British Columbia is a province in western Canada that is home to some of the most spectacular attractions, scenery, landscape, and wildlife in the continent.
The province boasts seven national parks, close to 900 provincial parks, and over 1,200 recreation sites, in addition to hundreds of private campgrounds and RV parks.
Plan a trip to British Columbia to witness with your own eyes the epic mountains, stunning landscape, and gorgeous wildlife of one of the most popular camping destinations in North America.
Sites and Attractions
The Wild Pacific Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in Ucluelet is a seven-phase, 47-mile trail system that has been lauded as a must-visit site by many. It’s a historic trail, as it was originally constructed for shipwrecked sailors to help them reach nearby settlements for rescue.
Hugging the tall cliffs and gorgeous shoreline of the western coast of Vancouver Island, this trail offers breath-taking panoramas and unrivalled ocean views. Check out their website for more information about the trail, photos, and an event calendar.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is also home to a number of other excellent attractions, such as gorgeous beaches, an island archipelago, rain forests, and archaeological sites. Long Beach is a popular spot for picnics and strolls. And the Broken Group Islands consist of over 100 island, islets, and rocky outcrops, making it an adventurous kayaker’s dream destination.
You can even enjoy wilderness and backcountry camping at designated areas on seven of the islands – Hand, Turret, Gibraltar, Willis, Dodd, Clarke, and Gilbert Islands. Peak season is from mid-July through August, and there are numerous kayak operators in the area that lead tours through the Broken Group Islands.
Campbell River
Campbell River is inarguably one of the best places to enjoy fishing, leisurely strolls, hiking trails, and more. Known as the salmon capital of the world, Campbell River plays host to millions of migrating salmon every year, making it one of the best places to enjoy sport fishing in the continent. All five species of Pacific salmon can be found here, in addition to steelhead and trout.
Though the area has numerous destination resorts, it is also a popular camping site. If you want to take a break from fishing, you can take advantage of Campbell River’s dry summers and mild winters and enjoy plenty of outdoor activities, including kayaking, hiking, scuba diving, boating, whale watching, and mountain biking.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Another popular spot is just a short drive away. Visit Strathcona Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, for fabulous hiking trails, wildlife, and scenic views of the serene and mountainous landscape. Aside from two areas – Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau – the park is largely undeveloped and untouched, making it the ideal hiking spot for those who are looking for a true wilderness experience.
Kootenay Rockies
The Kootenay Rockies region is where you can find unparalleled mountain scenery, hot springs, majestic views of glacier lakes, and fields of alpine flowers. Though it is a supremely popular region for campers – 75% of all campsites in British Columbia’s national parks are located in this region – because of its vast wilderness, it is strangely tranquil and uncrowded.
More specifically in the Kootenay Rockies region, Kootenay National Park is worth a visit for its famous Radium Hot Springs Pools, and Yoho National Park in the east boasts many waterfalls and glacial lakes. The hot springs at Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park make for a unique experience.
The park also has lakeside hiking trails, rainbow trout fishing, and abundant wildlife. The Creston Wildlife Center is a great resource for learning about the animals and birds in the region. It offers incredible guided walking tours, as well as several wildlife viewing towers and decks.
Bella Coola Valley
The Bella Coola Valley is home to a small but thriving community called Bella Coola, located in a lush valley in the middle of old-growth forests and impressive mountain ranges.
The area is a perfect place to set up camp; there are hiking trails to be explored, salmon and trout to be fished, and wild animals to be tracked and watched. If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can drive into Bella Coola town and visit its galleries and museums; the art, artisan woodcarving, and ceremonial dresses of the native Nuxalk people are world famous.
Bella Coola Valley is also the gateway to what is often called the Great Bear Rainforest – a vast stretch of unspoiled temperate rainforest, and the natural habitat of many species of bears, cougars, wolves, eagles, and other birds and animals. It is also home to the world’s only Kitasso Spirit Bear Conservancy.
Also called the Kermode bear, the Spirit bear is a rare subspecies of the North American black bear with a mysteriously white coat. There are various tour groups and packages that offer bear-viewing tours; experienced guides lead the search for Spirit bears, grizzlies, eagles, and a host of other wildlife.
Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
Located close to Bella Coola Valley is the stunningly vast Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. This park has numerous hiking trails, and its lakes are a favorite with canoeists. The Tote Road trail leads up to Hunlen Falls, the third highest free-falling waterfall in Canada. The Rainbow Ridge trail in Tweedsmuir is world famous for jaw-dropping views of mountains, wildflower meadows, and deep blue lakes.
The Valley of a Thousand Falls, in Mount Robson Provincial Park, is an aptly named site, as it has the largest concentration of waterfalls in the country. This charming valley offers great hiking trails and several campgrounds.
Thompson Okanagan
Thompson Okanagan has some of the biggest selection of great campgrounds to choose from, as they’re everywhere – near lakes, at the foot of mountains, close to beaches, and even in arid grasslands and deserts. The region is especially known for its hot summers, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. There are also numerous golf courses and award-winning wineries in the region, for those of you who wish to occasionally get out of the wilderness and enjoy some man-made luxuries.
Safety
British Columbia is famous for its abundant wildlife; depending on the season, you may be able to encounter various kinds of bears, moose, deer, sheep, cougars, foxes, wolves, birds, and other animals. But remember that these animals are wild and vastly different from your pets back at home; never approach the animals, and always keep a safe and respectful distance.
Bear Safety
Bears are one of the biggest hazards. British Columbia is home to approximately 25% of the entire black bear population in Canada; and close to 50% of the grizzly bear population. Despite this, surprise encounters with bears are rare, especially if you make noise while hiking through the woods and forests; bears typically make every effort to avoid humans. But always keep in mind that you are in bear country, and that bears are not tame, gentle, or predictable. This is why you should never leave food and drinks unattended or bring food into your tents.
Wolf Safety
Wolf safety is also something you might want to read up on before you set off on your camping trip. As with bears, wolves typically do their best to avoid humans. But they may become habituated and approach camping sites, especially if there is unsecured food or garbage. Again, do your best to keep a clean campsite, and cook and store food away from your tents. Take some rope with you and suspend your food items, garbage, and other loose objects from branches. Never bury garbage; whatever you bring into the wilderness, you should bring out of the wilderness.
Water Safety
Water safety is another concern. British Columbia is home to many lakes, oceans, shorelines, and beaches, but most of these are not attended by lifeguards. If you’re traveling with children, watch them closely. Also, bring (and wear!) life jackets if you’re planning on swimming, canoeing, or kayaking.
Forest Fires
Forest fires are a very real and surprisingly frequent danger in British Columbia. If you spot a fire while traveling through the province, whether small or big, immediately leave the area. Call the British Columbia Forest Service to report it. Also keep in mind that campfires are one of the most common causes of forest fires; make sure that you always supervise your campfire and stove and properly extinguish when you finished using them; pour water on the campfire until it no longer steams or hisses. Make sure there are no smoldering embers left.
Campgrounds
There are several different kinds of campgrounds in British Columbia, each with different amenities, facilities, fees, and accessibility.
There are national and provincial parks across all regions of the province. They have different facilities and amenities, though most of them have picnic tables, water service, and toilets. Because these vary, however, it is better to check in advance to find out what exactly each campground offers. Most of them are accessible by car, though a few are walk-in, hike-in, or boat-in access only.
Provincial parks usually charge a camping fee of somewhere around $10-$25 a night per party; backcountry camping costs less, usually around $5 per person. National parks charge a bit more, usually around $15-$40 a night per party, and $5-$10 per person for backcountry sites. There may be additional fees for entrance, fire permits, equipment rental, and so on.
There are also hundreds of private campgrounds across the province. They are also generally accessible by car, and usually have picnic tables, toilets, and water. More luxurious ones with higher camping fees may have showers, laundry services, internet access, and so on. Again, check in advance for specific amenities and facilities that each campground offers. Depending on the operator, camping fees can range from $15-$60 a night per party.
A third and least expensive option is to stay at recreation sites. Because these are located on government-owned land and have minimal to no facilities. Camping fees usually range from free to around $15 a night per party. Many are accessible by car, but be careful, as roads are often unpaved or unmaintained. There may be basic amenities, like picnic tables and fire pits, but likely not much else. Camping on recreation sites will give you one of the most authentic wilderness camping experiences available.