Dry Camping in Alberta and British Columbia

August 28th, 2010

Dry campers are a special breed of RV'er. They generally think of themselves, and are, independent and creative. They like to take responsibility for their own paths in life, to explore and to depend on their own talents, resources and skills. They like the wilderness more than the gravel and blacktopped parking sites in commercial or private campgrounds.

Many dry campers also just don't like to pay to park. Fortunately there are alternatives to campground. For those who seek the wild and rewarding life of alternative RVing, there is dry camping. Dry camping is simply camping without hook-ups for power, water or conveniences. Overnighting in a truck stop or Wal-Mart parking lot is dry camping, but most serious dry campers seek out the backcountry and wilds of nature. Dry camping is generally free camping. So, there aren't a lot of places that advertise dry camping sites. Besides, the nature of dry camping is to seek out and find "the perfect site" through word-of-mouth, friends, locals in an area, or by exploration.

National Parks, Logging Roads

If you're planning to see the wildness and beauty of Canada's National Parks, be prepared to stay in a campground if you want to stay inside the park. Overnight camping or dry camping of any type (tent, vehicle, or RV) outside designated campgrounds inside the National Park System is not permitted. However, if you want to dry camp or "boondock" outside the park system there are dozens of sites available, some of the best ones down active logging roads outside the parks.

If you do choose to pursue dry camping off of a logging road, make sure to get a Citizen's Band radio and find out what channels trucks are broadcasting on so you can avoid being run down or blocked by logging trucks. Driving logging roads can be a great way to find pristine dry camping locations, but it can also be extremely dangerous since roads are often narrow with blind corners and trucks are driving at high speeds and unable to stop - thus the radios to maintain a sort of traffic system.

Make sure you have a backcountry or current logging road map, as it is very easy to get lost since roads are not generally marked. A good GPS system is also advised. It's also wise to inform family and friends where you'll be in case you are in an accident, go over the side of the mountain, get lost or break down.

Free sites such as Yahoo Groups have avid dry camping fans from all over Canada and the U.S.A. who are happy to provide members the names, directions and locations of popular dry camping sites. Be aware that due to landowner changes, over use, building, construction and other reasons that some popular dry camping sites may no longer be in existence.

Finding the Perfect Site

Many dry campers prefer to find sites on their own. Others like a place to start looking. Some like dry camping with others - in places like rough parks where there are camping spots located to lakes, rivers or other natural features, but that don't have facilities or hookups. Make sure you are not trespassing or illegally parked if you choose to dry camp on what appears to be public lands.

Provincial Parks

Dry camping spots should be enjoyed and even savored when you find them because chances are, they may not be there next time you're looking. If you happen to find a field, a farm, a forest or a spot of land where the owner is happy to let you return season after season, you're fortunate. Most great spots disappear as the sites are built up, or posted, or change year to year. As more people discover them they become overpopulated and no longer isolated or available. So always be on the lookout for new spots.

Here are places to start looking for great dry camping spots:

• Provincial Parks: There are hundreds of provincial parks and recreation areas across Canada that allow dry camping. Some are remote campgrounds with no fees, or low fees, or no services, but camping spots. Others are just areas where hiking, camping, fishing and backcountry use is permitted. For the entire list and information about the park's permitted activities according to the park area, go to: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parks/
• Two popular parks, Arrow Lakes and Artlish Caves, from this site are listed below:
  • » Arrow Lakes is one of the most beautiful parks for dry camping. The Upper Arrow and Lower Arrow Lakes are a widening of the Columbia River. The Selkirk Mountains lie on the east and the Monashee Mountains are to the west. Narrow strips of beach ranging in width from a few metres to several thousand metres are interspersed with rocky headlands and steep cliffs along both shorelines of the lakes. Heavily forested mountainsides rise in elevation averaging 2 500 metres on the west and 2 700 metres on the east. Water-oriented activities dominate the scene. Angling for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout is a popular pastime.
  • » Artlish Caves Provincial Park is another spectacular location for dry camping. This is remote, and features two large cave entrances and an underground river in an old growth forest environment. Access is via logging roads, most of which are very active. A chance of encountering logging trucks is very likely as well. Logging trucks have the right of way, so you must yield -even with a trailer.

If parks aren't what you were thinking of, there are other options for finding dry camping spots:

Other Ways to Find Good Dry Camping Areas

House sitting: Finding a rural home or ranch where you can alternately dry cramp and house - sit is a popular way to find truly isolated areas for undisturbed dry camping. One very popular site for dry campers looking for arrangements like this is the Caretakers Gazette (http://www.caretaker.org). They list housesitting jobs in all 50 United States, Canada and Mexico and from around the world. Many sites actually pay you to dry camp; others offer a site in exchange for your physical presence on the property. Sites and arrangements are updated daily.

Boondocking.org is an online database that allows you to find completely free boon docking locations in the U.S.A and Canada by typing in GPS or latitude and longitude coordinates. Users are allowed to add their own boon docking finds as well.