The best camping near Windermere Lake Provincial Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Windermere Lake Provincial Park adventure.

On the banks of a popular lake, this undeveloped grassland park is home to roaming deer and elk.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Windermere Lake Provincial Park

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Secluded River Front Property

6 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · East Kootenay G, BC

Learn more about this land:Our campsite is located along the beautiful Spillimacheen River which originates just east of Glacier National Park.This property is secluded and surrounded by crown land. It’s the perfect property to disconnect and reconnect, with limited cell service this allows you to turn off and just enjoy being outside in nature.Campers can choose where to park along a large cleared area. There are designated campfire locations and an outhouse. From the property, you can Kayak down the river, please Google and research before launching as there are a lot of writes ups and kayaking websites that feature the Spillimacheen River.Nature trails for hiking and walking right off the property. There is a well renowned natural rock wall for climbers 3km down the road, there are also a lot of websites that feature these rock walls.Within a half an hour drive you have two easy hikes in waterfalls (the Lower Bugaboo Falls and the Brisco Falls).Spillimacheen has a cafe and also a local market store that is full of delicious treats, beer and wine. The wetlands offer endless bird watching and beautiful mountain views.

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Laid Back Manor Farm

1 site · RV, Tent7 acres · Ainsworth Hot Springs, BC

There was a dream......come visit to learn more!! Current update: Wildfires are no longer an immediate concern and the river is HIGH so diving boards and the wild beauty of August by the mighty Coopersippi are in FULL EFFECT!!! The site is quiet and private and you likely won't see another human unless you go wandering. The hiking on our 7 acres is brilliant fun, with trails all over - riverside and beyond with excellent trails 5 minutes to 40 or more away - enjoy solo or take guided tours with yours truly at reasonable, negotiable rates. I do have a 'day job' so you may not see much of me depending on when you book. Wander all morning and shoot longbow all afternoon on the target range. A day well spent!! There are so many options for outdoor fun here. Canoeing, hiking, swimming, fishing, and archery totally do-able if these are up your alley. My chef skills are at the disposal of guests as usual, upon request. With 12 years of industry experience as a 'back house line cook and chef de partie' I can provide an exceptional meal anytime you need to refuel. It's peaceful and 'laid back' beyond measure here in Summer - and there's always a cool dip in the river if guests feel like cooling off. Grayson (your host) has traveled the world many times over, in many countries, and is also a 4rth generation local in the Kaslo/Kootenay area - an Aussie Canadian and something of a paradox!! So conversation is never boring around here - especially when the mead comes out (made in house and seasonally available). SKOL!!! Now with some of the more year-round details and facts about the area... It's a 'laid back farm' because despite working the land every day, we try not to push too hard and take it easy enough to enjoy the place. There's prime wildlife viewing by the river and in 'Deerhaven' the forested area down there. The focus is on nature here, so please no quads or dirtbikes ripping around - the "Duncan Lake highway" is just up the road for that sort of thing!! Mosquitoes can be bad at certain peak dates (which change yearly according to conditions), but I'll have the bug tent set up by the river for escape if anyone needs it^^ The 'farm' aspect and focus is all on gardens, orchards, and landscaping, no livestock/animals except Mr.Finnegan the Aussie red heeler^^ Things keep changing, and bees are a long-term goal once the orchard is more developed. There is wildcrafting available with a variety of native flora and a free tour to describe what's in season if you'd like to pick your own. The river level is controlled by the Duncan Dam, and at a high level, there's a private diving board and deck space riverside which is also an amazing place to tan, do yoga, or just relax. At low water the fishing is good and there are good size bull trout in there!! There are trails through forested areas on the property and a new outhouse between the mill shed and river. The riverside area is a wildlife corridor so be prepared to see deer, bears, eagles, osprey, wild turkeys, kingfishers, cedar waxwings, mountain bluebirds, the odd rare coyote/cougar, and possibly elk among others!! Generally, it's pretty quiet, but there are days...... If bears are a concern and you'd rather not have the possibility, camp closer to the mill shed, no worries. All the animals stick close to the river. There's never been any drama with the wildlife and we live in harmony here. The odd grizzly bear shows up, and we keep a close eye on them and take logical precautions. Please be bear aware..... August and September are high alert for grizzly bears as the Kokanee (inland salmon) spawn in the river right here!! So schools of redfish will be swimming around down there - they don't eat while spawning and they're protected, but it's quite a sight to see. The grizzlies tend to head straight to the spawning channel upriver to gorge and we rarely see any here, but it is wise to be aware of the possibility. The river is perfect for swimming and diving in high water, but very cold (glacial runoff) which is amazingly refreshing, but don't count on being in it for hours. There's a ladder for a convenient exit from the water and the diving board is perfect!! There's loads of space for tents down by the river, and a glorious 'sacred grove' full of elderberry trees that's quite a breathtaking tent site. The mill shed has standpipes with clean running water from the well, and it's about the cleanest, freshest water on Earth. Glorious. If you need electricity for charging devices it's available at the cabin, as well as wifi. No wifi by the river, sorry, totally off-grid down there and will remain so. There's also a '9 hole' archery course if this is of interest, max.50# draw and longbows only, please. You're welcome to use the targets free of charge if you're staying the night. As a semi-retired chef, writer, musician, farmer, English teacher, entrepreneur and revolutionary, your host can offer impressive gourmet meals to feed body and soul - made with local organic ingredients and great conscious awareness at an agreed-upon price according to your needs. The garden is full of organic veggies, and there may be fresh venison or wild turkey if you're here in the fall. Please no hunting and no guns if you are a guest. There are amazing day and multi-day hikes within minutes or hours drive, and as a local of many years, your host can provide excellent advice and directions. Grayson and Finnegan look forward to meeting you and seeing to it that you're well situated and outfitted for a good time in the Canadian Outback!! Looking for a quiet, peaceful, private wilderness retreat? This place is rrreally beautiful and I'm looking forward to hosting for another glorious year of laid back wilderness camping. Cheers to all of you and HAPPY TRAILS!!

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Blacksmith Landing Eco Camp

31 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · Canal Flats, BC

Hosted by Berny and Stuart Moore, Blacksmith Landing Eco Camp is nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountain Trench in Southeastern BC, just a short drive from Lussier natural hot springs, hiking, boating, canoeing, golfing, breathtaking WhiteSwan Lake, Premier Lake, Findlay Falls and the Kootenay and Columbia rivers. Blacksmith Landing is a safe, spacious and peaceful camp where minimal environmental impact is encouraged. We are faithful stewards and respect our beautiful forested land. Our expectation is that campers will also share this respect for our Eco systems in an environmentally friendly way. As we take this Hipcamp journey together, we are finding little things we can do to make your stay better…Like offering a complimentary table at your site should you require one…. or adjusting the site you booked to one that would perhaps fit your needs much better as we know it’s difficult to choose a perfect site on line. If you forgot something, we probably have one…. Feel free to ask.

The best camping near Windermere Lake Provincial Park guide

Overview

About

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.

When to go

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.

Know before you go

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.