Data sources and limitations

Evidence before recommendations

Out For Now is a planning aid built around traceable source records. Each listed place stores an official identifier, source URL, source update date, and verification date so visitors can inspect the evidence rather than rely on an unexplained recommendation.

What the map includes

Initial place data comes from the Recreation Sites Subset — Province of British Columbia, used under the Open Government Licence — British Columbia. Hiking and camping labels are derived from source attributes; trailheads, recreation sites, and campsites are not treated as interchangeable. Map tiles are provided by OpenStreetMap contributors.

Some named trailhead coordinates are discovered through community maps when a government dataset does not identify the entrance separately. These records are included only when the mapped point is not marked private or closed and the surrounding park, operator or route information can be cross-checked. A map marker does not prove that parking is legal, a road is open, a trail is sanctioned, or conditions are safe; obey on-site signs and check the responsible operator before travel.

Verification and freshness

A verification date means the source record was checked on that date. It does not guarantee that access, maintenance, closures, permits, reservations, fire bans, road conditions, or weather remain unchanged. Always open the official source and confirm current conditions with the responsible operator before travelling.

Location privacy and analytics

If you choose Use my location, your browser uses the coordinates on your device to sort places by straight-line distance. Precise coordinates are not included in analytics events. Measurement is limited to interactions such as filters, map style, directions, sharing, and whether a location request succeeded or failed.

How to use this information

Start with hiking near Vancouver or explore camping and campgrounds near Vancouver. Treat directions as a starting point: remote sites may not have a street address, and routing may stop at the nearest mapped road.

How curated and local lists work

“Best” is limited to a stated planning task and is not a safety, scenery or difficulty score. The transit list requires access text that explicitly mentions public transit, transit, bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus. Distance lists use straight-line distance from downtown Vancouver, not driving distance or travel time. The road-access camping list requires explicit driving, vehicle, motorhome or road evidence and excludes records that mention a ferry or are assigned to a known ferry-dependent region; it does not guarantee that a road is open or suitable today.

Camping-type filters are derived only when source-backed text explicitly mentions tent, RV, motorhome or backcountry camping. Unspecified records remain visible under All camping and are not guessed into a category.

City trail pages use the stored nearest-area field and include only records that exactly match that city. Explore Coquitlam hiking trails, Maple Ridge hiking trails or North Vancouver hiking trails. Always verify current service, access and conditions with the linked source.