Top-ranked campgrounds

Beatton Park is a year-round recreational facility located on the shores of Charlie Lake. This 320 hectare park is a popular summer recreation destination for swimming, fishing and hiking. Beatton also offers excellent winter recreation opportunities. Experience over 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails designed for beginner, intermediate and advancing skiing. Visitors have a good chance of seeing deer or moose which frequent the park during the winter.

This site offer 14 vehicle accessible campsites, six walk-in sites, a non-motorized boat launch, large T-shaped dock, and an overflow camping area. A 3 km easy (green) trail circles Kager Lake. There is an extensive, world renowned, mountain bike trail network (100+km of trails) available directly from the campsites. The lake has a self sustaining trout population with a decent catch rate. This is a great spot to take beginners and children to learn how to fish. Please be sure to purchase a fishing licence and consult the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for limits, special regula…

Winds whispering through the pine forests, waves lapping at the shoreline, Gwillim Lake Park provides a peaceful outdoor experience. Set in the picturesque Rocky Mountain Foothills on Highway 29, it is located a half-hour’s drive from Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge and the massive Northeast Coal development. Visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, fishing and a viewpoint that provides a panoramic vista of the superb Rocky Mountain scenery.

Situated on the south-west shore of beautiful Stuart Lake, Paarens Beach is a delightfully small provincial park that few people outside of the area seem to know about. A large day-use area is located on a lengthy stretch of wide sandy beach. Change houses, abundant picnic tables, a playground for the kids and a log picnic shelter are all available to help you enjoy leisurely summer days. With an uncrowded campground, large beach and boat launch, it is an ideal base from which to enjoy the multitude of recreational opportunities around Stuart Lake and to explore the rich history the nearby community of Fort St. James. The Fort St James Visitor Info Centre can provide the visitor with maps, directions and information on things to do and see in and around the community. There are close to…

Muncho Lake Park is a serene, secluded area with stunning natural landscapes, conveniently close to the Alaska Highway. Spectacular mountains, bountiful wildlife, and brilliant wildflowers can all be viewed here. In the southern part of the park, the unique limestone formations of Folded Mountain tower above the road. As you travel north on the highway, keep an eye out for moose and Stone sheep. Soon, you will reach Muncho Lake. The lake’s deep cold waters, coloured jade by minerals, stretch for 12 km. These waters are home to lake trout, arctic grayling, bull trout, and whitefish. Having reached Muncho Lake, you can spend the night at Strawberry Flats Campground. Alternatively, keep heading another 11 km north to reach MacDonald Campground.

Charlie Cole Creek Ecological Reserve was established for preservation of unique cone-shaped cold-water mineral springs used by ungulates as salt licks. Ecological reserves protect special natural ecosystems, and support research and education. They are not intended for outdoor recreation. However, this ecological reserve is open to the public for non-destructive activities like hiking, nature observation and photography. Consumptive activities like hunting, fishing, camping, or foraging are prohibited. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

ATTENTION: Trail network is open, although some trails remain closed for post-fire danger tree assessments and falling. Please obey all posted closures and signage, and visit Trail Forks for more information: https://www.trailforks.com/region/boer-mountain-and-kager-lake/ A large recreation area with a sizeable mtn bike network, as managed by Ride Burns, a 14 unit vehicle accessible campground, and 3 km trail around the lake with three walk-in campsites and a dock. Visit the Ride Burns site for more information: https://www.rideburns.ca/index.php/en/

Tā Ch’ilā Park offers scenic camping and a wide variety of water recreation opportunities with Boya Lake’s superb water clarity and colour, beckoning the traveler to explore its many islands and bays. Tā Ch’ilā is situated on the Liard Plain, an area carved out by glaciers 20,000 years ago. The area is characterized by long ridges, or eskers, and elongated hills, or drumlins. Boya Lake is also one of the few lakes in the north that is warm enough for swimming. The park offers two short hiking trails, a mountain bike trail and limitless bays and islands to discover by canoe or motor boat. The lake is noted for its colour and clarity. The bottom is composed of marl, a mixture of silt and shell fragments. The crystal clear waters and aquamarine lake colour are a result of the light reflect…

On Babine Lake near the community of Granisle, this popular park is named for the iron stained cliffs that plunge almost perpendicularly into the lake. Park visitors can swim, sunbathe, angle for a rainbow trout or take in the salmon enhancement projects at nearby Fulton River and Pinkut Creek. Boaters like to explore the extensive shoreline of Babine Lake, the longest natural fresh water lake in British Columbia.

A 8-unit campground in a forested setting along the shores of Silverthorne Lake, near the town of Houston. Notable features include a picnic shelter with wood stove and picnic tables, sandy beach, an island in the middle of the lake, and extensive trails connected to the Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Area. The campsites are spread out along the shoreline. The lake is not a good fishing lake but popular for paddling and swimming.

