Exploring BC’s Hidden Campgrounds: A Guide to Enjoying Outdoor Spontaneity

BC’s provincial campgrounds are known for being packed all summer long. But before you stop camping this weekend, there’s good news. When spontaneity bites, don’t assume you’re out of luck. Instead, peruse the following list of lesser-known campsites and get hands-on.

Coast and Islands of Vancouver

Sydney Spit, Gulf Islands National Park

Much of what makes Gulf Islands National Park so special is only accessible by water, and that includes this campground on the north end of Sydney Island. But for this campsite you don’t need your own boat to get there. A passenger ferry from the city of Sidney Vancouver Island shuttles campers back and forth four times a day and has ample space for all your camping gear. Once on the island, settle into one of the 29 campsites just a short walk from the dock. Many look out from the forest over the beach grass and out to sea. Sit back and enjoy the sunset, hike around the Lagoon Trail and spot the dozens of waterfowl that flock here, spend hours browsing the endless sandy beach, or search for treasure in the tide pools at low tide. pc.gc.approx

Photo credit: Go Haidagwaii.com/Flavien Mabit

Gray Bay, Sandspit

Haida Gwaii may be out there in the North Pacific, but there’s still plenty going on at the island’s campgrounds. Not so much this one. Half an hour south of Sandspit, Gray Bay sits just off Hecate Strait, the shallow sea that separates the archipelago from the mainland. A mix of gravel and grass pitches is a short walk from a sandy beach. At low tide the sand stretches far out and the shelling is excellent. At either end of the beach, paths lead along the shoreline—one to Secret Cove and the other to Cumshewa Head—passing numerous First Nation historic sites along the way. The campground and shoreline are part of the Kunxalas Heritage Site/Conservancy, an area of ​​important Haida cultural value. gohaidagwaii.ca

Sunlund by the sea, Lund

The charming coastal village of Lund is literally down the road. The small town on the Sunshine Coast is the start of the PanAmerican Highway (although some say the PanAm begins in Deadhorse, Alaska) and the Sunshine Coast Trail. It is also a departure point for sea kayaking and sailing tours in Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands. This campsite is just a short walk from the marina – the heart of the city. It caters mostly to RVs and vans, with only a few tent pitches, but outside of the long weekends there are almost always vacancies. It’s a great base for exploring the wilder end of the Sunshine Coast, Lund’s eclectic shops or one last night before embarking on a longer expedition south. sunlund.approx

Credit: Destination BC/ Boomer Jerritt

Ralph River in Strathcona Provincial Park, Campbell River

You won’t find many campgrounds with larger trees for shade than along the Ralph River, deep within Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island. About an hour west and then south of Campbell River, the campground sits on the east shore of Buttle Lake, surrounded by the island’s highest mountains. Shaded by towering old Douglas firs, hemlock and redcedar strung out, the sites are pleasant and shady; Expect improved groundsheets, roads and toilets this year and next. Several excellent hikes lead into the nearby rainforest and mountains and there is swimming, canoeing and fishing on the lake. A slightly longer drive than other nearby campgrounds, Ralph River tends to be quieter and even on the rare occasion that it’s full, there’s an overflow area, so few are ever turned away. bcparks.ca

Owl Creek Recreation Area, Pemberton

Private and BC Parks campgrounds, which are just hours from the Lower Mainland, tend to fill up quickly, but BC Forest Service Recreation Sites’ more rustic campgrounds are much quieter. This is one of those east of Pemberton and only a short drive from paved roads. There are actually two locations here, one on the Birkenhead River and one closer to its confluence with Owl Creek. Both are open grassy areas with stands of trees including fruit trees, inherited from a former homestead. In addition to exploring and fishing along the two rivers, the Pemberton Valley is teeming with recreation: farm tours, mountain bike trails throughout the valley, excellent day hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park, endless activities in Whistler just 40 minutes south, hot springs and paddling local rivers and lakes. sitesandtrailsbc.ca

Cariboo Chilcotin

Blue Lake Resort, Boston Bar

The Fraser Canyon area is jam-packed with activities: fishing, hiking, rafting, aerial trams and swimming. With dedicated hiking trails, a motor-free lake, great swimming, and plenty of shade, Blue Lake Resort is a great base from which to explore. In a hanging valley above the town of Boston Bar, the campground and cabins are central to area activities and are easily accessible by car from the Lower Mainland. Many of the campsite’s pitches are too small to accommodate longer RVs, so there is often space for more compact RVs, vans and tents, even on busy weekends. bluelakeresort.ca

