Camping in British Columbia

Overview:

British Columbia is approximately 952,260 square km (367,660 square mi.), this includes 18,000 square km (11,160 square mi.) of inland water and is the third largest province in Canada. It is made up of snow-covered mountains, rolling hills, alpine meadows, plateaus, glacier fed lakes, swift flowing rivers, lush forests, grasslands, and miles of rugged fiord coastline. B.C. is ready made for exploring. The geography and adventures are so diverse that few other places in North America can offer the variety British Columbia can. It is an outdoor recreational haven.

Camping in British Columbia is fast becoming the main outdoor recreation of locals and tourists alike. Within the borders, there are more than 400 different provincial parks for day use and camping. Four of the six national parks offer developed camping facilities. The Forest recreation sites offer rustic camping, maintained trails and interpretative forest sites. Each year, more people are enjoying the natural scenery, space and more than 10,000 camping spots in B.C.

Camping means different things to different people. Some enjoy camping in tents, others in recreational vehicles (commonly known as RV's). Whether you enjoy camping with few facilities or in your home-away-from-home RV, the beauty of the great outdoors is waiting to be experienced. British Columbia was created for camping and campers!

Rules and Camping Etiquette:

Facilities:

Most campgrounds in British Columbia have the basic facilities. This includes water, wood, pit toilets, picnic tables and fire pits. Some larger campgrounds can offer showers, flush toilets, sani-stations, wheelchair access, group camping, visitor's centres and interpretive programs. The camp spots are made tidy after each visitor leaves, garbage is collected on a regular basis, and washroom facilities are usually clean and well maintained.

Fees:

Fees are collected only from April to October. Camping fees vary from site to site depending on the facilities. Attendants, in most parks collect the cash only payment in the early evening hours. Fees include GST and range from $6.00 to $18.00 in provincial parks and up to $22.00 in national parks. There is a charge for firewood in national parks. Whether camping or not, they charge an additional fee in national parks.

BC Parks offers a reservation service. This service means advanced reservations can be made in some of the more popular parks throughout the province. Phone 1-800-689-9025 for advanced reservations.

Park Hazards (Wildlife):

British Columbia is blessed with an abundance of wildlife. Depending on the season, you are apt to see cougars, bears, moose, deer, sheep, goats, whales and many small animals. There are also hundreds of different bird species that make their home in B.C.

Bears are the most prevalent and dangerous of the wildlife in the parks of British Columbia. BC has almost one-quarter of all the black bears in Canada and close to half the grizzlies. People and bear encounters are very rare, but always keep in mind that you ARE in bear country. Be prepared and take the necessary precautions. Never approach or feed a bear.

Necessary Camping Items:

Some people take everything (including the kitchen sink) camping. The RV campers, whether using a camper, fifth-wheel, or a motor home have the opportunity to enjoy all the comforts of home. These units have sleeping accommodations, stoves, fridges, furnaces and everything a camper needs, and then some. Nevertheless, whether you enjoy camping in a tent or a RV unit, certain items can help make your experience fun. These items include aluminum foil, an axe, a barbecue, camera and film, candles and/or a lantern, a flashlight, a first aid kit that includes calamine lotion and insect repellent. Make sure you have garbage bags, matches and newspaper for the campfire, rope, sunglasses, hat and sun screen, a tarp, towels, and rainy day activities.

 

For general information on B.C. Provincial Parks contact:

BC Parks, 2nd Floor - 800 Johnson Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Phone: (250) 387-5002    Fax: (250) 387-5757

National Parks are under the umbrella of Canada's Federal government.

For general information on Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks contact:

Canadian Heritage, 220 - 4th Avenue SE, P.O. Box 2989, Station M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H8 Phone: (403) 292-4401    Fax: (403) 292-4185

For information on Mt. Revelstoke, Glacier, Pacific Rim and Gwaii Haanas National Parks:

Canadian Heritage, Pacific/Yukon, 300 - 300 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6C6 Phone: (604) 666-0176    Fax: (604) 666-3508

Ministry of Forests Recreation Sites in British Columbia:

The BC Forest Service offers 1,283 recreation sites and more than 600 trails for the public’s use and enjoyment. Sites include campgrounds, day-use areas, boat launches and other facilities that enable the public to enjoy a recreation experience in a forest setting. With its partners, the ministry’s goal is to provide safe, sanitary, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound facilities and structures (tables, toilets, signs, etc.) that complement and blend with the natural surroundings.