Relaxation seeps into your body as you ease into the second largest hot spring in Canada. Liard River Hot Springs provides relief to Alaskan bound travellers after a long day on the road. The hot springs complex is of national ecological significance and is well known for its natural setting in a lush boreal spruce forest. The park is such a popular stop over for tourists that the campground fills up early each day during the summer months. Liard is also open year-round. There is a hot spring open to the public called Alpha pool with water temperatures ranging from 42°C to 52°C. Facilities include a change house and composting toilet. A boardwalk, which leads to the hot spring pools, passes through a warm water swamp and boreal forest that supports rich and diverse plant communities as …

Sowchea Bay Park is a picturesque park that was formerly a forestry campsite. The campground is along Stuart Lake, with the majority of campsites right next to the water. The park is located only 20km from Fort St. James.

This recreation site is located in a scenic area along the shores of Bobtail Lake, nestled amongst open Douglas Fir forests. There are 3 separate sites within a 1 km stretch, and there is room for 17 camping parties between the 3 sites. The site offers the amenities of tables, fire rings, pit toilets and a concrete boat launch suitable for trailered boats. Bobtail Lake offers lots of opportunity for exploring the lake via both powered and non-powered boats. The lake offers good fishing for rainbow trout, kokanee and burbot. Please note that the layout of the sites is a bit tight - average s…

Tyhee Lake Park is popular family destination in the Skeena East region of northwestern British Columbia. It a great spot for frontcountry camping and has an accessible day-use area on the shore of Tyhee Lake. Tyhee Lake Campground offers both vehicle-accessible and walk-in sites. Some sites at the campground can be reserved, while others are available on a first come, first served basis. Electrified sites and a large groupsite are also available. Other facilities include a beach volleyball court, children’s bike park, accessible picnic shelter, bird viewing platform, and electric vehicle chargers. The park also features a day-use beach, which now offers world-class accessibility features. These include a graded trail and roll-out mobility mat, which provide access to the shore. Other c…

Summit Lake Park is a beautiful 6 hectare park located with in the Nakusp range of the Selkirk Mountains. Park visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout or swimming in the lake’s clear, refreshing water. The mountainous backdrop of the park is a stage to the wonders of nature. A natural spectacle occurs as thousands of toads emerge from the lake and migrate to the nearby forest to hibernate for the winter. Mountain goats can often be viewed on rocky outcroppings and in late summer, while birds in flight paint the skyline.

Meziadin Lake Park is a favourite destination of travelers and locals alike. The park has an excellent campground in a beautiful setting on the shore of Meziadin Lake. Situated a two hour drive north of Kitwanga, it is an excellent destination base campsite for exploring this northern region of B.C. Take a day trip to the Bear Glacier or visit the mining towns of Stewart, B.C. and Hyder, Alaska.

Alice Lake is a popular family park surrounded by towering mountains, dense forests, and grassy areas. Four freshwater lakes dominate the landscape, making this a great park for swimming and fishing. The trail around Alice Lake is a popular spot for evening strolls while more adventurous hikers, will enjoy the Four Lakes Trail . The DeBeck’s Hill Trail , meanwhile, offers excellent views of the Squamish River and the Tantalus Range.

If you’re looking for privacy in a natural setting, Otter Lake is ideal for old-fashioned camping. The park has two locations, a main picnic and day-use area in Tulameen and a lovely lakeside campground about 5 km further north along the road. The Cascade Mountain Range surrounds the park and includes awesome canyons and clear flowing streams. Large numbers of otter, beaver and red squirrel inhabit the area, as well as mountain goats, cougars and grizzly bears. Fishermen will find time spent on Otter Lake rewarding, with large lake trout being the catch of the day. The scenic lakeside campground is an ideal base for those who want to explore the mining history of the Tulameen area.

Situated in the scenic Skagit Valley, Silver Lake Park is a small, undeveloped lakefront area. Visitors can enjoy fishing, picnicking and boating (10 horse power motor limit) against a spectacular mountain backdrop or take pleasure in a rustic camping experience.

Big Creek Ecological Reserve was established for the permanent protection of natural climax grassland in the Chilcotin region. Ecological reserves protect special natural ecosystems, and support research and education. They are not intended for outdoor recreation. However, this ecological reserve is open to the public for non-destructive activities like hiking, nature observation and photography. Consumptive activities like hunting, fishing, camping, or foraging are prohibited. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

This park offers a popular 23 site campground and day-use area which has a developed beach, a horseshoe pit and a nature trail. Some activities offered include hiking, exploring and fishing. The large, deep lake is usually fished on a troll. Fishing for rainbow trout is a favourite pastime of many visitors. There are a number of smaller lakes excellent for fly-fishing. Two unnamed lakes are in the park, and were once the site of a hatchery operated to restore the run of sockeye to the Horsefly River. Fir, spruce, birch and cedar clothe the slopes along the lower reaches of Dillabough Creek at the west end of Horsefly Lake. There are old growth cedars and Douglas firs throughout the park.

