How to Plan Your Camp Adventure
Summer holidays are the busiest time of year in BC and finding an ideal camp spot can be a little tricky. Here are a few tips, tricks and resources to help you plan a route around camp destinations that interest you most. Keep in mind weekdays tend to be less busy, while weekends spots that are driving distance from Vancouver’s Lower Mainland tend to be packed with city dwellers looking for a break.
BC Parks: Our provincial parks have a reservation system that can help you plan well-enough in advance where you want to stay, what amenities you require and what kinds of activities you’re interested in. Reservations fill-up fast in early spring for the most desirable locations, but there are so many places throughout BC to visit it’s worth your the time to research what’s available and scoop up a spot.
Photo: BC Parks
First-come-first-serve: If you’re not using reservations then your other option is the Go Camping BC website which can help you find places that can be both off the beaten track and close to major parks. The benefit of this website is it’s search tool and database.
Photo: Go Camping BC, Mable Lake
Recreational Sites (Option 1): BC Hydro is the main provider of energy to our beautiful province, harnessing hydroelectric power from lakes and dams scattered throughout the wilderness. They maintain gravel roads and recreational sites (rec sites) that snake deep into some pretty spectacular areas and the environmental stewardship is top notch. These are first-come-first-serve sites, but because they’re often off the beaten track you’ll likely to find a gem of a spot.
Photo: BC Hydro, Shuswap River
Recreational Sites (Option 2): The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource operations maintains a network for Forest Service Roads (FSR’s) throughout the province. They are gravel, but there can be the odd rougher road that’s better for 4X4 vehicles. FSR’s are also gateways to another network of rec sites, which are also first-come-first-serve, and have mixed-use trails for biking, hiking, horse riding etc. Be mindful that some FSR’s are still active logging roads. Signs will be posted letting you know if any heavy trucks are in use. If so, take it slow and be prepared for the odd dust storm as trucks pass you along the way.
Photo: Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, Strawberry Point (Lillooet Lake)