Top 10 Camping & Fishing Spots Revealed in B.C.

The province is full of idyllic retreats for a weekend of fresh air, fun and fishing; the Camping and RVing BC Coalition and Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC have joined forces to highlight some of the best locations to camp and fish this summer.

“We are seeing a lot of interest in RVing and camping this summer as the economic downturn is making people stay closer to home,” said, Joss Penny, coalition chair and executive director of the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association. “This trend allows BC residents to explore what’s in our province and camping and fishing are great ways to get in touch with the best of what BC has to offer.”

Both camping and fishing offer affordable ways to relax in the summer sun, whether you are planning a family getaway, a weekend with friends or a multi-generational trip with the extended family, the great outdoors offers the perfect holiday at the right price.

“Fishing is a great bonding activity and discoverfishingbc.ca can help people make their summer plans,” says Don Peterson of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC). “Our goal is to ensure we educate people on the range of fishing opportunities available across the province, provide freshwater stocking information and connect people to ongoing Learn to Fish programs to help ensure fishing is successful, easily accessible and fun.”

Discoverfishingbc.ca and Camping and RVing BC Coalition recommend the following ten fishing and camping opportunities:

Alberni Harbour - The town of Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island, is a salmon fishing mecca and great place to try your luck in the protected waters of the Alberni Harbour. The harbour is suitable for small-boat fishing and anglers can target chinook and coho salmon through September.

Where to RV and Camp: There are multiple camping and RV options in the area, including Stamp River Falls campground, Arrowvale
Campground with 40 sites and Lakeshore Campground and Cottage with camping and RVing sites.

Discovery Pier – The Discovery Pier is probably one of the most accessible fishing spots on the coast. Located in the heart of Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, the 600-foot pier is a great place to take the kids for a lazy afternoon of saltwater fishing. The Pier even offers equipment rentals and a concession stand.

Where to RV and Camp: This area has something for all types of camping and RVing including Brown’s Bay Resort, Marina & Ripple Rock RV Park, Elk Falls Provincial Park, Campbell River Fishing Village & RV Park and Parkside Campground and RV Park.

Port Renfrew - Located two hours northwest of Victoria on Highway 14, Port Renfrew and Sooke are just some of the spots along Vancouver Island’s southwest coast that offer great fishing for coho and chinook salmon. This is primarily a small-boat fishery, but anglers can also go fishing with one of the areas’ many charter operators or contact a local marina for information on boat rentals.

Where to RV and Camp: The westcoast of Vancouver Island offers excellent camping and RVing including Port Renfrew Recreational Retreat with 33 spacious and private RV sites, San Juan River Recreation Site (accessible with two wheel drive) and Fairy Lake Recreation site, an open RV-friendly site with a beautiful sandy beach.

Roche Lake - Situated about 30 minutes southeast of Kamloops in Roche Lake Provincial Park, Roche Lake is one of the most popular fly and spin fishing lakes in the Thompson/Nicola region of the province. Nutrient rich waters and a well-managed fish stocking program provide anglers with quality fishing for rainbow trout.

Where to Camp and RV: Within the provincial park there are rustic campsites on two of the lakes and a year-round campground fully serviced from May 1 through September 30.

Tunkwa and Leighton Lakes - Located within Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park just north of the town of Logan Lake, B.C., these are two of the most nutrient rich small lakes in the province. This translates into healthy and abundant populations of stocked rainbow trout. Good camping, plus a resort on Tunkwa Lake and paved roads almost to the water’s edge make this an easy weekend trip from the Greater Vancouver area. The trout will reach in excess of 2 kg.

Where to Camp and RV: There are three campgrounds in Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. In addition to an excellent trail system and numerous outdoor activities, there is full service campsites from May 1 through October 8 and 275 vehicle accessible campsites.

Sheridan Lake - One of the larger lakes along Highway 24, the fishing highway of the southern Cariboo region of the province, Sheridan Lake supports a healthy population of stocked rainbow trout that reach in excess of 6 kg.

Where to Camp and RV: Numerous RV parks cater to travelling anglers in this area, which includes Loon Bay Resort with 50 sites and a lakefront RV park from May 15 through October 15. Sheridan Lake Resort has a total of 92 sites, 40 for RVs.

Dragon Lake - Located very close to downtown Quesnel, this is one of B.C.'s premier rainbow trout lakes. It is an extremely productive water body, which allows the stocked rainbow trout to reach very large sizes. It is one of B.C.'s most prized fly fishing lakes with trout reaching in excess of 4 kg.

Where to Camp and RV: Robert’s Roost RV Park and Campground has lakeshore campsites with full hook-ups and recreational facilities and laundry.

Quesnel Lake – Quesnel Lake is a big water body with even bigger fishing opportunities for rainbow trout and bull trout in one of the deepest fiord lakes in the world. This pristine lake offers excellent trolling, casting and fly fishing,
particularly at the mouths of the many small creeks that enter the lake.

Where to Camp and RV: Along with the fishing, Cedar Point Provincial Park is an exceptional place for scenery and swimming. Open from May 1 through October 1, there are 40 vehicle accessible campsites for tenting or RVs.

Elk River and Tributaries - Close to Fernie, B.C., the Elk River and its tributaries offer world-class fly fishing for Westslope Cutthroat Trout. The river features aggressively feeding trout and beautiful scenery in the East Kootenay Region of the province.

Where to Camp and RV: Snow Valley Motel & RV Park in the centre of Fernie has 10 sites for RVing and tenting area, as well as Englishman Creek Recreation Site with 42 campsites, a large site on Lake Koocanusa in a protected bay with a gravel boat launch.

Whiteswan Lake - In beautiful Whiteswan Provincial Park, located north of Cranbrook, this is an extremely picturesque water body with towering mountains as the backdrop for anglers fishing for stocked and wild rainbow trout. These fish are renowned for their strong fighting abilities.

Where to Camp and RV: The Provincial Park includes year-round Home Basin and White River campgrounds and Alces, Packrat and Inlet Creek campgrounds open from May 9 through October 15. The park has a total of 104 vehicle accessible campsites and 3 walk-in sites.

All anglers should check the fresh or saltwater fishing regulations for specific regulations that may apply to any of these BC waters, the regulations can be accessed via www.discoverfishingbc.ca.

The Camping and RV Coalition also recently launched a Google Map service that can be found at www.campingrvbc.com. It’s a user-friendly tool that aids people in finding,
booking and getting to a great camping spots close to their favourite fishing locations.