Get Outside and Celebrate BC Trails Day on June 6

Image: Elk Valley Adventure Dirt Riders Society.

More than 60 events planned in over 50 communities across British Columbia

British Columbians are invited to hit the trails, grab a paddle, volunteer outdoors, or simply spend time in nature as communities across the province celebrate the sixth annual BC Trails Day on Saturday, June 6.

BC Trails Day, coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), is a province-wide celebration of trails, stewardship, and outdoor recreation. This year, more than 60 events are planned in over 50 communities across British Columbia, organized by local recreation groups, stewardship organizations, Indigenous communities, local governments, and volunteers.

Events range from trail maintenance projects and guided hikes to mountain bike festivals, paddling events, stewardship activities, educational walks, scavenger hunts, and community celebrations.

“BC Trails Day is a chance to celebrate the people and organizations who put so much time and care into making outdoor recreation possible across the province,” said Kaelen Coles-Lyster, Community Relations Coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. “It’s also a great excuse to get outside, explore somewhere new, connect with your community, and enjoy the amazing trails and outdoor spaces we have here in British Columbia.” 

This year’s events include the opening of a new 35-kilometre trail in Cumberland, mountain bike festivals and trail days in communities like Coquitlam, Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton, guided hikes and stewardship events on Vancouver Island, equestrian and ATV rides in the Interior and North, paddling and water stewardship activities, and volunteer trail maintenance projects taking place across nearly every region of the province.

Communities participating this year include Prince George, Mackenzie, Burns Lake, Terrace, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Grand Forks, Rossland, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Penticton, Courtenay, Cumberland, Nanaimo, Squamish, Pemberton, Coquitlam, Mission, Hope, Bowen Island, Gabriola Island, and many more.

ORCBC is also supporting 31 local events through its BC Trails Day Microgrant Program, which provides seed funding to help community organizations deliver stewardship activities, educational programming, and outdoor recreation experiences. The microgrant program is supported by the BC Parks License Plate Program, RC Strategies, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and donations to ORCBC. 

British Columbia is home to tens of thousands of kilometres of trails supporting hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, paddling, motorized recreation, wildlife viewing, winter recreation, and countless other outdoor experiences. Much of this infrastructure is maintained by volunteers and non-profit organizations who contribute thousands of hours each year to caring for trails and public recreation spaces.

“Behind many of the outdoor experiences people enjoy are volunteer groups and community organizations putting in an enormous amount of work to maintain trails, educate users, and steward these places,” said Coles-Lyster. “BC Trails Day is a great opportunity to recognize and celebrate those efforts.”

People can participate by attending a local event, volunteering with a recreation organization, trying a new outdoor activity, picking up litter along a local trail, or simply getting outside to explore their community. 

A full calendar of BC Trails Day events is available at www.orcbc.ca/events. More information about BC Trails Day is available at www.orcbc.ca/bctrailsday.

About BC Trails Day

Started in 2021, BC Trails Day is a province-wide celebration of trails, stewardship, and outdoor recreation. The annual event recognizes the volunteers, clubs, Indigenous communities, and organizations that help create, maintain, and protect British Columbia’s trail networks while encouraging responsible and inclusive access to the outdoors.

Participating communities include:

Armstrong-Spallumcheen
Bowen Island
Burns Lake
Castlegar
Clearwater
Coldstream
Coquitlam
Courtenay
Cowichan Lake
Cranbrook
Cumberland
Elkford
Gabriola Island
Golden
Grand Forks
Grasmere
Hope
Jordan River
Kimberley
Lasqueti Island
Mackenzie
Mission
Nanaimo
Pemberton
Penticton
Prince George
Revelstoke
Rossland
Salmon Arm
Sechelt
Squamish
Tahsis
Terrace
Tipella / Xa’xtsa
Vancouver
Vernon
Victoria
Whistler