Bowron Lake Park is a large wilderness area on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountain Range. The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is a 116 km chain of waterways and connecting land. The full circuit takes between six and 10 days to complete. For a shorter trip, the West Side of the circuit can be paddled in two-to-four days. It is recommended that only people with some wilderness canoeing experience attempt the circuit. Bowron Lake Park also has a very pleasant 25-unit drive-in campground. The campground is located near the registration centre, a short distance from Bowron Lake itself. There are also a few short walking trails nearby. The park has a tremendous diversity of topography and vegetation. The rounded hilltops of the Quesnel Highlands on the West Side of the circui…

Kootenay Lake Park is truly an undiscovered Kootenay gem. Are you in need of a working sabbatical? With its newly installed WiFi, Davis Creek is the perfect place to hunker down and get it done, between fishing, paddling, hiking, and biking, of course. The new group site can be booked for your private function up to one year in advance, check it out on the BC Parks reservations system . In addition to the opportunities listed above, this park offers numerous other recreational opportunities. Nestled between the Selkirk’s and the Purcell’s, visitors can also discover Mount Buchanan Look Out, Hamill Creek (Earl Grey) Trail, Fry Creek Canyon, Monica Meadows, or Idaho Peak. Visit the Kaslo Tourist Information Centre located in the restored SS Moyie. This beautifully restored sternwheeler is…

Visitors to Morton Lake Park are sure to discover that there is a reason the area northwest of Campbell River is called “lake country.” From April to June and September to October, lake fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout on Mohun Lake in the park can be excellent. While this park is popular with anglers, there is still plenty to do if fishing isn’t your favourite pastime. During the summer, visitors can fill their days swimming, canoeing, boating or just lounging on the sandy beach at Morton Lake. Morton Lake Park, which includes all of Morton Lake and a section of shoreline on neighbouring Mohun Lake, provides access to the popular Sayward Canoe Route which is a 47 kilometre paddle and portage circuit. The park offers lake-front camping, as well as a boat launch, pit…

Found in a semi-open area next to the lake, this popular and busy recreation site is easily accessed with moderate to large RV units. The site is used mainly by campers and fishermen, but the nearby Kettle Valley Railway is a popular destination for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts too. There are two smaller but functional boat launches.

Red Sand Lake Demonstration Forest has 2 camping areas (Red Sand Lake: a 20 unit site with facilities that include tables, firepits, pit toilets,a wheelchair accessible campsite and toilet, and a picnic shelter; Hart Farm: a 16 unit site with facilities that include tables, firepits and pit toilets. There are also 3 short and easy trails which begin and end at the Red Sand campground. During spring melt or heavy rains the West Kalum forest road may flood around the 25 km mark preventing entry or exit from Redsands and Hart Farm Recreation Sites. High water conditions may last for several we…

This is a small open area rec site with 5 designated sites and a boat launch. It is located beside the Gavin Lake Education Center, and we request users respect the centers facilities. The site is also the start of the new trail around the lake, which includes 800m of low mobility boardwalk and a bridge over the inlet creek. Bring your Mountain Bike, the trails across the road have been expanded to include some single track bike trails. The site also has low mobility trail and outhouse.

Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, Smelt Bay Park is named for the capelin fish that spawn ashore by the tens of thousands. Females lay up to 65,000 eggs on the shore in late September and early October, which hatch within three weeks. These small, silver fish draw a variety of other marine life to the area. The park features a beautiful beach that extends from the south end of Smelt Bay around the shoreline to Sutil Point. It is a great place for marine exploration at low tide. The beach is backed by mounds which are believed to have been built by Coast Salish First Nations as a form of defense. This is the only provincial campground on remote Cortes Island. It offers 22 spacious campsites laid out in a delightful setting in the woods, overlooking Smelt Bay.

Bowron Lake Park is a large wilderness area on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountain Range. The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is a 116 km chain of waterways and connecting land. The full circuit takes between six and 10 days to complete. For a shorter trip, the West Side of the circuit can be paddled in two-to-four days. It is recommended that only people with some wilderness canoeing experience attempt the circuit. Bowron Lake Park also has a very pleasant 25-unit drive-in campground. The campground is located near the registration centre, a short distance from Bowron Lake itself. There are also a few short walking trails nearby. The park has a tremendous diversity of topography and vegetation. The rounded hilltops of the Quesnel Highlands on the West Side of the circui…

For an experience rich in history, culture and entertainment, do what people have been doing since the 1930s and hop on a boat to Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park. Bring your own boat or take the passenger ferry from Nanaimo (a 10 minute ride that deposits passengers on Newcastle Island), located just a few hundred metres offshore from Vancouver Island. From a distance you’ll see an island shoreline dominated by steep sandstone cliffs and ledges, interspersed with sunny beaches. A marked contrast to the interior of the island, which is studded with mature Douglas fir, Garry oak, arbutus and Big Leaf maple trees. Visitors to Newcastle Island can choose from an extensive network of walking and hiking trails that lead to various historic points around the island. Indigenous midden…

This secluded park is found in the Okanagan Highland east of Osoyoos. Set amid a forest of mainly western larch and lodgepole pine that cover the surrounding hills. Conkle Lake, named for W.H. Conkle, an early settler in the nearby Kettle Valley. The lake is noted for its rainbow trout. Visitors have come for many years to fish as well as swim and hike to various viewpoints.

