Prince George is gearing up to celebrate BC Trails Day on Saturday, June 1. The annual event is a province-wide celebration highlighting the importance of trails and outdoor recreation to physical, mental, and environmental health. BC Trails Day also recognizes the contributions of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to maintaining and enhancing these trails.
Organized by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), in collaboration with local recreation and stewardship organizations, municipalities, and land managers, BC Trails Day will feature more than 60 community events across the province, including group hikes and rides to trail cleanups, campouts, educational sessions on trail building and responsible recreation, and activities introducing new trail users to outdoor recreation.
In addition to Prince George, participating communities include Black Creek, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Colwood, Courtenay, Creston, Cumberland, Delta, Denman Island, Elkford, Fernie, Gabriola, Gambier Island, Golden, Grand Forks, Grasmere, Hope, Invermere, Jordan River, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kimberley, Langley, Logan Lake, Maple Ridge, Mission, Pemberton, Port Alberni, Powell River, Qualicum, Revelstoke, Rossland, Saanich, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Saturna Island, Scotch Creek, Sicamous, Spruston, Squamish, Surrey, Terrace, Vancouver, Victoria, Williams Lake and others [see complete list of registered events here - please don’t publish spreadsheet as it contains email addresses].
"We are thrilled to see BC Trails Day grow each year, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate and care for our incredible trail systems," said Louise Pedersen, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. "Trails not only provide opportunities for physical activity and recreation but also serve as vital connections to nature and the communities around us. This Saturday, we encourage everyone to head outdoors, explore their local trails, and discover the beauty of British Columbia.
"Volunteers truly form the backbone of our trail system," said Pedersen. "Their dedication and tireless efforts are essential in ensuring our trails remain safe, accessible, and enjoyable. BC Trails Day provides a platform to recognize their invaluable contributions to our communities. For trail users looking to give back, consider joining a local recreation group and contribute to ongoing trail maintenance and advocacy for the trail systems in their local community."
The exact number of volunteer trail stewards in BC and their hours have not been comprehensively counted. However, Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC), under the Forest and Range Practices Act, has 388 partnership agreements with recreation groups, covering over 1,000 sites and trails. They collaborate indirectly with 8,812 volunteers who contribute nearly 400,000 hours. ORCBC’s survey data shows that only 60 per cent of outdoor recreation groups formally work with RSTBC. As such, thousands of volunteers and their hours likely remain unaccounted for.
Follow a trail
Here are some ways you can celebrate BC Trails Day on your own, with your family or friends:
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Go for a walk, ride, or paddle and have fun. If you're taking any four-legged friends along, remember a leash and waste bags.
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Pack a small garbage bag and some gloves, and pick up any trash you see on the trail. This helps keep trails clean and safe for other users and the wildlife who live nearby.
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Become a member of a local outdoor group to show support for your favourite trails. Your membership will support trail maintenance and advocacy for your community's trail systems.
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Share a social media post on why you're celebrating trails for a chance to win some great prizes. Tag #BCTrailsDay and the ORCBC (Instagram: orcbc.ca) to be entered to win.
