Campsites surrounded by rusty orange leaves and a campfire-cooked meal that celebrates the best of the coast’s foraging and fishing; there’s nothing quite like autumn camping on Vancouver Island. From lakefront escapes to oceanfront vistas, there are so many incredible campsites to choose from near Campbell River. One of the highlights being the density of waterfront locations for wildlife watching, water sports, or simply the calm of being near a body of water.
Many visitors to Campbell River love the Quinsam Campground in Elk Falls Provincial Park as it’s so close to town but feels a world away, right in the heart of nature beside the Quinsam River with hiking trails dispersing in all directions.
Lakefront Camping on Vancouver Island Near Campbell River
There are many recreation sites (known on Vancouver Island as “rec sites”) to the north and west of Campbell River. These are spread out over a vast area accessible from Highway 19 toward Sayward and Highway 28 toward Gold River. Rec sites tend to be free or only require a small fee; amenities are usually limited to an outhouse or nothing at all. Rec sites are perfect for those seeking true nature immersion and a tranquil spot by a lake; some come with a fire pit and/or picnic table.
A little further afield, Ralph River campsite on the shores of Buttle Lake (perfect for a quiet morning paddle taking in the autumn foliage) is open until October 31 each year. Hikers prepared for the potential of rapidly changing autumn conditions also continue to make the most of Strathcona Provincial Park’s backcountry campsites, before the first snow arrives in the mountains.
Beachfront Camping on Vancouver Island Near Campbell River
Miracle Beach Provincial Park is a prime autumn camping destination on Vancouver Island for those wanting to soak up the sunrise and the joys of a wide sandy beach. Its open until November 30 and with its playground, hot showers, and other amenities is popular with families.
Quadra Island is just a ten minute ferry from Campbell River but visitors encounter a swift immersion in the relaxing pace and artistic side of small island life. It’s a popular destination for autumn campers wanting to slow down, appreciate the ocean, island, and mountain views, and enjoy the benefits of shoulder season adventures. We Wai Kai campground is located right beside the delights of Rebecca Spit. It’s open year-round, although amenities and sites are limited from October to May. Camping on Quadra Island is also available at the Heriot Bay Inn and, for the adventurous, year-round at the boat-access sites of Main Lake Park.
Vancouver Island Camping on All Coasts
On the south of Vancouver Island, Goldstream Provincial Park is especially popular for camping on Vancouver Island in the autumn because of its dazzling display of autumn foliage. Goldstream Campground is open until October 25, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, and wildlife watching in its surrounds.
Green Point Campground in Pacific Rim National Park is a hotspot for those wishing to enjoy the rugged beauty of the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the surf towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. This is a popular destination that is open from May 1 to mid-October each year and reservations are often required before you go. If Green Point Campground is fully booked, several private campsites are scattered along the shore from Tofino to Ucluelet, like Bella Pacific Campground, Surf Grove Campground, Surf Junction Campground, and Ucluelet Campground.
Camp in the Wild Beauty of North Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island North, accessed through Campbell River, is also incredibly popular with autumn campers wanting to marvel at the salmon spawn, the shifting hues of the forest, cascading waterfalls, and other spectacles of the seasonal shift.
Popular campsites in the North Island for autumn camping include Bere Point Campground on Malcolm Island and Quatse River Regional Campground. For those fully prepared for logging roads and the changing conditions of the west coast, the wilderness campsites at Cape Scott and Raft Cove offer remote, rugged splendor.
