Squamish (which means ‘Mother of the Wind’) was established in 1910 with the establishment of the Railway and its main industry was Forestry until 2006 when two of its major operations closed. Forestry is still a part of the industry here but tourism has arguably surpassed. It is an outdoor enthusiast destination that has a little bit of something for everyone. You can hike, visit a museum, take sightseeing flights, fish, mountain bike, rock climb, kayak & so much more.
Choosing to stay in Squamish is a beautiful and central spot to visit the Sea-to-Sky area. Vancouver is about an hour away and Whistler is about 45 minutes away.
Squamish camping gives you the opportunity to connect with nature and truly experience the beauty this place has to offer.
This Squamish camping ultimate guide gives you all the information you need to make a decision on the best campsite for your needs, how you enjoy camping and the atmosphere you are looking to experience. You will learn about each Squamish campground: how to book, prices, facilities, location and MORE!
Campgrounds in Squamish
Squamish camping is central and all campgrounds are 20 minutes or less to downtown. By driving just a little ways you can feel totally disconnected from the city, yet you are still close to all your needs. The campsites are listed alphabetically for your convenience. Read on to find out which ones best suit your needs!
Note: there are other campgrounds outside of Squamish. These are the ones that are closer to downtown Squamish specifically!
Please remember that Squamish camping is done in nature. Leave no traces, learn about bears in areas as well as potential closures due to bears and have your sites bear aware friendly.
Let’s keep the animals wild!
Alice Lake Provincial Park
BC Parks
Price:
- $35 nightly per party for Vehicle Access Sites ($8 extra/night for electrical hookup)
- $120 nightly per group
- $23 nightly per party for walk-in sites
Sites:
- 96 Vehicle Access Sites (55 electrical serviced)
- 12 Walk-In Sites
- 2 Group Campsites (1 electrical serviced)
*All Sites are reservable. Highly recommend reserving as this is a busy campsite. Can only book 2 months ahead of time.
Facilities:
- Sani dump $5
- Campfire rings at each campsite
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Playground for kids
- Free Showers
- Dish washing stations
- Walking distance to Alice Lake
Location:
- Situated off Highway 99, approximately 13 km north of Squamish, 71 km north of Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver.
Perfect For:
- Families
- Canoeing
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Squamish Hiking (10 trails in park)
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
Good to Know: Book first as is busy in summer months & weekends, pets are welcomed on leash, wheelchair-accessible
Reserve here – https://camping.bcparks.ca/
Click here for the Alice Lake Provincial Park website
Cat Lake Recreation Site
BC Rec Site
Price:
- $18 for all sites
Sites:
- 50 Walk in tent sites
*All first come, first served sites.
Facilities:
- Pit toilets
- Firewood for sale
Location:
- Drive North from Squamish on HWY 99 for approx. 11km; Watch for the sign on the highway directing you to turn off. Turn right onto the Cheekye Forest Service Road. Travel approx. 2.5km, Cat Lake parking lot is on the right hand side.
Perfect for:
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Mountain biking
- Dog friendly
- Camping that feels less ‘glamping’
Good to Know: Often closed because of bears in the area getting into food. Make sure you research before you go. At the time of writing this blog (July 2022) it is closed because of bear activity.
Click here for the Cat Lake Rec Site website
Klahanie Campground
Private
Price:
- Click here for prices as they vary depending on holidays and day of the week. https://www.klahaniecampground.com/rv-s-tent-rates-2022.html
- For Tenting: ranges from $40-95 depending on site and party size.
- For RV: ranges from $45-85 depending on sites and hookups.
*Must pre-book online and pay a $7 reservation fee.
Sites:
- 3 group camping sites
- 40+ tent sites
- 60+ RV sites (have water and electric hookups)
*Must pre-reserve before arriving.
Facilities:
- Sani dump – $10
- Drinking water
- Dish station
- Flush toilets
- Showers $2 per 4 minutes
- Laundry $5 per load
- Dog Friendly ($5 per dog)
- Cafe
Location:
- The Klahanie Campground is located on Hwy 99 “Sea to Sky highway” halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. Just 5 km south of Squamish (watch for the Hwy signs). You’ll find them at the traffic light directly across the street from Shannon Falls.
Perfect for:
- Something close to town
- Ocean views
- A lot of facilities
- Place to stay longer than 30 days
Good to know:
It is privately owned, the roads in the campsite are narrow & tricky to maneuver, if you are an RV make sure to ask for a flat spot as it has been mentioned that the sites aren’t all flat.
Click here for the campground website
Mamquam River Campground
Non-Profit
Price:
- Drive-in sites = $20 (no trailers larger than 21’, no RVs/Buses over 35′)
- Walk-in sites = $10 (short walk from car, 6-man tent max)
- $10 cash for weekday camping in self-contained vehicles is available in the overflow parking lot most weeknights
Sites:
- 44 walk in tent sites
- 22 drive in sites
- 1 group camping
*Online reservations available.
