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. Hundreds of BC Government recreation sites, located throughout the province, offer rustic camping, boat launching and often maintained trails. 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:

At fee sites, fees are collected only from approx 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 are resonable. There is a charge for firewood in national parks. Whether camping or not, they charge an additional fee in national parks.

For current details and reservation information visit the following websites:

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 Information on BC Provincial Parks contact:

BC Parks (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks)

For Information on National Parks contact:

Parks Canada: National Parks in BC (http://www.pc.gc.ca)

For Information on Bc Recreation Sites contact:

BC Recreation Sites & Trails (http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca)

BC Recreation Sites:

The Recreation Sites & Trails BC offers a host of exceptional recreation opportunities. While some of the Province's most spectacular recreation features are located in parks, many more recreation resources are found in the rugged and real backcountry. Recreation sites and trails are public campgrounds and trails located on Crown land outside of parks and settled areas.

The backcountry provides an abundance of great places to have fun and enjoy nature through activities such as camping, boating, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, ATVing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and exploring. So get to know BC's backcountry - it's the perfect place to experience the wonders of the outdoors and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Camping in a BCrecreation site is different from camping in one of BC'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.

Recreation sites provide a simple, rustic camping experience. Generally located in remote areas and accessed by gravel forestry roads, recreation sites provide only basic facilities, such as fire rings, picnic tables, outhouses, and, where appropriate, boat-launching ramps. 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.

Potable water is not available, and there is no electricity at recreation sites. At a limited number of recreation sites with on-site operators, supervisory services are provided.

There are two basic types of recreation sites:

Sites and Facilities:
Search a database of sites and their facilities at: http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca

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 BC Recreation Sites. Visit their Website: http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca

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.