Summit Lake Park is a beautiful 6 hectare park located with in the Nakusp range of the Selkirk Mountains. Park visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout or swimming in the lake’s clear, refreshing water. The mountainous backdrop of the park is a stage to the wonders of nature. A natural spectacle occurs as thousands of toads emerge from the lake and migrate to the nearby forest to hibernate for the winter. Mountain goats can often be viewed on rocky outcroppings and in late summer, while birds in flight paint the skyline.

Steelhead Park is a convenient overnight camping and picnicking spot for travelers on Highway 1. This is also a popular destination camp for visitors enjoying boating and fishing on Kamloops Lake, at the head of the Thompson River. The park offers 240 metres of beach on the lake and 1,000 metres of frontage along the river. The Savona community offers the amenities of a small town.

Wells Gray Park is a spectacular destination hidden in the Cariboo Mountains of east-central British Columbia. Famed for its old-growth rainforest, lush alpine meadows, and many waterfalls, Wells Gray offers an extraordinary range of outdoor attractions. Take a virtual tour of Wells Gray Park Popular activities include: Hiking for every ability, ranging from short walks to multi-day adventures Boating, canoeing , kayaking , and river rafting Birding and wildlife viewing Horseback riding Look on this page for general information about Wells Gray Park, including camping policies, things to do , and facilities available. For detailed information about some of the most popular areas in the park, visit the separate webpages listed below. Backcountry areas The term ‘backcountry’ refers to any…

Off the beaten track, you’ll find tree-bordered Allison Lake. This is a desirable spot for swimmers and those who love to fish. The park is known for its spectacular stands of aspen that burst into golden colours in the fall. Allison Lake Park is a great overnight spot when travelling between Merritt and Princeton.

Ruckle Park on Salt Spring Island is one of the most beautiful parks in the southern Gulf Islands area. Pitch your tent in the grassy meadow overlooking Swanson Channel then lie back and relax, watching pleasure boats and ferries sail by in a stately and colourful parade. With its seven kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands, and tiny coves and bays, Ruckle Park provides hours or even days of enjoyable exploration. Forest, field, and shore habitats make it one of the most productive wildlife viewing areas on Salt Spring. Watch for sea lions and killer whales out at sea, as well as mink and river otters cavorting along the shoreline. Tidal pools are filled with a brightly coloured mix of crab, mussel, limpet, oyster, sculpin, starfish, and more. Scuba divers frequent the waters off Ruc…

Less than an hour drive from Vancouver, Rolley Lake Park provides a quick escape from urban life. The park is a predominately flat, wilderness area blanketed with tall, second-growth conifers. The small, warm-water lake provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Sixty-four campsites are nestled in the trees just minutes from the lakeshore. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking and short hikes.

Fresh water adventure seekers will not want to miss a visit to Sproat Lake Park in the Alberni Valley on central Vancouver Island. Located 15 minutes west of Port Alberni, Sproat Lake is a favoured location for swimming, fishing, waterskiing and, when the wind is up, windsurfing. A variety of short access trails lead visitors around this park, including a trail to the eastern end of Sproat Lake, which is home to one of the finest panels of prehistoric petroglyphs in British Columbia. Little is known about this petroglyph, named K’ak’awin, but it isn’t hard to imagine this rock carving as depicting some mystical ancient monsters of the lake. Two separate campgrounds and a large day-use area make this park a popular destination for campers and picnickers, who come here to enjoy the host o…

Elk Valley Park is a scenic, quiet and sheltered picnic area within close proximity to the Highway. This park provides a unique opportunity to enjoy natural features of the Elk Valley and riparian habitat of the Elk River in close proximity to a major tourist route. In addition, there are commanding views of the Rocky Mountains, particularly to the north of the park. The only facilities in Elk Valley Park are at a Highway Rest Stop, and are not maintained by BC Parks. It consists of a parking lot, picnic tables, wheelchair accessible pit toilets.

Stemwinder is a quaint, 3.6 hectare sized park near Hedley. You can find this pine-dotted camping area beside the Similkameen River, just off Highway 3. Anglers like to try their luck from the rocky shoreline.