CampPing guide
Golden Ears Camping: Campgrounds, Booking & Cancellations
Compare the Alouette, Gold Creek, and North Beach campgrounds, booking windows, 2026 fees, things to do at Alouette Lake, and how to catch cancellations.
By CampPing
Updated June 10, 2026 · British Columbia
Golden Ears Provincial Park is one of the biggest and most-loved parks in British Columbia, and it sits close enough to Vancouver, near Maple Ridge, for an easy weekend. You get Alouette Lake beaches, big forest, and trails ranging from a gentle falls walk to serious mountain summits.
That combination of size, scenery, and proximity is exactly why sites are hard to get. The most useful questions are which campground to choose, how the booking window works, and what to do when the reservation page is already full.
Here is the practical version: the three campgrounds, the booking details, what it costs in 2026, what to do once you are there, and how to improve your odds when Golden Ears is sold out.
Golden Ears camping quick facts
The three campgrounds
Alouette
The largest campground at 206 sites and the closest to the Alouette Lake day-use area and beach. It has the most services, including hot showers, flush toilets, drinking water, and a playground, which makes it the easiest pick for families. It is open seasonally, roughly mid-May to mid-September.
Gold Creek
About 182 sites on the Gold Creek side of the park, near popular trailheads like the Lower Falls trail. Gold Creek stays open year-round with a reduced winter fee and limited facilities in the colder months, so it is the better bet for shoulder-season and hiking trips.
North Beach
A smaller, lower-cost campground of about 55 sites toward the north end of Alouette Lake. A good option when the bigger campgrounds are full or you want something quieter and cheaper.
Backcountry and group camping
Beyond the frontcountry campgrounds, Golden Ears has backcountry camping for experienced, self-sufficient hikers. BC Parks lists two wilderness sites: Alder Flats, reached on the West Canyon–Golden Ears Trail, and Panorama Ridge, higher up the same route. The shelter at Panorama Ridge is for emergencies only, so plan to camp in your own tent.
Backcountry trips go through BC Parks' backcountry registration, so check the park page for the current permit process and fees before you head up. This is real mountain terrain: carry the essentials, store food and scented items in a cache, keep your site clean for bears, and leave a detailed trip plan with someone you trust.
For larger groups, Golden Ears also has group camping, including the Woodlands group site, which allows horse camping.
Things to do at Golden Ears
- Swim, paddle, or laze on the beach at Alouette Lake. The lake is popular for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing, and fishing.
- Hike to Gold Creek Lower Falls, an easy, family-friendly walk, or take on bigger objectives like Alouette Mountain and the Golden Ears summit if you are experienced and prepared.
- Launch a canoe or kayak from the day-use area, or bring a bike for the park roads.
- Plan hot summer days early. The Alouette Lake day-use area fills quickly and can reach capacity on sunny weekends.
Before you go
- Golden Ears is one of BC’s largest and most popular parks, and it is close to Vancouver, so peak-season weekends book up fast the moment they are released.
- Alouette is seasonal (about mid-May to mid-September); Gold Creek is year-round with reduced winter services. Confirm current dates on the reservation page.
- This is active bear country. Store food and scented items securely and pack out garbage.
- Quiet hours and one-vehicle-per-site rules apply; check the park page for current limits before you arrive.
- Fees and service dates change. Always confirm the latest fees and what is open on the BC Parks reservation page before booking.
How to get a site when Golden Ears is sold out
Golden Ears books up fast, but cancellations happen all the time as plans change. Instead of refreshing the reservation page, tell CampPing the campground and dates you want and we'll ping you the moment a matching spot frees up. Free email alerts, no credit card.
Watch Golden Ears for cancellationsGolden Ears camping FAQ
When can I book Golden Ears campsites?
Frontcountry sites are reservable up to three months before your arrival date through the BC Parks reservation system, with new dates releasing at 7 a.m. Pacific. During peak season (May to September) the campgrounds are 100% reservable.
Which Golden Ears campground is best?
Alouette is best for families and lake access (most services, closest to the beach). Gold Creek suits hikers and shoulder-season trips since it stays open year-round. North Beach is the smaller, cheaper, quieter option.
What if Golden Ears is sold out?
Cancellations happen constantly as plans change. Stay flexible on dates and campground, and let CampPing watch for a matching opening so you can book the moment one appears.
Park details from BC Parks and Go Camping BC. Fees and service dates change, so confirm the latest on the BC Parks reservation page before booking. See more popular BC campgrounds.