THE JOYS OF CAMPING
Basking in B.C.'S beauty
Forced to cancel our meticulously crafted European-travel plans, we purchased a recreational vehicle and answered the call of the great outdoors.
HOPE
We lit our campfire in Hope, a perfect practice run within two hours of home. Wildrose Campground, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Fraser River, is ideal for entry-level campers: full hookups, level ground i.e., easy to park, private sites surrounded by lush green bush, an incredible view of Flood Falls, and open paths for little bikers.
The experience of finding that perfect stick, roasting hotdogs, and marshmallows just right, so the toasty top layer slides off beautifully, is as timeless as it is mouth-watering. With grandparents joining, three generations bonded; young and old eyes aglow beside the sparkling, crackling fire, under the moon and stars enveloped in the peaceful mountain silhouettes.
Happy campers indeed.
MANNING PROVINCIAL PARK
Venturing a little farther along the Similkameen Valley Highway 3, we landed in this marmot capital where “Caution bears” signs were everywhere.
This pristine and rugged protected area in the heart of the Cascade Mountains covers an amazing 83,671 hectares (Stanley Park is 405 hectares).
Our first “dry camping” experience meant no-hook ups or running water on site other than the tank we brought in — once gone, it's to the public facilities.
With no cellphone reception, instead of texts, apps, and emails, we enjoyed naturalist programs and outdoor discoveries. Spruce Bay Beach and Lightning Lake provided kayaking and standup paddle opportunities.
An alpine hike was well worth the short drive, and the gentle walking tour, surrounded by glacier lilies and phlox, made us feel like singing: “The hills are alive with the Sound of Music.”
Later we enjoyed fresh corn on the cob around the fire, and evening community entertainment. It was mid-july and B.C. Parks weekend, the amphitheatre came alive with adventures: including Jerry the B.C. Moose and park rangers who challenged us with quizzes and rewarded the kids with prizes and laughter. It reminded me of my childhood when my parents took us to learn about nature at these wonderful outdoor theatres.
We left feeling recharged, rewarded, and inspired with our newly gained skills — maybe we could do this camping-thing all four seasons?
Manning Park was opening serviced sites for winter months for ski hills and ice-fishing adventures.
KELOWNA AND SUMMERLAND
Our summer road-tripping continued through the Okanagan Valley, one of the most beautiful drives in B.C. Acres of vineyards line the valley, surrounded by
sparkling waters and framed by the desert hills.
We kept a list of the animals spotted along the way: dozens of bighorn sheep, deer, baby ducks, moose, rabbits, butterflies, birds galore — eagles, osprey, woodpeckers, stellar jays, pocket mice, and adorable pikas.
We savoured the scenery: lush orchards, organic vineyards, award-winning wineries, distilleries and cideries, making this rustic region irresistible.
Traversing Bottleneck Drive, we reached Dirty Laundry, one of B.C.'S iconic wineries; fun for adults and kid-friendly too, with delicious Forno Oven pizza.
In Kelowna, we camped at the popular Bear Creek Park where we were greeted by the buzz of kids rejoicing in open-air adventures under the wide western skies.
Hitting “The Okanagan's Ultimate Destination,” in Nk'mip we found warm lake, wild horses and wine heaven. We would return two more times in the season!
At Nk'mip Desert Cultural Centre, guests learn about the valley's Indigenous history and culture, with performances by local experts working to protect the endangered western rattle snake, including appearances by the famous snake whose trademark rattle filled the breathless theatre, and tips on how to stay snake-safe.
Stories about Indigenous children reconnecting with their spirit animal (Senk'lip, the Coyote spirit) captivated our kids' imaginations.
We had a spectacular lakeside site, and enjoyed standup paddling, morning, noon, and evening. Our propane fire pit worked well as a substitute when real fires were banned.
Horse riding through the desert was a true highlight for the kids and adults alike — the guides pride themselves on matching each guest with their spirit horse!
A trip here would not be complete without a visit to Nk'mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned and operated winery in North America. The wines and views are amazing, and the gift shop offers local gems too.
THE ROCKIES
Passing dramatic scenery rich with mining-lore, ghost towns, and remnants of a different time — “Golddust Pub” in the tiny town of Hedley is a charming stop.
Kokanee Springs, West Kootenays: This remote and beautiful area in our province is for the brave and hardy. It proved to be the grand summit of our outdoor survive and thrive skills — in the “deep woods!”
We spent six nights “dry camping” with an expert camping family (each in our own bubbles) at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park Camp, on Osprey Lane right across from the lake. It features over a kilometre of sandy beaches, an extensive sandpit, and a Nature Visitor Centre. The Kokanee salmon spawning viewing platform provides an amazing opportunity to witness the fish ladders and see one of our province's natural icons in its cycle of species renewal.
Kootenay Lake is one of the coldest in B.C., glacier fed, and marvellously refreshing and life affirming. One of our magic moments was canoeing while thousands of splashing scarlet salmon, en route to their spawning grounds (the gravel beds in the upper reaches of the river), provided their spectacular show. We could barely believe our eyes — and felt completely transfixed with nature's pure beauty. Above us were osprey, and there wasn't another human in sight. Silence. Peace. Oneness.
The best time to witness this dramatic sight is in August and September, along with the famous Frogfest.
In addition to these harmless creatures, “Caution Bears” signs are everywhere — this means grizzlies too. We were told they come down from the glaciers for the salmon.
Many a night I had this sinking feeling we had a local prowler. Even though we practised safe-campsite protocols, little squirrels (not grizzlies) rustled around. Happily, we had no close bear encounters.
Challenging. Exhilarating. Magical. Memorable.
Our final trip of the season was a wine harvest Thanksgiving weekend back to our favourite spot — Osoyoos. In the fall the grape harvest begins. We enjoyed nearby outdoor tasting rooms and cheers to our provincial splendour and the fine art of camping. With these intense aromas still percolating in our memory, our lakeside Thanksgiving celebration will not soon be forgotten.
We were there with only a handful of other campers and it was pure bliss to have this lakefront spot to ourselves, the bold desert sky behind us with the wild horses galloping around. And thus, our inaugural season came to a poetic end.
The writer travelled before the current restrictions were put in place. At this time, the B.C. government says all non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.