FAQ

MAKING RESERVATIONS

Reservations can only be made online at camping.bcparks.ca or by phone at 1-800-689-9025.

Reservations are recommended for individual campsites to guarantee your perfect weekend in the outdoors. All camping reservations are currently available 4 months in advance. For a full listing of reservable campsites and to make your reservations, please visit camping.bcparks.ca or book by telephone at 1-800-689-9025 (surcharge applies to phone reservations), Monday to Friday from 7:00am until 9:00pm and Saturday, Sundays and holidays from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

For detailed reservation policies visit BC Parks: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/reserve/

PLEASE NOTE: If the sites/dates you are after are listed as unavailable on the BC Parks website, this means we are full, and cannot accommodate you at that time.

FIRE BAN INFORMATION

CAMPFIRE BAN FOR MAINLAND AREAS OF THE COASTAL FIRE CENTRE, NOW RESCINDED.

Campfire Bans

Always check the current ban information before you visit. Limited burning hours or full campfire bans may be imposed; depending on the level of ban other fire-related devices may also be banned (tiki torches, sky lanterns, etc). Be prepared to cook on a portable stove that is ULC or CSA rated. Campfires are 'Category 1'.

Camping Stoves, BBQs & Propane Fire Pits

Some activities and devices are permitted when a campfire ban is in place and some are not. This varies depending on the prohibition itself; check details of the current bans and restrictions.

Often, campfire bans still allow the use of CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves/BBQs that use gas, propane, or charcoal briquettes, or of portable campfire apparatus that use charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel, or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 cm tall. However, in extreme fire conditions, these may also be prohibited.

Smoking

Smoking is restricted during a fire ban. The smoking restriction applies to all areas within a provincial park and protected area except in a designated, front country campsite of which you are the registered guest or inside your own vehicle. Cigarettes and other ignition sources must be extinguished and disposed of safely within the designated campsite or vehicle.

Wildfire

To report a wildfire or irresponsible behavior call 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 from a cell phone. Information from the public is crucial to ensuring wildfires are responded to as soon as possible.

Propane Campfire Rentals

Sea to Sky Parks now offers propane campfire rentals that may be used during a fire ban at Alice Lake, Porteau Cove, Cultus Lake, and Chilliwack Lake.  The campfire rings run on a BBQ-sized propane tank, rates are $15/night, and propane is $69.99 to buy or $32.99 for propane exchange. Also available for $40, is a fire ring and propane exchange. They are available on a first come first served basis. Please visit the Gatehouse at any of these four parks for this service.

LATE ARRIVALS

If you are unable to arrive on the scheduled start date of your reservation, it will be held for you until 11am the following day, at which point if you have not checked in or alerted us to a late arrival, your reservation will be canceled without refund, and the site made available to others. Late reservations may be honored on a case-by-case basis.

To let us know about circumstances outside of your control that have altered your plans, please fill out the Late Arrival Notification Form.

The responses recorded by this form are checked daily by the parks operated by Sea to Sky Park Services.

LOST & FOUND

If you have lost something in any one of our parks, we will do our best to get it back to you. Please fill out the Lost & Found Notification Form. If you find something in one of our parks, please give it to the nearest park employee, or email us if this is not possible. We always try to reunite lost/found items with their owners!

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT

Check-in is after 1pm on your scheduled arrival date, and check-out is before 11am on your scheduled departure date.

You must claim your reserved spot before 11am the day after your scheduled arrival date.

If you do not arrive by then, your reservation is cancelled without a refund and your site is made available to others.

The reservation holder (‘occupant’) you named when booking your reservation must be present upon arrival and throughout the stay.

If you wish to re-register, please do so with a Park Attendant by 10:00pm the evening before your permit expires (only applicable to First Come First Serves sites).

Maximum stay is 14 days in any calendar year.

WALK-IN SITES & FIRST COME FIRST SERVED SITES

Walk-In Sites - A walk-in site can only be used by a camping party with tents since there is no vehicle access. This means that anyone sleeping in a vehicle (such as an RV or van) cannot use the site, and access is only available by carrying your camping equipment to the site from a designated parking area. These sites are available by reservation only, they are not to be confused with First Come First Served (FCFS) sites.

First Come First Served (FCFS) - These sites are non-reservable, and can only be occupied by visiting the park operating FCFS sites. There is no way to determine or predict availability ahead of time, this can only be known by visiting the park in person on the day you wish to start camping. The Stawamus Chief is the only park in the Sea to Sky region that offers FCFS year-round.