Facilities:
- Fire-pits and firewood
- Outhouses and garbage
- Slack lines
- No electric or water services
- Dish washing
- Toilets
Location:
- They are less than 1 km along the Mamquam River Dyke Road (Centennial Way) – on the left, just past the entrance to the Rod and Gun Club.
Perfect for:
- Climbers
- Cyclists
- Kayakers
- Hikers
- Travellers
- Van lifers
- Skiers
- Groups
Good to know: Please check Events Page before booking, long term possible from October to April, bring your own water as they do not have a tap.
Click here for the Mamquam River Campground
MTN Fun Basecamp
Private
Price:
- $40 unserviced/tent sites
- $70 full hookup sites
- Hotel $125-149
Sites:
- 19 unserviced
- 29 RV sites
- 6 Hotel rooms
*All sites are reservable and recommended.
Facilities:
- Free Showers
- Wifi
- Water
- Sani Dump
- Bike Washing Station
Location:
- 1796 Depot Rd. Right off highway 1 and close to downtown.
Perfect for:
- Families
- Bikers
- Bigger groups
Good to know: Tucked away behind a neighbourhood, easy for big rigs to turn around, book ahead of time, snuggled in a forest with some privacy between sites but not a lot.
Click here for the MTN Fun Basecamp website
Paradise Valley Campground
Private
Price:
- $45 for unserviced & tent sites
- $65 for serviced sites
- $80 + for group camping
Sites:
- 8 tent walk-in sites
- 84 sites
- 1 cabin rental
*All available for pre-booking. On weekends must book 2 nights.
Facilities:
- On-site General Store offering most basic supplies including ice, propane refills, beer, wine and spirits
- Paid showers
- Washrooms
- Drinking water
Location:
- Located in the heart of Sea to Sky Country, Paradise Valley. 20 minutes from the heart of Squamish.
Perfect for:
- Families
- Looking to get away from the bustling centre of town and be nestled away in a rainforest
Good to Know: Slightly out of the way of town yet sharing 28 acres of beautiful coastal rain-forest. The drive alone is worth it.
Click here for the Paradise Valley campground website
Porteau Cove Provincial Park
BC Parks
Price:
- $20 walk in sites
- $43 drive in sites
Sites:
- 44 drive in sites
- 16 walk in sites
*All sites are reservable & recommended.
Facilities:
- Sani dump $5
- Propane campfire rentals $15
- Propane exchange
- Electrical hook-ups
- Toilets
- Drinking water
Location:
- Porteau Cove Provincial Park is situated on the eastern shore of Howe Sound, 38 km north of Vancouver. To get there, follow Hwy 99 north from West Vancouver.
Perfect for:
- People looking for a getaway from the city
- Looking for an ocean view site
- Close to the boat launch
Good to know: It is close to the city and Porteau is a touristy spot so it gets quite busy with day visitors.
Click here for the Porteau Cove Provincial Park website
Squamish Valley Campground
Private
Price:
- $20.00 per person
- $5.00 per vehicle
- $10.00 for RV’s (no hookups)
- $5.00 per pet
Sites:
- Over 50 drive in sites
- Group camping
*All reservable and reservations are encouraged by owners, deposit must be given and returned to you once you leave your site clean.
Facilities:
- No showers or hookups
- Pit toilets
Location:
- Located 1 hour from Vancouver and Whistler and a short 25 minute drive from downtown Squamish, off the Sea to Sky Highway.
Perfect for:
- Looking for a nature escape
- Beach front camping
- Mountain views
- River activities
Good to know: Bring your own drinking water and be aware of wildlife.
Click here for the Squamish Valley campground website
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
BC Parks
Price:
- $10/person
Sites:
- 57 walk in sites
- 52 drive in sites
*All sites are first come, first served
Facilities:
- Toilets
- Cooking spaces
- Potable water
- Bear bins
Location:
- 5 minutes from downtown Squamish on the side of highway 99.
Perfect for:
- Squamish climbing (this used to be the original climber camping spot)
- Hikers
- More of a chill/younger crowd vibe
Good to know: Drive in sites are small so not suitable for large RVs
Click here for the Stawamus Chief Park website
Conclusion
Squamish camping gives you access to a wide variety of campgrounds offering a little bit of something for everyone. From long term sites with all the amenities to simple walk in tent sites in lush forests, Squamish has it all.
Squamish campgrounds give you quick and easy access to a wide variety of activities depending on what you love to do. Some have the Squamish gondola in their backyard for a quick Sea to Sky ride up the mountain, endless hiking trails (including the classic chief hike), bike trails & some of the best rock in North America. There is no shortage of fun to be had and no matter what Squamish camping choice, you will find endless adventures at your fingertips!
Our Squamish hiking guide is coming soon…
Vince & Lou