Golden Ears began as part of Garibaldi Provincial Park, established in 1927 when the province moved to protect the mountain wilderness north of Vancouver. But an impenetrable mountain range separated the two sections, making unified management impractical. In 1967, Golden Ears was carved off as its own park, allowing managers to focus on its particular character and challenges. The valley around Alouette Lake had already been logged in the 1920s before a forest fire swept through, meaning most of the park today displays second-growth forest dominated by western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir. Yet the backcountry remains wild and rugged, with glaciers clinging to higher peaks and a permanent snowfield draping the northern face of Golden Ears itself.

The developed portion of Golden Ears Provincial Park clusters around Alouette Lake, a long finger of water stretching north into the mountains. Three frontcountry campgrounds provide hundreds of sites for families seeking a gateway to wilderness without sacrificing comfort entirely. Summer weekends see the lake alive with kayakers and paddleboarders, swimmers cooling off after hikes, and boats motoring toward backcountry campgrounds accessible only by water. Bicycles and e-bikes are permitted on designated trails, and horseback riders share some of the same paths. But step away from the lake and the crowds thin rapidly; cell phone service becomes spotty, then disappears entirely, and the forest closes in with its ancient quiet.

The trails radiating from the Alouette Lake area offer graduated challenges. Gold Creek tumbles through a valley where waterfalls reward relatively easy walking. Evans Peak provides a more demanding ascent with views across the Lower Mainland. But the park's signature hike follows the Golden Ears Trail along Panorama Ridge, where an emergency shelter marks the approach to the twin peaks themselves. Climbing to the actual summits requires technical knowledge and equipment; this is mountain terrain where conditions change rapidly and preparation determines survival. BC Parks requires backcountry camping permits, and campfires are prohibited beyond the frontcountry zones.

Golden Ears sits squarely in the Coast Range's path, intercepting moisture-laden weather systems rolling in from the Pacific. Rain falls heavily from September through May, and heavy mountain snow accumulates at even relatively modest elevations during winter. The mountains amplify precipitation totals compared to nearby Lower Mainland communities; what falls as steady rain in Vancouver dumps as snow in the park. Summer offers the best conditions for hiking and camping, though weather can turn at any time of year. Those venturing into the backcountry should leave trip plans with responsible adults, pack for conditions worse than forecast, and carry sufficient food and water to extend their stay if trails become impassable.