Vancouver Island Camping
...from Wilderness to Private: so many to choose from!

The options are literally boundless when considering taking a trip for Vancouver Island camping.

From beaches and coastal views, to lakes and mountains, to rainforests and valleys and Provincial Parks, you can choose your own destination for any kind of trip you have in mind.

Accommodations from all levels are available, from the true rustic outdoors experience to less intense settings, Vancouver Island camping has no ends.

This is only a guide, highlighting some popular destinations and absolutely great locales from each region; there are hundreds more possible areas where you can enjoy Vancouver Island camping.

Here are some suggestions and some other websites that will get you all the information you will need.

Cowichan Lake – Southern Region

There are many different campgrounds and campsites in the Cowichan Lake area. The lake itself makes a great spot for any kind of water sport you can imagine. From fishing and boating to windsurfing, sailing and kayaking, Cowichan Lake is the water enthusiast’s ideal spot. There are also plenty of trails, both for hiking and biking and other activities in towns around the lake that you can enjoy.

Goldstream Provincial Park – Victoria Region

Goldstream Provincial Park combines the best of both worlds; the amenity filled and the rustic getaway. With over 150 campsites, Goldstream offers some of the best services you can find anywhere for Island camping, including hot showers and the like. However, the campsites are also secluded and well spaced to provide an appropriate setting for a private wilderness retreat. The park is famous for proving glimpses at the annual salmon run, which is always a unique and fun attraction. Goldstream Provincial Park also is home to massive Douglas fir trees and a beautiful waterfall flowing almost 50 meters in length.

Schoen Lake Provincial Park – Northern Region

Schoen Lake is renowned for having some of the most beautiful Vancouver Island camping destinations. From valleys and meadows to glaciers and lakes, everything is at your fingertips at Schoen Lake. Fishing is extremely popular, as are all water activities and sports. Hiking is abundant, including the Schoen Creek Trail and for the dedicated, a trip up the nearly 2,000 meter high Mount Schoen.

Strathcona Provincial Park – Central Region

Strathcona Provincial Park is absolutely massive in size and scope and as such you can come back dozens of times without ever tiring of the place. There are two official campsites within Strathcona, however the majority of the rest of the park is open for wilderness camping. Butte Lake is a popular spot offering water recreation and rivers and streams flow throughout the area. Trails are plentiful but you can carve your own path through the mountainous and forested area. Strathcona Provincial Park embodies a Vancouver Island camping experience in the beautiful settings of central Vancouver Island.

West Coast Trail – Pacific Rim Region

This is camping taken to the extreme. You will embark on a week to ten day journey, traveling across vast distances and encountering all different kinds of terrain, views and wildlife. This is as rustic and true of an experience as you can find anywhere.

You must bring everything you will need with you from the start, as there is nowhere to pick up supplies en route. This is not a relaxed trip but rather a real expedition across the country, proving amazing coastal, forest and mountain spots. Access is paid and limited, to keep from ruining the experience with too many visitors.

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