Camping in a forest recreation site is different from camping in one of B.C.'s Provincial Parks or in a National Park. These forest sites are rustic and usually off the beaten track. They are enjoyed by folks, who wish to get away from it all and enjoy outdoor activities. The rules and regulations, which apply to B.C. Provincial Parks and National Parks, differ when it comes to the forest recreation sites and trails.

Be sure to read Murphy Shewchuk's article on BC Ministry of Forests Rec Sites: "1,200 [Almost] Free Campgrounds"

Sites and Facilities:

Most of British Columbia is forest land and the Provincial Government is responsible for maintaining this land mass. The day to day operations of this provincial forest land is handled and supervised by the Ministry of Forests. More than 1,200 Ministry of Forests recreational sites are scattered throughout the province as well as an extensive network of trails for those wishing to experience B.C.'s natural beauty. There are three types of recreation sites: managed with fees, managed without fees, and user maintained. These sites give the public a varied choice of recreational activities. Including boating, fishing, swimming, skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, back country exploring and nature study. Many of these sites are listed in our lake information pages found within our Explore BC section.

Most of the recreational camp sites are rustic and provide only the basics amenities such as outhouses, fire rings, picnic tables and boat launch ramps in some places. Sites are small and usually near a lake or river. The recreational trails are designed for all types of usage from hiking and horseback riding to skiing and snowmobiling.

Some recreational sites have litter barrels supplied, while other sites are "User Maintained" which means packing out all your garbage. These sites are for everybody to use, so please leave it clean. They do not provide firewood. Bring your own or gather it. Burn only dead or downed trees, do not cut trees. Most boat launches are for small car top boats. Persons can launch trailered small and medium sized boats where there are ramps.

Site Locations & Information:

For complete information and an interactive map of Ministry of Forests Recreation Sites. Visit the Ministry of Forests Website: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/rec.htm

List of Recreation Sites: a .pdf document listing all recreation sites is available at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/hfp/external/!publish/rec/sites.pdf

Etiquette:

There are some do's and don'ts when using recreational sites and trails.

Rules and Regulations:

The following rules and regulations apply to all persons using recreation sites and trails.

Help Prevent Forest Fires:

Humans cause approximately half of all forest fires, do your share to help and prevent this needless damage to our forests and environment. Use the provided fire rings, watch for flying sparks and keep campfires as small as possible. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure the campfire is out before you leave. Do not smoke while walking, butt out on a rock or dirt. When driving use your ashtray. Always respect fire closures and other forest restrictions.

Wildlife:

Forest recreation sites and trails are off the beaten track, so people can enjoy the wilderness. But this can bring people into conflict with the wildlife, specially the black bear, the grizzly bear and the cougar. Always practice wildlife safety. Take necessary precautions and follow a few simple rules. Never feed bears. Do not store food in your tent. Pitch your tent away from where you cook and store your food. Never have your tent near heavy brush, the lake shore, stream banks and animal tracks. Keep your campsite clean and never bury garbage. Never surprise bears. Do not hike alone, keep your distance when taking photos and never come between a mother bear and her cubs. Keep pets on a leash and leave the area if you spot any bear and cougar tracks, droppings, or signs. Do not run from a bear, instead back away slowly and try to stay calm.

Using Forest Roads:

The forest service build forest roads primarily for industrial traffic, but the public uses them. These roads are classified according to their surface and travel conditions. The paved and gravel roads are good in all weather. The rough roads are a gravel or dirt surface and passable with a two-wheel drive, and the very rough roads are passable with a four-wheel drive. Due to weather, usage and maintenance, road conditions can change quickly, so be prepared. Roads can be closed during an extreme fire hazard season and during industrial use. Not all forest roads are maintained during the winter. If not familiar with the area or the route, check with the nearest forest district for road conditions.

Forest road travel is different from public highway travelling. Not matter where you travel, always drive with extreme caution. Before starting on a forest road, check your vehicle, fuel and supplies. Always obey road signs, and give logging and industrial traffic the right-of-way or pull off the road. Drive with your lights on, especially on dusty roads. Always watch for animals, rocks, downed trees and blind corners when on a forest road. Stay in your vehicle if any wildlife is near. Always be very careful if travelling or camping in forest recreation areas.

For more information about BC provincial forests, please contact: E-mail: Forests.ForestPracticesBranchOffice@gems3.gov.bc.ca