Camping in Canada

[Del Boy]

Can any of our Canadian members tell me what the situation is like for camping(Cheap!) in the Land of the Maple Leaf?

Cheers Derek.

[scdan3]

lots of cheap sites, lots of free sites. the forestry commision ones are generally best... (BC and yukon). can be cold though and keep an eye out for bears.

dan

[Riq]

As Dan said there is plenty of camping space at reasonable rates. If you email the tourism department of the provincial governments they will post you plenty of information.

You can also get most of this information online at sites like;

www.travelalberta.com/

What time of year are tou planning on coming over as a lot of the sites close for the winter.

Rick

[PanEuropean]

Rick makes a very good point about 'time of year'. My guess is that over 75% of campsites in Canada are only open from Victoria Day (May 24) until Labour Day (first weekend in September), and very, very few are open over the winter. Not that you would want to camp in Canada during the winter...

[Del Boy]

Thanks Fellas,

Your info is much appreciated. As I'll be starting from Toronto in mid-May and travelling across the country to arrive at the Travellers Meeting in Nelson then on to Copper Canyon, I shouldn't have a problem with sites being closed. Perhaps our paths will cross, if so I owe you a !

Derek.

[Stagbeetle]

Hi Derek,
It was nice to meet you and Dennis in Belgium last month.

Check out this site http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/topo/map it really is one of the best map sites on the web, and I've visited dozens of them this last few months. You can zoom in so that individual houses are plotted in some places. Also it shows campsites and both National and Provincial Parks are plotted. These make good, cheap campsites, even in the backwoods, so it's said. When you find one you think you may be stopping near, based on your average days planned milage, check the local town website, it often has details. Search the National Parks here for 'camping' in the search box. http://www.pc.gc.ca/agen/index_E.asp
Each State also has a web site which details the Provincial Parks and camp grounds.

That's what I'm doing, they even chop the wood for your cooking fire in some of them

I have been told that in an emergency situation Canadians won't mind you using their hunting cabins, provided you either replace or leave payment for stuff you used. (not sure how true) Hope that neither of us come to that though.

Are you using a GPS? Someone just gave me an old Magellan 315 hand held, and it's ace. hours of fun in fact.

[Stagbeetle]

Just read what I posted, Canada has Provinces not States of course, sorry for the blooper

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Someone already mentioned free camping places , which is a good way to go. For many years I've made trips across Canada and most of the time I spend nights wherever I can locate a suitable campsite in the "wilds" . In the less agricultural thinly populated areas this is quite easy- pick a dry acessible flat spot out of sight of the road. In Northern Ontario along the Trans Canada highway and other roads there are numerous short sections of the highway left isolated after a curve was straightened out making ideal quiet spots to pitch a tent. In the small towns across the country you can often find that free camping or for a minor fee camping is available at the town's fair ground, horserace track or baseball diamond . In Alberta there are many picknick areas along the smaller highways and many of these have outhouses, a roofed shelter for the picknick tables and crude stoves or fire pits.The roof can come in handy if a summer thunder storm blows in during the night.
When picking a spot in the wild in dry weather keep in mind to look for a spot higher than the road , with a hard track to it so as not to get mired down if it starts to rain at night or the bike won't start. Also try to avoid camping among a lt of undergrowth and weeds which is prime tick habitat , danger of Lyme's disease. Wildlife in general is of little danger except that you should take care if you are in bear country to not keep any foood in your tent. And learn to identify poison ivy and its regional
variants also called poison oak and poison sumac or other names.This stuf is not deadly but bloody annoying causing an itchy red rash after one gets into skin contact with it directly or from touching other items that have dragged through this weed.
Alternate a free campsite with paid sites or hotels and you will have a great time.

[Del Boy]

Thanks Sjoerd,

Very useful advice. I'll try and take it all on board.

Derek.

[Zappa]

If you end up in lilloet (I think it was) there's a great free camping south of the town near BC Power something. It had free firewood and friendly hosts.

If you can't find it go to the touristinformation and ask, be prepare that it will take some time since they are really friendly to bikers and love to have a chat.

Cheers,
Zappa

[ArcticHarleyMan]

To make it easy, you can camp just about anywhere, as long as it's not private land, although many owners will let you camp (be sure to ask first) as long as you obey our camping rule. "Leave it like you were never there."

[MountainMan]

Previous comments have covered most of this topic but as a general comment, there is plenty of opportunity for camping as it is such a big place (~10 million square kilometers) and so few people (~30 million). Very safe so if you want to get some enjoyable camping in, it's pretty hard to beat.

In BC, there are numerous free sites and there is even a book called Camp Free in BC. See link below for a description.

http://hikingcamping.com/camp_bc.php

With a bit of practice, you can figure out a pretty fair system to find spots that are great little camping spots and in many cases better than the more established sites and not crowded.

[Del Boy]

Hi All,

Once again, thanks for all your excellent replies and valuable advice. Looks like I'll be able to camp in some brilliant locations and not have to pay through the nose for it. Maybe I'll even see some of you on the road!!

Cheers Derek.