There are a lot of families taking a fresh step into the wonderful world of camping since international travel is pretty much impossible to plan for right now.

While the idea of driving out into the middle of nowhere and setting up a camp to embrace a touch of the wild seems awesome (to me at least), doing that with the family in tow might not be possible.

To make camping approachable to more and to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy our lush environment and local scenery, here are the nearest campsites to Vancouver, BC and their facilities from bathrooms and showers to beaches and available activities.

This season will be busier than ever so ensure you book your campsite as soon as the spots open on DiscoverCamping.ca and register for your Day Pass if you’re heading to a provincial park for a day rather than camping overnight.

Campsites in BC by Location

Electrical Hook-Ups

If you’re driving an R/V, you’re going to need an electrical plug-in. Here are a list of provincial parks with accessible electrical outlets:

• Alice Lake Provincial Park
• Bear Creek Provincial Park
• Juniper Beach Provincial Park
• Kekuli Bay Provincial Park
• Kikomun Creek Provincial Park

• Kokanee Creek Provincial Park
• Lakelse Lake Provincial Park
• McDonald Creek Provincial Park
• Mount Robson Provincial Park
• Meziadin Lake Provincial Park

• Porteau Cove Provincial Park
• Shuswap Lake Provincial Park
• Steelhead Provincial Park
• Syringa Provincial Park

Water Hook-ups

With the exception of the parks below, BC Parks does not offer water hook-ups; however, there are drinking water taps located throughout most campgrounds.

• Juniper Beach Provincial Park
• Steelhead Provincial Park

Campsites within a 90 minutes drive from Vancouver

Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park [aka Indian Arm Park]

BC PARKS PAGE: “There are two waterfalls within the park – Granite Falls and Silver Falls. The Indian River estuary protects important wildlife habitat. There is also a tidal lagoon between the North and South Twin Islands. Black bear sightings are common along the shoreline.” 

Know Before You Go

• Camping is prohibited on South Twin Island, Raccoon Island and on the north side of Granite Falls (near the BC Parks dock).
• Campfires are prohibited at all times in Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park.
• The Pink salmon run starts in July and runs into October.
• There are no taps or handpumps in the park. In the wetter months, water is available at Bishop Creek and Granite Falls campgrounds. There is no fresh water available on either North or South Twin Islands. Water can be obtained from the creeks, but any water obtained in the park should be boiled, filtered or treated before consuming.
• Although there are no winter recreational opportunities available at Say Nuth Khaw Yum Park, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available at Mount Seymour Provincial Park, Cypress Provincial Park and Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver.
• There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities at this park. Although special services are not available for the disabled in this park, most of the park is accessible by boat. Docks are available at North Granite Falls and North Twin Island.

Onsite Activities:

Facilities Available:

• Boat launch
• Picnic Area
• Pit or Flush Toilets
• Walk-in/Backcountry/Wilderness Camping

Golden Ears Provincial Park

Golden Ears Provincial Park lies in the Coast Mountains 11 km north of Maple Ridge on the north side of the Fraser River. The campgrounds are approximately 11 km north of the park entrance.

The closest towns are Maple Ridge, Mission and Pitt Meadows.

BC PARKS PAGE: “As one of the largest parks in the province, Golden Ears Provincial Park is prized for its recreational opportunities. The extensive system of trails within the park provides an excellent opportunity for hiking and horseback riding.” 

Know Before You Go

• Hikers entering the backcountry should ensure a responsible person is aware of their trip plans including destination, equipment carried, and planned return time.
• There is an emergency shelter on Panorama Ridge on the Golden Ears Trail, available for emergency use situations only; no overnight use.

Special Notes

• Park hosts and a security patrol are available during the summer months.
• During the summer, Golden Ears Provincial Park is extremely popular, especially on weekends. Visitors are advised that the park is subject to periodic closure to day-users and/or boaters when the day-use and/or boat launch parking lots fill to capacity. Closures generally occur on sunny weekends and holidays during July and August, and usually occur between 11am and 4pm.
• Canoes and Kayaks are available for rent in the park at the Alouette (South Beach) day-use area on weekends only from May long weekend to late June and daily from late June to Labour Day. (weather permitting)
• Cell phone service is poor or not available in many areas of the park, including the campgrounds and Alouette (South Beach) day-use area.

