Best camping sites in British Columbia

Marion Fernandez

Getting out into the beautiful scenery that makes up British Columbia is one of the best things you can do for yourself this summer. From the gorgeous beaches to the vigorous hiking opportunities, there are so many places you could think of going. But sometimes such an array of choice makes deciding where to go a bit of a challenge. So we’ve put together a a list of some of the best places you can go camping in BC.

Agate Beach Campground

Situated within Naikoon National Park, the Agate Beach Campground has 32 tent sites sitting right on the edge of the ocean. Called Haida Gwaii, the campground is part of an area of temperate rainforest that is surrounded by sandy beaches and is also home to the cultural treasures of the Haida people.

Mount Assiniboine National Park

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. – Autor: Kurt Stegmüller – CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 2.5, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-SA 1.0
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. – Autor: Kurt Stegmüller – CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 2.5, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-SA 1.0

If you’re a more experienced hiker or outdoorsman, then for you Mount Assiniboine National Park may be a good option. The campground is pretty remote and isolated and the scenery underlines the fact that there are few humans anywhere nearby. This campground does not have any sunny beaches for you to lay on, and it does have the cool breeze from the mountains, meaning you are going to need to pack the layers and enough gear to keep warm at night. But the views and the experience make the extra effort completely worth it.

Porpoise Bay

Porpoise Bay, at the southern end of Sechelt Inlet, Sechelt, British Columbia – Author: Fishhead64 – CC BY-SA 3.0
Porpoise Bay, at the southern end of Sechelt Inlet, Sechelt, British Columbia – Author: Fishhead64 – CC BY-SA 3.0

With a 45 minute ferry ride, you can head from the Lower Mainland to the Sunshine Coast. Not far from Sechelt, Porpoise Bay is a large and popular campground. There is a lot to explore in Porpoise Bay, from the numerous waterfalls to the hidden groves, and it’s popular for good reason. Since there is a clean air policy here, there are three communal fire pits instead of individual campfires. There is also a playground, as well as sandy beaches.

Alouette Lake

The picturesque Alouette Lake is located in Golden Ears Provincial Park in BC – Author: Rikki / Julius Reque – CC BY-SA 2.0
The picturesque Alouette Lake is located in Golden Ears Provincial Park in BC – Author: Rikki / Julius Reque – CC BY-SA 2.0

With both a North and South campground, the Alouette Campground is only an hour’s drive from Downtown Vancouver. It is an excellent choice if you only want to go camping for a couple of nights. The lake is situated in Golden Ears Park, which does book up early in the summer.

Sunnyside Campground

Also located near Downtown Vancouver, the Sunnyside Campground is situated in Cultus Lake Provincial Park. The campground is extremely popular and fills up early, but if you don’t manage to get a camping spot, you can still go lay on the lake’s beach and enjoy a picnic and some fun swimming. This area is popular with the locals and is also not too far from the Washington border, making it an easy drive for people stateside of the border.

Strawberry Point Campground

This is the perfect spot to go to if you are worried about unexpected rain. While it is only an hour from Vancouver, Lillooet Lake, where the campground is located, gets quite a bit less rain than Vancouver does. This means that you don’t have to worry so much about getting drenched suddenly. And you do not have to worry about being eaten alive by mosquitoes either!

EC Manning Provincial Park

E. C. Manning Provincial Park – Author: GoToVan – CC BY 2.0
E. C. Manning Provincial Park – Author: GoToVan – CC BY 2.0

An easy three hour drive from Vancouver, Manning Park is an excellent getaway from the city. With amazing hiking trails, beaches, and spots to go canoeing, you should be able to fulfill all of the summer outdoor adventures in this local hot spot.

The bottom line is that there are endless opportunities to have fun in British Columbia. Whether you are looking for a rainforest, waterfall, sandy beaches, or beautiful mountain ranges, there is a campground out there to suit your needs.

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marion-fernandez

marion-fernandez is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival