Golden Ears Provincial Park

The park covers around sixty-two thousand hectares of the Coast Mountains and takes its name from the twin summits of Golden Ears, which catch a gold colour in low evening light. Alouette Lake fills the valley, a long reservoir fed by glaciers and consequently cold even in August, with a sandy day-use beach at the south end. Trails range from short walks to Gold Creek Falls up to the Golden Ears summit route, a demanding overnight climb of about fifteen hundred metres. The forest is second growth over the remains of a 1920s logging operation, and old rail grades and cable are still visible along some trails.

What you actually see

• The twin summits - Golden Ears turning gold in evening light.
• Alouette Lake - a long cold reservoir with a sandy day-use beach.
• Gold Creek Falls - an easy walk to a waterfall in the forest.
• The logging traces - rail grades and cable left from 1920s operations.

When to go

June to September; the summit route holds snow into July. The day-use area fills to capacity on hot weekends and the gates close when full. Camping books out months ahead.

Honest expectations

The park closes its gates when the day-use lots fill, often by mid-morning on hot weekends. Alouette Lake is glacier-fed and genuinely cold. The Golden Ears summit is a serious climb, not a day walk for most.

Nearby

Fort Langley lies south; Maple Ridge is the gateway town.