Silver tip, hope

Nestled in the North Cascade Mountains between the town of Hope and the Canada-US border lies Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Filled with steep mountainsides, rainforest, rivers and more than 50 kilometers of hiking trails, there is plenty to do in this park. Ross Lake Campground is the busier base, but there are two other campgrounds. Whitworth Horse Camp caters to horseback campers exploring the park’s horse-friendly trails. There are enclosures, tie-down posts, and a path that leads directly onto a multi-use trail that goes deep into the park. And there’s the more rustic Silvertip right on the Skagit River. It’s popular with anglers during peak fly-fishing season, but is quieter in the summer when the river’s pools are great for swimming. It’s a good base for hiking into the Alps on the Skyline Trail or deeper into the park along the Skagit River or other hiking routes. bcparks.ca

Photo credit: BC Parks/Iain Robert Reid

Tunkwa Provincial Park, Logan Lake

Many trout fishermen know that the two lakes in this provincial park are among the top spots for catching rainbow trout in the province. The Freshwater Fisheries Society supplies both Tunkwa and Leighton Lakes with rainbow trout each year and runs a Learn to Fish program here. The three campsites, Tunkwa, Leighton and Leighton North, stretch across the grassland and into the shelter of the trees. Aside from fishing in Lakes Leighton and Tunkwa, the grasslands are easy to hike. Keep an eye out for moose, deer, yellow-bellied marmots and the numerous species of birds that love the swampy shoreline. And if you fall in love with the place, it’s one of the few parks that allows long-term camping. bcparks.ca

Kootenay and Rockies

Fort Steele Resort & RV Park, Cranbrook

More than 150 years ago, 5,000 people lived in Fort Steele. Today it’s mostly a historic town, recreated to look and feel like it did in the gold mining days. This campsite is close by and makes a good base for exploring the East Kootenays. Within 30 minutes drive are the resort centers of Kimberley and Fernie, excellent fishing on numerous rivers, white water paddling, hiking, gold panning, golfing, the amenities of the small town of Cranbrook and the mining history that has shaped the area. Being in between means the campground flies a little under the radar, plus there’s plenty of space for all camping styles – 120 RV and 50 tent sites. fortsteele.com

Photo credit: Courtesy of Camping and RVing BC Coalition

Lemon Creek Lodge, Castlegar

Just outside the Kootenay town of Slocan, Lemon Creek is surrounded by mountains. Hiking trails lead to nearby peaks like Idaho and the Altura Alps and into wild landscapes like the Dennis Basin. The rivers run free and clear for rafting, swimming and fishing. The back roads are ideal for road cycling and there are old railway tracks that have been converted into cycle paths. This is just the beginning for this relaxation paradise. It’s a long way from Vancouver – eight hours – but once at the resort, life is easy. The 28 campsites are set in an orchard and shaded by ponderosa pines. There is an onsite restaurant, as well as cabins and lodge rooms, and the laid-back town of Slocan is a short drive away. lemoncreeclodge.com

Mount Sir Donald, Glacier National Park

This campground may be frontcountry, but it’s backcountry when it comes to service. No electricity, no running water, no fireplaces, no flushing toilets. The upside to the sparse amenities is that it’s rarely full, even when the park’s other two campgrounds fill up. First come first serve. Once settled, make the short drive to Roger’s Pass Discovery Centre, a visitor center and museum dedicated to the region’s railway and snow history. Then go on one of the many hikes. Nestled in the heart of the Columbia Mountains, the trails are either flat valley walks or quad burners to sweeping views of the park’s namesake ice fields. pc.gc.approx

Mlead Meadows, Radium

Kootenay National Park is the often forgotten fourth among mountain parks, overshadowed by busier and flashier neighbors Banff, Jasper and Yoho. That’s good. The hiking trails are quieter but no less spectacular, with plenty of ice and rock to marvel at. And the campgrounds tend to be less crowded too, especially McLeod Meadows. Despite being located just off the Kootenay River and Highway 93 in a pine grove, the campground is often passed by those at nearby Radium or other locations in the park and beyond. That’s a shame, because the campsite is an ideal starting point. As well as the park’s excellent hiking opportunities, there is white water paddling on the Kootenay – right outside – and mountain biking at nearby Nipika Lodge. pc.gc.approx

Northern BC

Carp Lake Provincial Park, McLeod Lake

Located in the geographic center of the province, two hours north of Prince George, this provincial park is best known for its world-class rainbow trout fishing. There is a jetty at the campsite, making it easy to explore the intricate coastline of islands and bays. Fly fishermen should explore the nature trail along the McLeod River. As for the campground, Carp Lake is family-friendly with a playground, horseshoe pit, and picnic area. If you enjoy hiking, plan the short hike to War Falls. For more solitude, anyone with a boat can camp at one of the campgrounds on three of the lake’s islands. While all locations are busy on long weekends, there is usually space the rest of the summer. bcparks.ca

For more information: Read about tips and tricks for finding a last minute campground in BC

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