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Social Distancing Outdoors Rules: Responsible Hiking During The Pandemic

Rules for Outdoor Social Distancing and Responsible Hiking During The Times of COVID19 Pandemic

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion, especially in Canada and other places not under a lockdown, on whether or not it is allowed to go outside for a hike in the nearby forest. Canadian healthcare officials encourage fresh air and exercise even at the times of pandemic. While most Provincial Parks and recreation facilities are shut down, Regional and Municipal parks and Crown Lands backcountry trails remain open. If you do venture out, it is important to strictly abide by responsible hiking and outdoor social distancing and physical distancing rules. This post is a summary and directions on how to explore the Great Outdoors in a responsible manner during the times of the COVID19 pandemic.

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You may also be interested in:

• 10 Crowd-FREE Easy Hiking Trails in Vancouver: Social Distancing Outdoors
• Easy Activities and Fun Things To Do With Kids at Home
• 60++ Hilarious Hiking & Camping Memes You Absolutely Have To See
• Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures
• 50++ Hilarious Travel Memes and Jokes To Cheer You Up During Covid19 Pandemic

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Quick Visual Reminder: how coronavirus spreads

Here is the best “visual reminder” video I’ve seen so far showing how coronavirus spreads. This Israeli clip is in Hebrew, but you do not need to know the language to get the idea (I do NOT speak Hebrew):

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Are we [in BC] now stuck indoors?

Absolutely not. 

As of the time of this writing – April 8, 2020 – British Columbia is NOT on lockdown and NOT on official quarantine. There is NO explicit order from the government and health officials that every one MUST stay home. 

On the opposite, leading health officials of the province are encouraging people to regularly go outside to get a charge of sunlight and fresh air that boosts our immune systems.

Spending time outdoors, exercising, hiking or simply playing with your kids is good for both: your physical and your mental health. 

• Bonnie Henry: “Get kids outside..”
• You can go outdoors while social distancing, says Dr. Bonnie Henry

When you do go outside, it is imperative and of the utmost importance, you follow the rules of Social Distancing, Physical Distancing and enjoy the outdoors in a responsible manner.

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DOs & DONTs of Social Distancing and Responsible Hiking

DO NOT go outside if you have symptoms. Please stay home!

Although this is now a common-sense, still this social distancing rule is worth repeating as often as possible.

You must stay home if:

• You have symptoms of Covid19
• Someone in your household has symptoms of Covid19
• You have recently returned from travel
• You had contact with someone who has recently returned from travel
• You had been in contact with someone with a lab-confirmed case of Covid19
• If you have been in contact with someone who has been in contact with someone with a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19

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DO NOT hike in groups or with strangers. DO hike alone or with people you live with.

You never know if those people had been traveling recently, or if they have been in contact with someone who had been confirmed COVID19-positive. 

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DO NOT shuttle or carpool with anyone who does not live with you.

Same here: you never know if those people had been traveling recently, or if they have been in contact with someone who had been confirmed COVID19-positive. 

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DO NOT hand-shake, fist-bump, high-five, hug, kiss, touch your face when outdoors

Obviously. To limit the body-to-body transmission.

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DO NOT share water bottles, snacks, phones, glasses, hats, masks, sporting equipment

Obviously. To limit the second-hand transmission.

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DO keep at least 2 meters (6ft) distance AT ALL TIMES from others on the trail

Why 2 meters (6 feet)? That is how far the droplets with coronavirus can travel if someone sneezes.

How far are 2 meters? Here is a photo! We could not have said it better!

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DO be careful. Now is not the time to get hurt.

COVID-19 pandemic put extra pressure on emergency resources across the province, the B.C. Search and Rescue Association and Emergency Management B.C. 

B.C. Search and Rescue relies heavily on volunteers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks these volunteers and other personnel take is greatly increased. 

Therefore, please take extra caution if heading into the outdoors, not just to maintain a social and physical distance but also to avoid getting lost or injured.

If you are hiking with kids, here are some safety ideas you can follow: Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow

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DO NOT enter parks and places that are officially closed for public access

Park authorities are closing their facilities for a reason. 

BCParks has stated in its recent announcement of the entire BC Parks system closure:

“With the desire of the public to get outdoors, many parks have already experienced peak season levels of use that have resulted in overwhelmed parking lots, trails and trailheads, making physical distancing difficult, if not impossible in some locations. It has also resulted in damage to our facilities and the environment.

This closure is also necessary to ensure the continued health and safety of our visitors, employees, park operators and their staff, volunteers, and park contractors.”

If you hit a closed gate, or a notice that the area is closed for the public – do NOT go there, as simple as that. Otherwise, you can get ticketed and evicted, fined, issued a parking ticket, or your car can get towed!

Local to British Columbia? Here is a quick video to help you figure out what is closed and what is open in British Columbia, Canada

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List of Closures – April 2020

BC PARKS COVID-19 closure announcement

BC Parks is immediately closing the entire BC Parks system, including all parks, protected areas, conservancies, recreation areas, and ecological reserves. All camping (front and backcountry) is now banned until May 31st, 2020. 

This temporary measure means public and vehicle access is prohibited until further notice. All trails, roads, day-use areas, beaches, lakes, boat launches, and backcountry areas are closed to the public. Park closures will be enforced through regular monitoring and patrols and anyone found in a closed park will be evicted and could face a $115 fine.

BC PARKS – List of affected sites

BC Hydro recreational areas closures

Vancouver Park Board closes vehicle access to Stanley Park

BC Government – Alerts, Closures and Warnings

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DO NOT travel to hike. DO choose local crowd-free trails.

Luckily I have a few hacks for you on how to find local trails and trails that are in compliance with responsible hiking and social distancing rules. Maybe you have recently moved and are not familiar with the area you live in… or maybe your area doesn’t have many parks and all of them are overcrowded… 

The following two tools – AllTrails App and BC Parks Online Map – used together will help you discover many hidden local outdoor opportunities that may be of your ability level and still open for public access.

AllTrails Mobile App – the app is free, but to use it on the web in a browser requires a premium account. 

BC Parks Online Map – is a web-based map tool that will help you identify which sites are governed by BC Parks (and therefore are closed as of April 8, 2020), and which are not. 

BC Hydro Map – a custom google-map officially posted on BC Hydro recreation areas website section.

Example: you have found a trail in AllTrails App that fits your ability level and is located close to where you live. A quick check on the BCParks map will help you understand whether the trail is likely still open or closed for public access.

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DO follow Leave No Trace Principles

With BCParks and other outdoor facilities limiting services they provide, including maintenance and cleaning of trails, trailheads and parking lots, it is now on YOU to ensure you use these facilities in a responsible manner. It is on every one of us to take care of the environment and to minimize the potential damage to the Great Outdoors.

At the basic level, now it is even more important to:

• pack out what you packed in: remove your garbage from the remote outdoor site and dispose of it properly near your home
• clean after your pets
• properly put out cigarette butts and take those with you to dispose of at home
• stay on trails at all times
• not interact with animals

Read the full list of Leave No Trace Principles to find out how you can be a more responsible hiker:

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DO wash your hands and your clothes as soon as you get home.

It is important to wash your hands properly as soon as you get home. 

Here is a video demonstrating handwashing “the proper way”:

It is equally important to immediately take off your clothes and throw them in the washer, as apparently the coronavirus can live on surfaces for a couple of days. You never know where you might have touched something that carried it.  

Stay safe! And most importantly, stay healthy!

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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