fee is $23 per night.

NOTE: The information above is subject to change. Click Golden Ears Provincial Park for the most up-to-date information. For maps of the three main campgrounds, click Alouette, Gold Creek or North Beach.