For FCFS sites, the weekends tend to fill quickly starting anywhere from Thursday to Friday night. However, going into a long weekend we have been known to be full by Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. During the week, there tends to be more availability, but not guaranteed.

Please be aware that Porteau Cove, Alice Lake, Cultus Lake, and Chilliwack Lake are 100% reservable during our peak season (April - October) and do not operate any FCFS sites.

PORTEAU COVE OLYMPIC LEGACY CABIN BOOKINGS & GUIDELINES

Porteau Cove Olympic Legacy Cabins booking page

Cabins can be booked up to one year in advance.

Cabin rentals require a minimum two-night booking and a minimum three-night booking on long weekends.

Check-In: 4 pm & Check-Out: 10 am.

Quiet hours are strictly 10:00pm to 7:00am. Loud noise or music is not permitted at any time.

Maximum occupancy for guests staying overnight in the cabin is four people. Two vehicles are included in the cost of parking at the cabin. An additional vehicle may park in the day-use area and must display a parking permit to be purchased from park staff ($12 per night).

The maximum number of day visitors is two people and they must park in the day-use area. The parking lot closes nightly and any unauthorized vehicles will be towed.

Full payment and a damage deposit will be taken at the time of booking. If canceling outside of 14 days a refund will be provided minus a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than 14 days before arrival will forfeit 100% of the payment. Damage deposits are refunded in full if a cancellation is made.

Alcohol is permitted in the cabin for guests over 19 years of age.

No fires are allowed near the cabins or on the beach. Burning of vegetation (deadfall included) is strictly prohibited. Propane fire rings can be rented for $15 per night, plus a deposit, not including the propane tank.

No pets are allowed in the cabins. A $250 fine will be imposed if a pet is found on the property.

No smoking is permitted on the property (including the patio). A $250 fine will be imposed if a party is found smoking.

Please do not leave food or garbage outside the cabins due to bears and other wildlife in the park.

Please deposit garbage in the bear-proof bins or contact staff at the gatehouse during posted hours for garbage pick up.

Please do your dishes and leave the cabins in a tidy state or there will be additional cleaning charges. Please leave keys on the table and lock the door behind you upon checkout.

Please check www.bcparks.ca before traveling.

All occupants are subject to the Park Act. Cutting or defacing of any Park property is a fineable offense.

Please Read Our Rental Agreement for more information: Porteau Cove Cabin Agreement

PARKING/VEHICLES

Each campsite reservation includes one vehicle.

You may add one additional vehicle to your campsite. The cost for this is half the regular campsite fee with a maximum of $12. All vehicles must park in designated lots or on the gravel portion of campsites. No parking is permitted along roadways/sides. No overnight parking is permitted in day-use lots.

Vehicles used in parks must be licensed and operated by licensed drivers.

HOW TO GET HERE

By Vehicle:

Most parks operated by Sea to Sky Parks are best accessed by vehicle. To find directions using google maps, conduct a search for a Provincial Park ie. Alice Lake Provincial Park, Cultus Lake Provincial Park. Note that many parks do not have cell phone coverage or will have limited coverage so it is best to have clear directions recorded ahead of time.

By Bus:

If you do not have a vehicle please check out Parkbus, which connects city dwellers with nature through accessible transportation options. Founded in 2010, Parkbus operates bus services to National and Provincial Parks from major cities across Canada. Please review the schedule, rates, and other details on their website https://parkbus.ca/schedules

See you in the parks!

CAMPFIRES

Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. Flames may not extend higher than the fire ring grill. Park Users may bring their own firewood or purchase it onsite from a Park Attendant.

Leaving your campfire unattended is a serious offense.

Collection and burning of deadwood, driftwood, leaves, branches, and other debris is prohibited.

Campfire Bans

Always check the current ban information before you visit. Limited burning hours or full campfire bans may be imposed; depending on the level of ban other fire-related devices may also be banned (tiki torches, sky lanterns, etc). Be prepared to cook on a portable stove that is ULC or CSA rated.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted during a fire ban. The smoking restriction applies to all areas within a provincial park and protected area except in a designated, front country campsite of which you are the registered guest or inside your own vehicle. Cigarettes and other ignition sources must be extinguished and disposed of safely within the designated campsite or vehicle.

