The best camping in Windermere Lake Provincial Park, BC

In southeastern BC’s Columbia Valley, Windermere Lake protects a swathe of native grassland flanked by the Kootenay Rockies and Purcell Mountains. Although there are no public facilities or campgrounds, the park is a beautiful backdrop on the western shores of Windermere Lake, between Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs. The town of Invermere at the lake’s north end is an outdoor-recreation base for watersports and golfing (the Columbia Valley Golf Trail includes eight courses), as well as winter skiing and pond hockey. Other parks and campgrounds throughout the valley offer more exploration, with Kootenay National Park to the north and Columbia Lake Provincial Park to the south.

With a string of golf courses, parks, hot springs and lakes, hot-and-sunny Columbia Valley draws the summer crowds. There’s alpine hiking and backcountry camping in nearby Kootenay National Park, as well as summer-only campgrounds at neighbouring provincial parks. Other campground accommodations on the shores of Windermere Lake or just beyond may be open year-round, frequented by hot-springs goers or off-slope Panorama Resort skiers in the wintertime. Summers and winters see the most tourism, with high-season rates typically running July to September.   

• This park has no developed areas or facilities—no public access—but is open to hunters during the lawful game hunting season. Open fires and overnight use of the park are not permitted anytime.
• With so many watersports, there are ample options and availability to rent gear in the valley’s villages (Invermere, Fairmont, Windermere), from windsurfers to tubes for floating down the Columbia River.
• Stock up on fresh produce while in the area at local summer farmers markets: Friday evenings in Radium Hot Springs, Saturday mornings in Invermere, and Sunday mornings in Fairmont Hot Springs.
• This is bear country. Any food and garbage must be inaccessible to local wildlife and stored securely in a vehicle or RV/trailer.