Onsite Activities:

Facilities Available:

• Boat launch
• Campfires
• Drinking Water
• Group Camping
• Pit or Flush Toilets
• Playground
• Sani-Station Dump
• Showers

Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

BC PARKS SITE: The park lies south of Garibaldi Provincial Park, west of Pitt Lake and Pitt River and extends south to include Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. Nearby communities include Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.

Know Before You Go:

• The old Widgeon Falls Trail is currently not recommended, due to many slippery foot-bridges and wooden stairs that are in poor condition. Visitors travelling to the falls are encouraged to utilize the old roadway, instead.
• Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available in the park. Creek water is available at all day-use and camping areas. Always boil, filter and otherwise treat your water before consuming.

Special Notes

• Campfires are not permitted within the park at any time.
• Please use the food cache provided at Widgeon Creek campsite to prevent bear/human conflicts.
• Please utilize the existing tent pads at the Widgeon Creek campsite when camping, to minimize your impacts on the area. Do not camp on vegetated areas.
• The Widgeon Creek campsite is a user-maintained area. There are no trash cans provided – pack out everything you pack in. Leave nothing behind.
• Dogs must remain on a leash at all times while within the park. Always clean up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste.

Activities Available

• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Pets on Leash
• Swimming
• Wildlife Viewing
• Winter Recreation

Facilities Available

• Group Camping
• Picnic Areas
• Pit or Flush Toilets
• Walk-in/ Backcountry/ Wilderness Camping
• Winter Camping

Garibaldi Provincial Park

BC PARKS SITE: Five park access points are located along Highway 99, Sea to Sky Highway, between Squamish and Pemberton. Vehicle access is recommended as the five trailheads are located anywhere from 2 km to 16 km off Highway 99. Other nearby communities include Whistler and Brackendale.

Know Before You Go:

• Wilderness camping permits can only be used to camp in the wilderness camping area, and must follow specific guidelines. Please refer to the following information:
  • Wilderness Camping Map [PDF]
  • Wilderness Camping Information

• Reservations are required year-round for all camping in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
• Dogs and fires are prohibited in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
• Garbage facilities are not provided in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Pack out what you pack in.

Special Notes

Prohibited Activities

• Use of motorized vehicles including snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, trail bikes and similar conveyances are restricted to park roads and parking lots.
• Domestic animals (dogs/pets);
• Fires;
• Arriving or departing from the park by aircraft – View the Voluntary Flight Guidelines [PDF] (1990);
• Harvesting of natural resources; this includes mushrooms.
• Please note that due to high use levels in Garibaldi and damage to small trees, camping hammocks are not permitted in the park.

• In addition to making the required reservation, large groups (10 or more) planning a trip into Garibaldi Provincial Park are requested to register online well in advance of their trip. Large groups must ensure the appropriate number of tentpads are booked for the group.
• For youth and school groups, please review this Youth Group information document for information on making your reservation and planning your group trip to the park.

Activities Available

• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Winter Recreation

Facilities Available

• Cabins/ Huts
• Drinking Water
• Picnic Areas
• Pit or Flush Toilets
• Walk-in/ Backcountry/ Wilderness Camping
• Winter Camping

Cathedral Provincial Park

BC PARKS SITE: Cathedral Park is southwest of Keremeos, bounded on the south by the British Columbia-Washington State border, on the east by Ewart Creek, and on the west and north by the Ashnola River.

Know Before You Go:

• Mountain Goat Important Safety Information [PDF]
• Potable water is not available in the parkAll surface water must be treated, filtered or boiled prior to consumption.

Special Notes

• Dogs are not permitted in Cathedral Provincial Park.
• Please be aware of these camping ethics.
• Cathedral Lakes Lodge Ltd. operates a lodge and cabins on Quiniscoe Lake and provides transportation by four-wheel-drive from Ashnola River to Quiniscoe Lake (for a fee).
• National Topographic Series Maps Sheet 092H/01 (Ashnola) at a scale of 1:50,000 covers the Cathedral Lakes area.
• There are three well-defined hiking trails into the park. Hikers will require at least a full day to hike one-way into the core area.

Activities Available

• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Swimming
• Wildlife Viewing
• Hunting

Facilities Available

• Cabins/ Huts
• Campfires
• Picnic Areas
• Pit or Flush Toilets
• Walk-in/ Backcountry/ Wilderness Camping
• Vehicle Accessible Camping

There are endless opportunities for adventure right here in BC, so check out the BC Parks website, book a spot, pack everything you could possibly need including all the snacks and make the most of what we’ve got.

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