Parks and Camp Grounds
"park" (pärk), n. [OF parc,
fr early ML parricus.] 1. English Law An enclosed piece of ground
stocked with beasts of the chase, held by prescription or the king's grant.
2. A tract of ground kept in its natural state, as for game, for walking,
riding or the like. 3. A piece of ground in or near a city or town
kept for ornament and recreation; also an area maintained in its natural
state as a public property.
Our Parks
Vancouver Island is about 314
miles long. On it there are approximately 214 lakes and 60 rivers.
There are 90 provincial parks, 74 wilderness recreation sites, a
large national park and many smaller regional parks. There are also
an assortment of privately owned resorts and camp grounds. The amenities
offered to campers in these various parks will vary considerably.
So will cost. Check with the Ministry
of Tourism for more detailed information.
Parks in British Columbia are
not intended to be fully utilized for recreational purposes. Many
of them were created to protect wilderness and public access to these areas
is discouraged. B.C.Parks designate five types of park zoning:
-
Wilderness Conservation
-
The object of this zone is to
protect remote, undisturbed natural landscapes and to provide unassisted
backcountry recreation opportunities dependent of a pristine environment.
No motorized activities are permitted. Development in nonexistent.
In, short, areas designated as Wilderness Conservation are large natural
areas free of any evidence of modern human activity, with very low use
and without facilities. Substantial portions of the island parks fall into
this type of classification. 165,000 hectares or 75% of Strathacona
Park, all of the Carmanah Walbran and of the Artlish Caves Park are designated
as Wilderness Conservation areas.
-
Wilderness Recreation Zone
-
Areas designated as Wilderness
Recreation are natural areas where ecological processes occur largely
uninfluenced by human activity, and where low levels of recreational
use are permitted but confined to specific primitive facilities and sites.
The approved facilities in this zone include trails, trail signs, designated
camping areas and sanitary facilities.
-
Natural Environmental Zone
-
The objective in this zone is
to protect scenic values and to provide for backcountry recreation opportunities
in a largely undisturbed natural environment. Typically these areas
can be accessed by roads, with motor boats or by aircraft.
Facilities are moderately developed with trails, walk in camp sites and
shelters.
-
Intensive Recreational Zone
-
The objective of this zone is
to provide for a variety of readily accessible, facility-oriented outdoor
recreation opportunities. Typically these areas will have campgrounds,
picnic and play areas, administrative buildings and parking lots.
-
Special Features Zone
-
The objective in this zone is
to preserve and protect significant natural or cultural resources.
Visitor access may be restricted or denied.
In the introduction to this page
I differentiated between provincial parks and wilderness recreation areas.
The wilderness recreation areas are managed by the Ministry of Forests
rather than by Parks B.C. In the process of logging operations, primitive
roads are built. These roads provide a way to reach remote areas
which would not otherwise accessible. It has become common for logging
companies and the Ministry of Forests to cooperate in the building and
maintaining of simple camp sites at some of these areas after the active
logging has been completed. There is drive in access to these camping spots,
and fire pits and out houses are available. Typically these sites are small
and they are always free.
Other Links
More
information on B.C.Parks
including how to make reservations. (You do not need those most of the
time unless you want to do the big beaches in the summer.)
Private
Campgrounds often have more facilities for those who have recreational
vehicles.
© 1998 vanisle@oocities.com
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