Places to camp in BC

03SVTcobra · #1 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 1:11 AM**

Well its a well known fact BC has some of the best camping spots in the world. And with all this nice weather we've been having I'm thinking about setting up a camping trip in the near future. Plus it's never too early to get a jump on camping discussion before the summer comes. This can be the official camping thread. So what are your favorite spots to go camping in BC????

Spork · #2 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 1:31 AM**

I've been going to Hicks Lake with my friends every year for the past 5 or 6 years.

amor de cosmos · #3 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 1:40 AM**

Ruckle!
(#11)

although there isn't a lot to do in the actual park except camp iirc. it's been a while since I last went. it's cool to watch the ferries go by though

canucks23 · #4 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 2:36 AM**

A place that iv been going to with my friends every summer is Allouette Lake in Maple Ridge. Basically if you have any kind of boat (motor or rowboat) you can park your car at the public parking by the beach and buy a bunch of day passes for however long you want to stay there for, and ride across the lake to any of the available beaches. Lots of times the beaches are already taken, but depending on the weather and how far down you go there should be a spot to camp. Best part is its free.

cornholio · #5 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 4:03 AM**

With a motor boat Pitt Lake rules as there are countless beaches with tons of drift wood and fallen trees for giant fires. Benefit is that if you run out of booze you can get back to the city by boat in 30-45min and hit up the Gillneter in poco.

There are also countless hotsprings around Vancouver that are always a blast, some are world class and simply amazing. Som of the nice ones are ones north of Pittlake, these are basically in the Pitt River and simply amazing. Problem is that you need a boat to get there plus a long hike down a old forestry road. Then there are Slocquet hot springs north of Harison lake, these ones are amazing, especially at night when you have candles all around in the rock faces etc. and the rushing river next to them, anyways hard to explain but their my favorite ones(75km mark on the Harisson forestry road is a turn off which takes you to them(7km or so). Then there are the Skukumchuck ones which are a bit of a dump but a good party place none the less(35km or so mark on Harison rd), Meagher creek are nice but a bridge is still out which means you have to hike 8km or so. There were these other nice ones by Pemberton but they got destroyed by a new forestry road and logging. Anyways I can keep going on and on but there are just so many places within a few hours drive of Vancouver.

wmp.dll · #6 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 5:38 AM**

French Beach Provincial Park.
Long Beach is also a favorite of mine.

Denscity · #7 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 6:02 AM**

Everywhere!!! Castlegar is surrounded by one big campsite. It is the West Kootenays after all.

Distill3d · #8 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 1:06 PM**

Porteau Cove is the only place i've been camping lately. it wasn't too bad, but i still prefer back country camping.

i may suggest the forums over at ClubTread.com for more hiking and camping info.

03SVTcobra · #9 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 11:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

Porteau Cove is the only place i've been camping lately. it wasn't too bad, but i still prefer back country camping.

i may suggest the forums over at ClubTread.com for more hiking and camping info.

Porteau Cove.... I know the name. Where is it again?

03SVTcobra · #10 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denscity

Everywhere!!! Castlegar is surrounded by one big campsite. It is the West Kootenays after all.

Any nice rivers or lakes to set up a site near?

03SVTcobra · #11 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 11:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucks23

A place that iv been going to with my friends every summer is Allouette Lake in Maple Ridge. Basically if you have any kind of boat (motor or rowboat) you can park your car at the public parking by the beach and buy a bunch of day passes for however long you want to stay there for, and ride across the lake to any of the available beaches. Lots of times the beaches are already taken, but depending on the weather and how far down you go there should be a spot to camp. Best part is its free.

I think I've been there. It looks familiar. Is it up near Harrison? Theres a logging road that follows the beach right?

Spork · #12 Posted: **Feb 23, 2009, 11:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03SVTcobra

I think I've been there. It looks familiar. Is it up near Harrison? Theres a logging road that follows the beach right?

That is Alouette Lake.

03SVTcobra · #13 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 12:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork

That is Alouette Lake.

Oh yeah. Whoops. Should of read ur post more closely. What if you don't have a boat? Is there anyway to get to the good beaches by car?

canucks23 · #14 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 1:47 AM**

^ Sadly no. We tried driving up to that road which does go along the beach there on the other side, but its locked because its bc hydro property I believe. When we were younger we used to put all of our gear on inflatable beds and swim across to the beaches.

Metro-One · #15 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 1:56 AM**

I am surprised no one has mentioned Hayne's Point. the spit of land that juts out into Osoyoos Lake. nothing like being surrounded by water in Canada's hottest weather!

Stingray2004 · #16 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 2:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I am surprised no one has mentioned Hayne's Point. the spit of land that juts out into Osoyoos Lake. nothing like being surrounded by water in Canada's hottest weather!

Hey...

Been going there since I was a little tot... never camp anywhere else. Mostly private campsite settings with your own lakefront beach on Osoyoos Lake in a desert oasis.

Those 40C summer temps and Canada's warmest lake. Can't beat it. Even has clean washrooms with Royal Dalton fixtures for a provincial campsite. Never seen that anywhere else.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...pgs/haynes_pt/

With boat rentals/ water-skiing just a skip, hop, and jump away.

Source: http://lh6.ggpht.com/__cGA9XD1hfw/Rr...hist+Mtn+2.JPG

cornholio · #17 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 2:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Hey...

Been going there since I was a little tot... never camp anywhere else. Mostly private campsite settings with your own lakefront beach on Osoyoos Lake in a desert oasis.

Those 40C summer temps and Canada's warmest lake. Can't beat it. Even has clean washrooms with Royal Dalton fixtures for a provincial campsite. Never seen that anywhere else.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...pgs/haynes_pt/

With boat rentals/ water-skiing just a skip, hop, and jump away.

Source: http://lh6.ggpht.com/__cGA9XD1hfw/Rr...hist+Mtn+2.JPG

who needs a washroom when you have a giant lake next to you

0773|=\ · #18 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 3:05 AM**

I really like Englishman River Falls on the Island. Cliff jumping into that deep pool of water is always fun.

jlousa · #19 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 4:35 AM**

The real good camping spots are secret and no one talks about them otherwise they wouldn't be secret anymore.

Google maps satellite view is killing most of the good secret spots.

Denscity · #20 Posted: **Feb 24, 2009, 4:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03SVTcobra

Any nice rivers or lakes to set up a site near?

Is there ever!! The Slocan river meets the Kootenay river and the Kootenay river meets the mighty Columbia in Castlegar. Up the Columbia you have 200km long Arrow lakes which stretch all the way to Revelstoke and up the Kootenay River to Nelson you have 200 km long Kootenay Lake. Plus Christina lake 45min east of Castlegar is Canada's warmest tree lined lake. Many many more in all directions from here