- Nakusp
Popular camping styles for Nakusp
Cabins near Nakusp guide
Overview
Surrounded by the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges and the shores of Arrow Lake, the village of Nakusp features a wealth of green space for tent campers, car campers, and RVers. Spend the days fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and exploring both land and lake. Then visit Nakusp’s famous natural hot springs to relax after a long travel day. Nearby camping options include provincial parks offering modern amenities, like wifi and washrooms with showers, with many campgrounds set close to town, meaning supply runs are quick and easy.
Where to go
Summit Lake Provincial Park
The natural world is up close and personal at Summit Lake Provincial Park where campers can wonder at mountain goats perched on rocky outcroppings or the winter migration of thousands of toads from water to forest for hibernation. Crystal-clear lake waters provide opportunities for canoeing, swimming, and fishing. The park’s campsites allow for tents and RVs or other vehicles, which campers can snag on a first-come, first-served basis or reserve ahead of time. Firewood is available for purchase to keep those campfires and camp stoves burning.
McDonald Creek Park
The eastern shore of Arrow Lake Reservoir is home to the facilities of McDonald Creek Park. Arrow Lake is a popular destination for watersports and fishing, with the opportunity to see kokanee salmon during the August spawning season. (Campers planning to fish should make sure they have the appropriate licenses in advance.) Swim, beachcomb, and boat or water ski while staying at vehicle-accessible campsites complete with electrical hookups, picnic tables, and campfire rings.
Nakusp Municipal Campground
Considered “the heart of the village,” Nakusp Municipal Campground lets campers sleep under the stars just outside downtown. The wooded area features modern camping amenities for RVers and tent campers alike, with electrical hookups at certain sites, and washrooms with showers available. Campers at Nakusp have access to playgrounds and walking trails, with a beach only a few short blocks away. Or step back into civilization for just a bit and visit the Nakusp shopping district.
When to go
Summertime in Nakusp brings crowds to the lake for watersports, so busyness aside, this is the best time to experience the water. The hot springs are best enjoyed during the cooler parts of spring or fall, which is also when campgrounds are rarely at full capacity. Kokanee spawn and frogs migrate to the forest in fall, so naturalists might find this the best time to visit.
