Golden Ears Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks in BC — and for good reason. Located just 45 minutes from Vancouver in Maple Ridge, it offers everything from family-friendly lakeside camping to serious backcountry adventures.
With millions of Metro Vancouver residents nearby, sites fill up fast. Here's how to get one.
The Campgrounds at Golden Ears
Golden Ears has several distinct camping areas:
- Gold Creek Campground — the main frontcountry campground, drive-in sites, perfect for families
- Alouette Campground — another drive-in option, close to Alouette Lake
- North Beach Group Camp — for larger groups
- Backcountry — for those willing to hike in, including sites at Alouette Lake and Gold Creek
The drive-in campgrounds are the most sought-after and the hardest to book.
When to Book
BC Parks releases Golden Ears campsites three months in advance. Because of the park's proximity to Metro Vancouver, these sites are extremely competitive — expect them to sell out within minutes of opening.
Set a calendar reminder for three months before your desired dates, and be on the BC Parks website right at midnight when the booking window opens.
Using the Cancellation Strategy
Like all popular BC Parks campgrounds, Golden Ears sees regular cancellations as people's plans change. These cancelled sites go back into the system immediately and can be booked by anyone.
Campgetter monitors Golden Ears availability every 5 minutes and sends you an instant alert when a site opens up. This is how many campers are getting into sold-out parks — they set up a monitor and wait for the right cancellation.
What to Do at Golden Ears
- Swim at Alouette Lake — one of the warmest lakes in the Lower Mainland
- Hike to Golden Ears summit — a challenging 24 km day hike with incredible views
- Kayak or canoe — rentals available at the lake
- Bike the trails — multiple mountain biking options
Tips for Getting a Site
- Book mid-week — Tuesday/Wednesday sites are significantly easier to get than weekends
- Consider early June or late September — shoulder season sites are far less competitive and the weather is often still excellent
- Monitor multiple campgrounds — if you're flexible on which campground, monitor Gold Creek and Alouette simultaneously to double your chances
- Have everything ready — when you get the cancellation alert, you need to complete booking within a couple of minutes
Getting There
Golden Ears Provincial Park entrance is at 13000 Golden Ears Way in Maple Ridge. From Vancouver, take Highway 1 east to the Haney Bypass, then follow signs to the park.
Bottom Line
Golden Ears is one of the best camping options near Vancouver. With a cancellation monitoring strategy and some flexibility on dates, getting a site is very achievable.