Summer is around the corner which means it is officially camping season! Start planning your camping trips with these seven amazing camping destinations in Canada.
I don’t know about you, but I am ready to enjoy bonfires, smores and snuggling in tents. To help you plan the most perfect camping trips, I have partnered with some of my travel blogging friends and put together this list of awesome camping destinations in Canada.
Scroll through them and get excited to explore these seven beautiful camping areas.
7 Top Camping Destinations In Canada To Enjoy This Summer
1. Well’s Gray Provincial Park
One of the best places to camp during the summer is at Well’s Gray Provincial Park in beautiful British Columbia. Known for being an incredible waterfall paradise, the park has 41 named waterfalls (and many still to be discovered). This park is one of the best places to find waterfalls in British Columbia. You will be surrounded by 5000 km² of largely untouched wilderness, dramatic peaks, alpine meadows, and gorgeous lakes.
The great thing about waterfalls in Well’s Gray is that several of the popular ones are accessible with a short walk or easy hike from the parking lot. Helmcken Falls is the iconic waterfall of the park and the fourth largest waterfall in Canada. Take a walk behind Moul Falls (not recommended for kids) and feel the power of nature. Also impressive are Spahat Falls and Dawson Falls.
The best way to experience Wells Gray Provincial Park is by camping. There are three campgrounds: Clearwater Lake, Falls Creek, and Pyramid. The campgrounds are very basic but have everything you need for a grand adventure.
Contributed by Debbie Fettback from WorldAdventurists.com.
2. Squamish
Located on the banks of the Howe Sound, Squamish is considered one of the adventure capitals of Canada. Surrounded by spectacular mountain, valley and ocean scenery, it is hugely popular with mountain bikers, rock climbers, hikers, kayakers and fishermen, just to name a few. Plus, with mild winters and sublime summers, it is possible to enjoy most of Squamish’s wonderful outdoor activities year-round. The Stawamus Chief hike is one of British Columbia’s best day hikes and there is a wide selection of lakes and rivers all close to the city centre.
There are no fewer than 10 different campgrounds in and around Squamish, each offering a slightly different experience. From the remote seclusion of Paradise Valley to the social atmosphere of Alice Lake to impressive ocean-front camping at Porteau Cove, there is a campground to fit every scenario. MTB Fun Base Camp caters specifically to mountain bikers, while climbers flock to the extraordinary walls right next to the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park campsites and long-termers congregate at Mamquam River. And wherever you end up, you can count on being surrounded by magnificent natural surroundings.
From Dean and Laynni at Routinely Nomadic.
3. Spray Lakes West Campground
Located in beautiful Spray Lakes Provincial Park, this first-come-first-serve campground is one of my favorite campgrounds in Alberta. Not only is it a great base to try some of the best hikes in Kananaskis country, it’s also located right on stunning Spray Lake, which offers great paddleboarding, fishing, and stunning views of the Canadian Rockies. There’s nothing quite like watching the sunset or the sunrise as the mountains reflect off the crystal-clear glacial lake. It’s located on the Smith Dorrien Highway, a dirt road that connects the town of Canmore with Kananaskis Trail. It’s only about 20-30 minutes from Canmore, which makes it both convenient but still far enough away to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Even the drive to get there is beautiful as you’ll often pass mountain sheep walking around the cliffs. We also love that it’s not bookable, as bookable sites often fill up months in advance. However, you’ll definitely want to get here on a weekday if you want to ensure a nice camping spot.
From Matthew at Must Do Canada
4. Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site
There are not very many places where you can actually go camping in a National Historic Site but Rocky Mountain House is one of them. Home to the former site of both Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company operation, this is a great place to learn about the history of both Canada and Alberta. It’s actually a living museum, which means you’ll find costumed interpreters all around the site acting out scenes from back in the day. This is one of the coolest places to go camping in Alberta as you can either pitch a tent or stay in one of their trapper’s tents, cabins, or tipis. We opted for the trapper’s tent, which included a kit that had a period cooking kit and utensils, a blow tube and flint/steel fire-starting kit, bannock mix, trapper’s tea, spices, oil, soap, and a hatchet. They really try to give you the full “trappers” experience, allowing you to start a fire using flint and steel (very difficult by the way), make bannock over the fire, and even drink tea with herbs and plants from the local forest. It’s also nestled right next to the North Saskatchewan River, the river that carried fur traders and explorers all across the wild country of Canada.
From Matthew at Must Do Canada
5. Nanaimo
The Living Forest Oceanside Campsite & RV Park near Nanaimo is one of the best campgrounds on Vancouver Island. It’s a great place to base yourself during a Vancouver Island road trip.
Nanaimo and its surroundings are lovely and you can easily spend a couple of days here. Victoria is just 90 minutes by car, Port Alberni is just over one hour drive.
Regarding the campground, there are around 300 spacious camp spots. Most of them are shaded and have a fire pit as well as a picnic table. There are fool hookup spots available with electricity and water, but also more basic spots for tents. Prices range between $31 and $61, depending on the facilities at your chosen campsite.
There are many facilities, such as a coin laundry (with washing machine and dryer), a common room (with free WiFi), a kid play room with ping pong, air hockey, and a large TV, and lots more.
Toilet and shower facilities aren’t new but they are clean. A hot shower cost $1 for 5 minutes. Check the Living Forest Oceanside Campsite & RV Park website for more information (https://www.livingforest.com/).
By Lotte from Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog
6. Twin Shores
Twin Shores camping area, located along the North Shore of Prince Edward Island in Darnley, is famed for its amazing scenery, convenient facilities, and central location. This 200-acre ground is both family and pet friendly. It is also a haven for the travel lover with three beaches and over 2 miles of coastline to enjoy. It’s favourable location allows visitors to experience two well defined shorelines, one having white sand and the other red. Swimming and sunbathing are the most sought after pursuits in this premier oceanfront camping destination. Some of the more practical facilities include a tennis court, a playground, laundry service, and a bar. These facilities are clean and well maintained by staff that are friendly and helpful. For those looking to discover the area, nearby attractions include Cabot Beach Park, Thunder Cove Beach, and Keir Memorial Museum.
By Rai from A Rai Of Light
7. The Kananaskis
It doesn’t get much better than camping in the Kananaskis. Located just south of Banff National Park, the Kananaskis is home to several provincial parks including Spray Lake Provincial Park and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. This region is famed on the world stage for stunning mountain peaks, beautiful blue lakes, and pine tree-lined rivers. With only a couple of hotels in the area, it should come as no surprise that camping is the best way to spend a few nights here.
There are several campgrounds to choose from in the Kananaskis. For something closer to Calgary and Banff, check out Bow Valley Provincial Park campground. For something a little more remote you can’t pass up Boulton Creek, Lower Lake, and Elkwood campsites. If you stay out here you will have a good chance of running into some wildlife including moose and bears.
When camping in the Kananaskis be sure to be prepared for any weather – the area is known for weather changing at a moment’s notice. Be sure to also bring your hiking boots and bear spray, there are tons of incredible hikes you can check out right from your campsite. Besides that, all you’ll need is a camera to take some great snaps as well as a little creativity to come up with the perfect Instagram mountain caption to go along with it. Seriously, you’ll be blown away by the beauty of the Kananaskis!
By Bailey from Inspire with Quotes
I hope you get a chance to enjoy some or all of these amazing camping destinations in Canada.
Wishing you a lifetime full of outdoor adventures,
