Legend to my "star system"
- 6 stars -
to get 6 stars from me, I have to be able to check off almost every items below.
- friendly customer service (whether it be owners, caretakers or park rangers for the area)
- pet friendly ( allowing pets on leashes)
- all hookups/amenities (water, power, sewer, washrooms, showers, sani dump, fire pits, picnic tables, playground)
- shade and privacy (mature tree growth, shade during parts of the day, shrubbery for privacy)
- location (near a body of water, easy access, well maintained roads)
- price (free, cheap or at least a great deal of amenities for what you pay for)
SOUTH OKANAGAN:
5 stars
- Banbury Greens, Kaleden BC
I personally love Banbury Greens for many reasons. It hits 5 of the 6 stars on my list - the only one that is missing is price. I find it to be very expensive in the summer although it is in line with other campsites in the Okanagan. I tend to hit this "family fav" during off seasons. May, June and second week of September.
Banbury is VERY pet friendly
has a small playground for kids
paddle boat rentals to keep everyone entertained, boat launch too!
free showers, washrooms, small store, lots of green space and trails to ride your bike
you cannot beat the great location! - 10 minutes from Penticton, on Skaha Lake and cell service.
water, power and sewer hook ups (no sewer hookups on the lake spots)
private spots, sunny spots, shaded spots, large and small spots. Something for everyone!
Here are your prices:
Tents:
Low Season: $30.00 per night + Tax
High Season: $45.00 per night + Tax
RVs/Trailers etc:
Low Season: $35.00 per night + Tax
High Season: $50.00 per night + Tax
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4 stars - Okanagan South
3 stars - Okanagan North
- Okanagan Park North, Okanagan Park South
I have been going to these locations for years. 2 campsites next door to each other conveniently located on HWY 97 north of Summerland, these provincial parks are great! They hit a 3 and 4 star on my list -
Okanagan South
is pet friendly
has a small playground for kids
free showers, washrooms, lots of green space
you cannot beat the great location! - 15-20 minutes from Penticton, on Okanagan Lake and cell service.
no hook ups (water taps located throughout the park)
private spots, sunny spots, shaded spots, large and small spots. Something for everyone!
Winter camping (dry camping - no showers, water or flush toilets) is only $11.00 a night!
$30 a night for March 28 - October 14 approximately
*Some spots reservable up to 3 months in advance
Okanagan North
is pet friendly
free showers (although not conveniently located), washrooms
you cannot beat the great location! - 15-20 minutes from Penticton, on Okanagan Lake and cell service.
no hook ups (water taps located throughout the park)
private spots, sunny spots, shaded spots, large and small spots. I find this location is much more private and shaded. Something for everyone!
$30 a night for May 15 – Sept 23 approximately
*All spots fully reservable up to 3 months in advance
To reserve your spots for ALL provincial parks that accept reservations, click here!
SIMILKAMEEN:
4 stars
Lower Similkameen Indian Band "Pow Wow Grounds"
is pet friendly
has a small playground for kids
free showers, washrooms, lots of space (acres!!)
8 kms from the red bridge in Keremeos
no hook ups (water taps located throughout the park), fire pits, picnic tables, kitchen rentals (for group gatherings)
private spots, sunny spots, shaded spots, river spots, field spots. Something for everyone!
$25 per night
To reserve contact Jade at execassist@lsib.net
3 stars
Ashnola CampgroundsThere are 4 rec sites located along the Ashnola River starting at "km 1" just past the pow wow grounds where the road turns to gravel. This is km 1. There are 3 campsites within the first 6 kms - all on the left hand side. The fees vary but yes, you have to pay for these rec sites. There are private ones, less private ones, group spots - all have outhouses - no water or hookups. The fees are minimal but are collected by Watchmen for the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. The last "pay site" is at the 16 kms mark. This campsite is large in size with bigger spots.
All along this stretch of road (I have gone as far as 33 kms) there are lots of man-made camp spots and turn offs to pull out into and camp. These are free. 26km mark is my FAVORITE! a huge open field right on the river with tons of room for everyone. It includes 2 outhouses, firepits and an old "lean-to" that someone made years ago. It's great for tarping.
I suggest this area for many reasons.
1) You will always get a spot. Just keep driving until you do.
2) The river is beautiful - May/June is high waters so BE CAREFUL
3) The elevation is low enough that you can always camp here without snow - even in May.
4) It's easy to find and easy to guide the rest of your party to.
3 stars
OTTER LAKE
I adore this lake and campsite. Although the amenities are not great, I would much rather drive the extra distance to stay here at $21 per night then anywhere that is a pull off on the highway. Otter Lake is located 33 kms northwest of Princeton in a town called "Tulameen" The drive is breathtaking! Following rivers, exploring coal mining and ghost towns. Otter Lake is a provincial park that is partially reservable. No showers here but flush toilets and BEST OF ALL - a lake you can swim in! Sandy beach and clear waters! The layout of the campsite is great with lots of lake spots and privacy. I challenge you to choose this lake! Tulameen has a general store 5 kms from the campground where you can purchase any of your essentials but I suggest you stock up in Princeton.
3 stars
Rustic Campground:
Located 20 kms northwest of Keremeos (between Hedley and Keremeos) this "newer" campsite is located right on the Similkameen River. Customer service is NUMBER ONE at this campground. Although I have not camped here myself (yet!) I plan to and will upload photos and a review when I have. This family run campground has a few things going on - above the rest. 1) Free firewood 2) Pet friendly with room for your pets to run (don't forget to clean up after them) 3) Cheap! At $17.00 a night, who's complaining? The shade is not great as it is immature growth but give it a few years and it will get better. They have washrooms, a playground and so much space to enjoy a family reunion or get together!
2 stars
Bromley Rock:
Located just east of Princeton, Bromley rock is known for it's location on the river, great swimming holes and amazing fishing opportunity. The sites are small and not very plentiful. What turns me off of this site is how close to the highway it is - lots of highway noise. $21.00 a night
REC SITES
When the price is free, our star rating becomes a whole new ball game. Rec sites are one of my favorite ways to camp. Peace and quiet without a whole lot of tourists kicking up dust on the backroads, good fishing lakes, tons of firewood all around you and big spaces for large groups with no restrictions on anything (legal).
**NOTE** The flipside to staying in a rec site is that there is NO supervision. Nobody to tell your neighbour his fire is too big, his dog is running loose, that he can't drive his quad through the lake, that he can't shoot his gun when he has been drinking. I have witnessed some scary situations. Always remember - the CO (conservation officer) is your best friend in situations like this. Find cell service and call them to report! People that do these things are the reasons we have fire bans!
Some of my favorites:
SOLCO LAKE - turn off is located on the 201 Forest Service Road.
2 large group spots and 2 smaller spots. First come, first serve! 3 are on the lake, GREAT fishing, beautiful landscape, outhouses, and best all... usually unoccupied!
ALLENDALE LAKE - turn off is also located on the 201 Forest Service Road.
Approx. 8 sites spread out - some on the lake. Private, shaded and sunny. Good fishing, outhouses, easy access - popular with the locals.
IDLEBACK LAKE - turn off is also located on the 201 Forest Service Road. 2-4 large group sites with pits and picnic tables (if they haven't been moved by other campers) plus approx. 12-15 more sites along the lake and across the road from the lake. Picnic tables and firepits. A very busy fishing/camping lake because access is easy and close to Penticton.
For a list of rec sites in our area, click here and go to page "22-24" Fees and no fees
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