How Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. is building a new website
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As BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. (RSTBC) work more closely together on improving recreation opportunities across the province, we wanted to share this exciting guest blog from our friends at RSTBC.
Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. (RSTBC) provides public recreation opportunities by developing, maintaining, and managing a network of sites and trails across the province. You might already know about the website: sitesandtrailsbc.ca. We wanted to share a bit of our story here, so you can see what we’re up to and hear about some of the exciting updates coming this year!
Over the past year, RSTBC has been gathering feedback from users to understand their experiences and identify ways to improve the website so it’s easier to find information about recreation sites and trails. We are now in the process of building a new version that will incorporate these research findings.
Throughout our research we have also been collaborating with our friends at BC Parks. We’ve been able to leverage some of the research they’ve already done around how people enjoy parks, as well as some of the design elements of their website that they’ve received positive feedback on. The new RSTBC website will look familiar to anyone who uses bcparks.ca, and our goal here is to help you more easily navigate between the two websites, so you don’t have to learn two completely different styles when you’re looking for somewhere to go.
We will be continually doing research with RSTBC visitors, to ensure these updates meet the wide variety of visitor needs. And we’re excited to share some things we’ve learned so far.
What research have we done?
RSTBC — with its diverse camping opportunities and other activities — has been conducting research on how people find and enjoy recreation sites and trails. By gaining a more comprehensive understanding of our visitors, we can help staff make better decisions and enhance the overall visitor experience.
RSTBC started by interviewing 20 visitors who have used recreation sites or trails, stayed overnight, and/or used the website. During these interviews, we explored topics such as trip planning and decision-making, experiences during the trip, and the value and impact of RSTBC.
What we learned
Why people visit recreation sites and trails
- Recreation sites are flexible and people don’t need to plan too far in advance. For example, recreation site visitors might spontaneously go without planning, or spend a week or a month planning.
- The views are stunning.
- Designated recreation sites with helpful amenities make outings easier to enjoy.
- Having maintained spaces allows people to recreate more safely and responsibly and reduces human impact by decreasing the likelihood of people camping in wild or random spaces without facilities.
- Recreation sites can feel spacious, serene, and often quieter than BC Parks.
- They provide an authentic experience in nature, time spent with family and friends, or even a spiritual connection to the land.
- They help visitors maintain physical and mental health.
- They are often free and are convenient places to stay while on the way to other destinations.
How people find out about recreation sites and trails
- Word of mouth.
- Backroad Mapbooks (some visitors call it “the bible”).
- Strava, AllTrails, Google maps, Reddit, Trailforks, Gaia, paper maps, and guidebooks.
- Visitors look for all sorts of information about the site or trail to decide where they want to go. For example, maps, location, photos, amenities, advisories, directions, trail elevation and difficulty, pets, water nearby, convenience of being close to where users currently are, and how busy it is.
- Visitors search based on what they want to do or where they want to go, without necessarily distinguishing between recreation sites and trails, provincial parks, regional parks, or other types of land.
How people use the RSTBC website
- Users typically start their search with the map, to explore different opportunities in a certain area.
- They may then filter by different facilities or activities.
- They are often looking for more information about a specific site or trail.
- The RSTBC website is one of many tools used when planning a trip.
Challenges people face when using the website
- It’s difficult to use on a mobile phone.
- It’s difficult to learn about new places and find out how to get there.
- Recreation site descriptions are useful, but larger blocks of text are hard to scan and understand.
- It can be difficult to find out if a recreation site or trail is suitable for someone’s needs, available mode of transportation, or skill level. People may need to ask friends who’ve already been or go on a scouting mission to the recreation site or trail ahead of time.
- Some of the different regions hold little meaning when listed without a map.
- Information on the RSTBC website is different from Backroad Mapbooks or what people have experienced at the recreation site.
- People are not clear on what a recreation site is and how it’s different from a BC provincial park.
Similarities with BC Parks research
- Many people who visit a park will also visit a recreation site or trail and, therefore, use both websites when searching for somewhere to go.
- Park visitors and recreation sites or trails visitors share many similarities in their approaches to outdoor adventures.
- They share an awe for B.C.’s great outdoors.
- Visitors share various traits ranging from being organized planners, more spontaneous, newbies, experienced travellers, enjoying group gatherings or enjoying solitude.
- Some highlighted that camping was also the primary activity of their trip.
The new RSTBC website
We are in the process of building the new RSTBC website that incorporates these research findings. This new beta website is available to preview now, while the existing website remains available as well. ‘Beta’ means that the website is released to the public, but in a limited form. We do this to gather public feedback, find mistakes, and make improvements. The website will be available in beta form until we replace the old website later in 2025.
You can see a preview of the beta website in the screenshots above and below , and we encourage you to explore the improvements to:
- Mobile device experience
- Searching for sites and trails
- Filtering for things to do, facilities, districts, and access
- Navigation and readability (providing a familiar experience to anyone who has visited bcparks.ca)
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA international standards
The beta website is a work in progress, and what we have so far is just the beginning. Our development team works in an ‘Agile’ manner which means we work iteratively, making continuous improvements based on feedback. We will be making regular updates over the coming months, so keep coming back to see what’s new! We’ve already heard feedback on key features we need to add and will be posting on the RSTBC Facebook page when they are released, so you can try them out. One such feature that is coming very soon is an updated searchable map.
How can you take part in our research?
Throughout this process we will continue to learn from you and your feedback, talking to more people and gaining more insights that help shape the new website. We can’t do this without you! There are two ways that you can share your feedback and engage with us directly:
Recreation Sites and Trails BC beta website survey
- Click the ‘Share your feedback’ button at the top of the website (in the yellow banner) and share your thoughts with us
Sign up for one-on-one research
We are always looking for people like you who would like to take part in our one-on-one design research sessions. If you’re interested in sharing your thoughts and experiences about outdoor recreation in B.C., please sign up.
