COVID-19 Update • MB Guiding

Last updated: 2020-05-14

The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly. We are following the situation closely and taking the following actions:

We will continue to monitor federal and provincial recommendations for the general public as well as site-specific notifications for our programs and venues.
Should new developments or changes occur, we will communicate these updates to you as proactively as possible.
We are available to assist you with questions related to our programs and venues.

For Questions & Assistance

For the quickest response, please email [email protected]. We will get back to you as quickly as possible and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this busy and uncertain time.

More Resources

For up-to-date and accurate information on COVID-19 visit:

What We Are Doing

We will continue to keep you informed as the situation evolves. Information will be posted on this webpage and we will send you updates. We will continue to post inspiring and relevant content on our social media channels. We are offering you the opportunity for one-on-one discussion during an online meeting. We are available to help you through this challenging time.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Book a 30 minute Online Meeting.
Contact us.

A message from the ACMG: Outdoor Activities during COVID-19

Updated March 24, 2020

As of Tuesday March 24, the ACMG has recommended to its members to cease guiding operations until Canada’s Public Health Service has deemed the crisis due to the COVID-19 virus to be over. We believe that this is the responsible action given the potential repercussions of spreading the virus to members of the public and first responders, and thereby further taxing our health care systems.

We are very aware that recreating outside is critical to people’s physical and mental well-being. Finding the right balance during these uncertain times means choosing activities that are local to your place of residence, suitable for proper social distancing and low risk enough not to require outside assistance from first responders.

We are also concerned about the spread of the virus to our beloved small mountain towns and popular climbing destinations. In these areas, medical facilities, first responders and SAR groups often have limited resources. Although our hospitals and first responders may not be overloaded yet, they need this time to plan, train and prepare for the anticipated rush. Hosting large numbers of ‘out of town’ visitors may significantly expose residents to the transmission of the virus; or just as possible, will expose visitors to the virus that is already present in these small communities. With increased density of visitors, social distancing alone may not be enough to slow the rate of spread in these areas.

We hope that taking these measures now will mean a speedier return to normal activities much sooner.

Please look after yourselves, your friends and the community at large.

The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides

Reference: A message from the ACMG: Outdoor Activities during COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and Parks Canada team members is our top priority. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve joins local Indigenous communities – and the communities of Ucluelet, Tofino, Bamfield and Port Renfrew – in urging visitors not to come at this time to avoid adding further strain to local services.

This is not an appropriate time to visit any location in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, including the West Coast Trail, Long Beach, and Broken Group Islands. Following the advice of public health experts, Parks Canada is implementing additional measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Effective Wednesday, March 25th, motor vehicle access to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve will be suspended, in keeping with Parks Canada places across the country. Highway 4 through Pacific Rim National Park Reserve will remain open to allow essential services to access to Tofino and surrounding communities. However, Wick Road, Radar Hill Road, Grice Bay Road, and all parking lots will be closed. Motorists are not permitted to stop anywhere in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
All parking lots, trails, washrooms, day use facilities, showers, and visitor centers will also be closed, including access to beaches. No camping is permitted anywhere in the park reserve at this time.
Parks Canada will limit its activities to basic critical operations, including law enforcement and water system management.

We will re-evaluate the temporary closure on an ongoing basis and keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Updated April 15, 2020

To help limit the spread of COVID-19, Parks Canada suspends camping, group activities, and events across the country until at least May 31, 2020.

Reference: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

BC Parks Response to COVID-19

Updated May 6, 2020

Re–Opening of BC Parks

On May 14, BC Parks will start to reopen the majority of provincial parks and protected areas and marine parks.

People across the province will have more access to safe outdoor recreation opportunities, while meeting the guidelines of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO).

Re-opening Dates

On May 14, BC Parks will reopen many front- and back-country trails, beaches, picnic areas, washroom facilities and boat launches for day-use.

Visitor centres, nature houses and concession buildings may be opened on a case-by case basis.
In some instances, facilities such as playgrounds, hot springs, halls, and picnic shelters will remain closed.

On June 1, BC Parks will re-open most provincial campgrounds and back-country camping.

To ensure physical distancing, you may notice some changes in campgrounds, including additional spacing between campsites and limitations on the number of guests in campgrounds.
Some communal facilities such as shower buildings will open with enhanced cleaning protocols, while campgrounds that require visitors to use shared cooking facilities and backcountry cabins will remain closed.

Parks that attract large crowds will remain closed until it is safe to reopen at a later date. Backcountry campgrounds in some parks with high day use will also remain closed.

Health and Safety Guidelines

As we get back into our provincial parks, it is critical that we continue to abide by the guidelines and recommendations of the PHO, which includes non-essential travel.

Please visit parks close to home.
Visitors are expected to respect any facility or area closures and to follow the physical distancing requirements set out by the PHO.
Visitors should bring their own hand sanitizer are asked to practice appropriate hygiene. If you are sick, please visit another time.

BC Parks is doing everything we can to ensure parks are safe. We are all in this together, and we are counting on everyone to do their part so parks can remain open.

Reference: BC Parks Response to COVID-19

Parks Canada COVID-19 Info

Updated May 14, 2020

On June 1, 2020, limited visitor access and services will be offered at select national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas.

This means:

Starting June 1, visitors will be permitted to access some trails, day use areas, and green spaces at some locations. Until then, all suspensions of visitor services and closures of facilities announced in March remain in place.
For their own safety, visitors should not try to access locations that are closed.
All camping facilities remain closed until at least June 21, 2020, while Parks Canada assesses whether and how these services might resume. Group activities and public events will be prohibited until further notice. All existing reservations set to take place prior to June 21, 2020, will be automatically cancelled and refunded in full.
Highways and roadways which pass through Parks Canada places will remain open.

Parks Canada will continue to deliver services critical for Canadians, including highway maintenance, fire response, dam operations and water management on historic waterways, avalanche control, among others.

Reference: Parks Canada COVI D -19 Info