Wildfire

To report a wildfire or irresponsible behaviour call 1 800 663-5555  OR *5555 from a cell phone. Information from the public is crucial to ensuring wildfires are responded to as soon as possible.

GENERATORS

Generator use is only permitted from 9:00am to 11:00am and from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Generators must be placed on the campsite pad, not in surrounding vegetation. Generators are not permitted in walk-in campsites.

NOISE

Out of respect for other campers all noise that disturbs others is prohibited between 10:00pm and 7:00am. Excessive noise causing a disturbance is not permitted at any time.

PETS

Pets must be on a leash at all times, except in clearly marked off-leash areas. Pets are not allowed in the day-use/beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must clean up after them.

Can I take my pet into the backcountry?

Taking pets into the backcountry, especially dogs, is not recommended, and in some parks is not permitted. Although some people feel that their pet is a part of the family, they can disturb other campers, foul trails, and create the potential for problems with wildlife.

Can I take my pet into my reserved cabin? (Maple Bay/Porteau Cove)

Pets are not permitted in any cabins.

SWIMMING

Swimming areas protect swimmers within marker buoys. All watercraft and water skiers must stay outside markers. Lifeguards are not in attendance at BC Park locations.

Swimmer's itch may be present at some parks. For more information on the treatment and prevention of swimmer's itch, check out the BC Healthfiles page.

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL

Consumption of alcohol in a public place (motor vehicle, day-use area, parking lot, etc.) is prohibited. The consumption of alcohol is only permitted within campsite boundaries for park users who are registered occupants of a campsite and aged 19yrs and over.

WILDLIFE

To avoid potential problems with bears and other wildlife, lock your food in your vehicle whenever you are asleep or not at your campsite. Be sure to use the garbage containers provided and maintain a clean campsite. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. More information on wildlife safety.

Keep small children close and ensure dogs are on leash at all times to avoid conflicts with wild animals.

To report bear sightings, poachers or polluters, please contact the 24-hour conservation hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Everyone using parks should strive for minimal impact. Visit Leave No Trace.

Garbage and recycling should be placed in the provided bins or taken with you when you leave the park.

TRAVEL TRAILER BOOKINGS & GUIDELINES

**Unfortunately, trailer rentals are unavailable at Cultus Lake, and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Parks. We hope to have trailer rentals available again in summer 2024**

Full payment and a damage deposit will be taken at the time of booking. If canceling outside of 14 days a refund will be provided minus a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than 14 days before arrival will forfeit 100% of the payment. Damage deposits are refunded in full if a cancellation is made.

Each trailer has a capacity of four people.

One large vehicle or two small vehicles are included in the cost. Additional vehicles will pay the additional vehicle fee.

Bedding is not included with trailer rentals so please bring your own.

Alcohol is permitted in the trailer for guests over 19 years of age.

No fires are allowed, except in designated fire pit.

No garbage or food is to be left outside due to bears and other wildlife.

No pets are allowed in the trailer.  A $250 fine will be imposed if a pet is found in the trailer.

No smoking is permitted in the trailer. A $250 fine will be imposed if a party is found smoking.

If you have any questions or concerns during your stay, please contact our staff in the park.

For more information, please read our Trailer Rental agreements:

Cultus Lake: Cultus Trailer Agreement

Chilliwack Lake: Chilliwack Trailer Agreement

CALL PARK PATROL WHILE CAMPING IN A PROVINCIAL PARK

All Sea to Sky operated parks will have the park patrol phone number posted on information boards around the park, please familiarize yourself with the info on the boards in the park each time you visit so you are up to date with the latest goings on.

GARIBALDI BACKCOUNTRY

Sea to Sky Parks only operates and maintains the facilities at the Diamond Head and Rubble Creek trailheads. We do not operate the backcountry campgrounds or facilities within Garibaldi Provincial Park and cannot provide information on current conditions or hiking within the park. Please visit bcparks.ca for current information on Garibaldi Provincial Park.

CONTACT US

For all other questions, email us at info@seatoskyparks.com, call us at 604-986-9371, or visit www.bcparks.ca.

PRIVACY POLICY

Sea to Sky Park Services is committed to principles of integrity and trust with respect to the protection of personal information. As part of our commitment, we will protect the personal information of our customers, employees, and other individuals whose personal information is in our possession or control in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (the Act) and all other applicable privacy laws.