@hashtaganish
Berg Lake
Berg Lake
Backroad Mapbooks
By far one of the most beloved outdoor activities that thousands of Canadians takes part in each year is camping. With the wide range of places to go and accessibility for people of all ages and skill levels, camping has quickly become one of the quintessential elements of a Canadian lifestyle.
Due to the huge variety of camping options, it can often seem like a daunting task choosing exactly where you will sleep under the stars each year. To help you out, we have put together a list of our Top 50 Favourite Campgrounds, all the way from the west coast wonder of Vancouver Island, to the exotic environment on the east. So read up and start being the happiest of happy campers this year!
BC Parks:
1. Green Point Campground – Pacific Rim National Park
As one of the most captivating places to visit on Vancouver Island, it is no surprise that Pacific Rim National Park also features one of Canada’s best campgrounds. In the famous Long Beach unit of the park, just outside of Tofino, BC, Green Point Campground offers 94 drive-in sites as well as 20 walk in sites. The campground offers flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, and fire pits at each site, and a short path that leads right to the breathtaking beach, so visitors can crawl out of their tents right to a morning surf.
2. Lake of the Woods Campground – Cathedral Provincial Park
Nestled in the breathtaking 33,077 hectare (81,735 ac) Cathedral Provincial Park, in the Thompson Okanagan, Lake of the Woods Campground offers 28 sites, two pit toilets and spectacular views. Although there are no fires allowed at this campground, you will still have plenty to do during the evenings, stargazing at the unpolluted night sky and enjoying the remote wilderness of Cathedral Provincial Park. During the day, explore the area using some of the best hiking and backpacking trails in this region, with jagged mountain peaks to climb, turquoise lakes to take a dip in and alpine meadows to roam through.
3. Berg Lake Campground – Mount Robson Provincial Park
To get one of the best views in all of Mount Robson Provincial Park, and one of the most famous in the Canadian Rockies, you will want to camp at the Berg Lake Campground. After hiking in along the 23 km (14 mi) trail, there are 26 tent pads for hikers to spend the night and enjoy the breathtaking sight of Berg Lake. The azure blue waters, situated at the base of towering Mount Robson, make for an incredible view to wake up to, and you can even enjoy some of the other campsites and trails around the area. Although backcountry camping experience is recommended, the sights you will see are well worth the extra effort and adventure! Reservations are highly recommended as well and are accepted starting in January of each year.
4. Alice Lake Campground – Alice Lake Provincial Park
13 km (8 mi) north of Squamish, BC, Alice Lake Campground hosts 108 reservable sites, with 55 of them offering electrical hook-ups. Surrounded by cascading mountains, dense forests and sprawling grassy areas, you will find plenty of places to explore during the day after a well-rested sleep in Alice Lake Campground. The four freshwater lakes are great for swimming, fishing, and canoeing, and the variety of trails offer perfect hiking opportunities for all ages and skill levels. Here you will also find day use areas, washrooms, showers, a playground and more!
5. Alouette Lake Campground – Golden Ears Provincial Park
In the Vancouver, Coastal & Mountain region of BC, Alouette Lake Campground is one of the most popular destinations for anyone looking for a quick escape to the backcountry. With 205 sites, there is more than enough space for everyone, but come summertime sites do get reserved quickly, so book well in advance of your trip! Aside from the variety of hiking trails to explore within Golden Ears Park, visitors to Allouette Lake Campground will also find fun in boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, water skiing, windsurfing or just lounging around on the sandy beach!
6. Lightning Lake Campground – E.C. Manning Provincial Park
Found just off of Highway 3 in the Thompson Okanagan’s Southernmost point, Manning Park offers a paradise of outdoor exploration. While you can enjoy the park year-round with the many trails and adventures it offers, one of the peak times to visit is in the summer when the area of rugged mountains, valleys, meadows, lakes and rivers comes alive with fun. Lightning Lake Campground is easily the most popular of the 4 offered in the park, and boasts 143 reservable sites, as well as some yurts for a more luxurious stay. From May 19 – October 9, Lightning Lake Campground offers full services such as bathrooms and showers which are all wheelchair accessible.
7. Magog Campground – Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
Situated along the shores of the incredible Lake Magog, in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, Magog Campsite offers 29 designated sites with gravel pads, 4 pit toilets, 3 water taps, bear caches and even a semi-enclosed cooking area. Although no fires are allowed at this campground, you will love falling asleep under the shimmering night sky.
8. Murtle Lake Campground – Wells Gray Provincial Park
Within the breathtaking backcountry of Wells Gray Provincial Park, in the northern Thompson Okanagan region, Murtle Lake Campground is a popular destination for paddlers and anglers alike. These 69 sites are only accessible by canoe, but is the largest and one of the most well-known canoe-only lakes in North America. The 100 km (62 mi) of pristine shoreline set the scene for a perfect place to camp for the night, weekend or even a full week. In this wilderness campsite, you will find a food cache, pit toilet and fire rings. Sites are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
9. Takakkaw Falls Campground – Yoho National Park
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Takakkaw Falls Campground is a must-stop destination. At this campground in Yoho National Park you will find 35 walk-in campsites open from mid-June to the end of September. The site itself is situated right at the base of the impressive Takakkaw Falls, where you have access to food caches, a kitchen shelter, picnic tables, pit toilets and an amazing place to spend the night falling asleep under the falls.
10. Redstreak Campground – Kootenay National Park
Located just on the outskirts of the world-famous Radium Hot springs, in the Kootenay Rockies, Redstreak Campground is the biggest site in Kootenay National Park and one of the most enjoyable in Canada. Featuring 242 sites, 50 with full hook-up and 38 with just electrical, the campground also features oTENTiks (half-tent, half-cabin structures) for a more special sleep. At Redstreak Campground you will also find showers, flush toilets, kitchen shelters, a sani-dump station, playground, and tons of trails and activities in the area to enjoy!
Click here for BRMB's top picks for the rest of Canada.
Originally published here.