British Columbia is one of the best camping destinations North America has to offer. That being said, the Whistler corridor from Vancouver to Lillooet is the icing on the cake. This is where we offer our information as to what we found as we camped over the years.
Welcome to the BC camping information site for the Whistler corridor.
First, let's take a look at what we mean as the Whistler corridor.
The corridor stretches from Squamish, less than an hour from Vancouver, through Whistler, Pemberton, Mount Currie, Lillooet, to Lytton and Cache Creek. Arguably the most beautiful 250 km (150 miles) of camping opportunities in the world. Within the corridor you may park a quarter million dollar class A motor home in a gorgeous park like Alice Lake, or pitch a tent next to a glacier at Joffre Lakes. You can take a shower with nice hot water at Birkenhead Park or refresh yourself in the ice cold water of Duffy Lake.
The choices are many and varied. A camping heaven on earth.
There are three private campgrounds in Squamish.
Dryden Creek, Eagle Ridge and Paradise Valley. They offer full service hook ups and the rates run from $30. and up.
Riverside RV resort and campground will be found in Whistler.
BC Hydro have three campgrounds in the Lillooet to Gold Bridge corridor. These are free campgrounds and contrary to what you may think, they are very good.
BC Parks have some very nice campgrounds along the corridor. BC camping doesn't get any better.
Alice Lake is a popular place and a very busy one as well. It is located 13km (8 miles) past Squamish on the right.
Nairn Falls Provincial Park is a half hour drive past Whistler on the right. Nice big trees, roomy sites, and with a 20 minute walk to the amazing falls it rates very highly as one of the best areas to camp.
Birkenhead Provincial Park is located 17 km (10.5 miles) West of D'Arcy off Highway 99. On a scenic lake.
The Province also provide a great many lesser sites that are not maintained as pure campgrounds. A few of these are along the highway 99 Whistler corridor. At the end of Duffy Lake you will see a few picnic tables and an outdoor toilet.
Campsite at Duffy Lake
There are about 5 sites here. Further along towards Lillooet you will find a few more. These are called BC forestry sites. Most are free. If you like the sound of rushing water to lull you to sleep, this is it. Coyooshe Creek is very fast flowing as the water bounds along through the ever narrowing valley.
After a very scenic, twisting drive through very interesting mountains, you arrive at Lillooet. Watch for the BC Hydro campground sign on your right. If you are able to find a site it's yours free. Maximum stay is 14 nights. Water and pit toilets are supplied and the caretakers keep the place very clean. There is even fire wood free for the taking.
Two more Hydro campgrounds are located at Carpenter Lake on the road to Gold Bridge.
Skihist Provincial Campground is not exactly in the corridor but offers the best BC Camping along the number 5 highway between Cache Creek and Hope. If you turn left onto the number 5 highway at Lytton and drive just a few minutes you will see it on the right. This campground has a host, good washrooms, dumping station, big lots and a nice location for an evening stroll across the highway and a fantastic view of the Fraser river and the trains that negotiate the curves and tunnels of the CPR main line.
Joe and Irma have built a wonderful fact filled site http://www.whistler-outdoors.com/ with well over 100 pages of information a visitor really must know prior to visiting
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Adirondack Campgrounds
By Richard Chapo
The Adirondacks are legendary amongst outdoor enthusiasts in the northeast. One of the best ways to experience them is through the plentiful campground facilities.
Adirondack Campgrounds
The popular Adirondack mountain range is located in the northeastern part of New York. It runs through the Essex, Lewis, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Fulton, Warren, Herkimer and Washington counties. Geographically, it is considered part of the Appalachian Mountains. Geologically, however, it is similar to the Canadian Laurentian Mountains.
The Adirondacks are towering mountains, not rolling hills. There are over 100 peaks in the chain. They range from 1,200 to 5,000 feet with Mount Marcy being the highest at 5,340 feet. Adirondack campgrounds come in all shapes, size, quality and location. There are so many, it is really difficult to isolate a particular one. Here is a list of the notable campgrounds.
• Adirondack 1000 Islands Camping, Natural Bridge
• Adirondack Camping Village, Lake George
• Ausable Chasm Campground, Ausable Chasm
• Ausable River Campsite, Keeseville
• Bakersfield East, Warrensburg
• Barber Homestead Park, Westport
• Brookwood RV Resort, Ticonderoga
• Cumberland Bay State Park, Plattsburgh
• Daggett Lake Campsites, Warrensburg
• Deer River Campsite, Malone
• Douglas on Silver Lake, Au Sable Forks
• Happy Hollow Campground, Lowville
• Hoss's Country Campground, Long Lake
• Lake George Escape, Lake George
• Lake George RV Park, Lake George
• Lake George Schroon Valley Resort, Warrensburg
• Ledgeview Village RV Park, Lake George
• Magic Pines, Lewis
• Mohawk Campground, Lake George
• Monty's Bay Campsites, West Chazy
• Mt. Kenyon Campground, Lake George
• Old Forge Camping Resort, Old Forge
• Plattsburgh RV Park, Plattsburgh
• Rancho Pines Campground, Chestertown
• Schroon River Campsites, Warrensburg
• Shady Oaks RV Park, LLC, Plattsburgh
• Singing Waters Campground, Old Forge
• Tug Hill Campgrounds, Copenhagen
• Wakonda Family Campground, Pottersville
• Warrensburg Travel Park, Warrensburg
As you can see, you have a lot of choices when it comes to Adirondack campgrounds. The best approach is to find an area that you like and then find the closest ground.
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of gifts for dad. Visit us to read more articles about camping.
The Adirondacks are legendary amongst outdoor enthusiasts in the northeast. One of the best ways to experience them is through the plentiful campground facilities.
Adirondack Campgrounds
The popular Adirondack mountain range is located in the northeastern part of New York. It runs through the Essex, Lewis, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Fulton, Warren, Herkimer and Washington counties. Geographically, it is considered part of the Appalachian Mountains. Geologically, however, it is similar to the Canadian Laurentian Mountains.
The Adirondacks are towering mountains, not rolling hills. There are over 100 peaks in the chain. They range from 1,200 to 5,000 feet with Mount Marcy being the highest at 5,340 feet. Adirondack campgrounds come in all shapes, size, quality and location. There are so many, it is really difficult to isolate a particular one. Here is a list of the notable campgrounds.
• Adirondack 1000 Islands Camping, Natural Bridge
• Adirondack Camping Village, Lake George
• Ausable Chasm Campground, Ausable Chasm
• Ausable River Campsite, Keeseville
• Bakersfield East, Warrensburg
• Barber Homestead Park, Westport
• Brookwood RV Resort, Ticonderoga
• Cumberland Bay State Park, Plattsburgh
• Daggett Lake Campsites, Warrensburg
• Deer River Campsite, Malone
• Douglas on Silver Lake, Au Sable Forks
• Happy Hollow Campground, Lowville
• Hoss's Country Campground, Long Lake
• Lake George Escape, Lake George
• Lake George RV Park, Lake George
• Lake George Schroon Valley Resort, Warrensburg
• Ledgeview Village RV Park, Lake George
• Magic Pines, Lewis
• Mohawk Campground, Lake George
• Monty's Bay Campsites, West Chazy
• Mt. Kenyon Campground, Lake George
• Old Forge Camping Resort, Old Forge
• Plattsburgh RV Park, Plattsburgh
• Rancho Pines Campground, Chestertown
• Schroon River Campsites, Warrensburg
• Shady Oaks RV Park, LLC, Plattsburgh
• Singing Waters Campground, Old Forge
• Tug Hill Campgrounds, Copenhagen
• Wakonda Family Campground, Pottersville
• Warrensburg Travel Park, Warrensburg
As you can see, you have a lot of choices when it comes to Adirondack campgrounds. The best approach is to find an area that you like and then find the closest ground.
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of gifts for dad. Visit us to read more articles about camping.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
62 or Older? Enjoy the Best Bargain in the USA!
By Keith A. Williams
It's easy to understand the benefits of this pass. Simply stated, the benefits are free admission to many Federal recreational facilities and 50% discount on many other charges, including camping fees at U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) campgrounds! This makes it of great interest to many RVers!
It's easy to become confused by this new pass; maybe this little bit of history and background will make it more clear. In 2004, a new discount program for Federal agencies called the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass Program was enacted. This act created the new pass.
My research revealed that the pass is known by a variety of names. The full name, apparently, is America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass. On some government sites, it is referred to as Interagency Senior Pass, or sometimes simply Senior Pass. The best I can tell, they all refer to the same thing. It's possible that you already have or have heard of a Golden Age Passport. These passes ceased to be issued on December 31, 2006. The Interagency Senior Pass effectively replaces the Golden Age Passport. If you have one, please be assured that it will remain valid for your lifetime and that the benefits are the same as they were before its issuance was discontinued.
There are a couple of points worth noting regarding the Golden Age Passport, however. If you have a paper Golden Age Passport, you may (but need not) exchange it at no cost for the new Interagency Senior Pass. If your Golden Age Passport is plastic, you may (but need not) replace it but the cost of this will be $10.
Interestingly, the Corps of Engineers does not issue the Interagency Senior Pass but they do honor it, so if you want to use it at a CoE park, make sure you get your pass before you go! You can get them at most Federal recreation sites which charge an entrance fee or a standard amenity fee. It is not crystal-clear where they can be used and where they can not. Therefore, if you are planning to visit a Federal recreation site you can eliminate surprises by calling ahead and asking or checking their website.
Theoretically, these are not valid at any place other than Federal facilities. However, I have heard, but not personally experienced, that state parks in some states do use the card as justification for a hefty discount on camping fees. My suggestion: Ask! The worst thing that could happen would be that the attendant would say, "No, I'm sorry. We do not honor that card." While this article is about the pass and not about the specific uses of it, I will make a couple of comments which may be of interest to those who have not camped at a Corps of Engineers campground. In short, some of them are pretty nice! And sometime you can spend a night in one of those nice ones for well under $10!
We have camped at Grant River, Potosi, WI, which is adjacent to the Mississippi River. We have also camped at De Queen Lake, De Queen, AR. We consider both very nice and recommend them. We have heard reports that the CoE park near Thomson, IL, is very nice also. My suggestion: try some! If you find one which you recommend, add a comment to this article so others can enjoy it too.
The America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass: a big name for a great bargain! You can easily recoup the cost the first time you visit a national park or two or spend a couple of nights camping at a Corps of Engineers park. And it's good for the rest of your life!
Effective January 1, 2007, United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States age 62 or older can purchase an America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass. The cost is $10 and the pass is good for the lifetime of the holder.
A senior RVer's gotta love it! I know I do!
Copyright 2007 Keith A. Williams
The author is a part-time RVer who enjoys more natural settings than commercial campgrounds while enroute and needs a place to spend a night or two. Corps of Engineers campgrounds fill this bill, and with the Interagency Senior Pass are a great bargain.
It's easy to understand the benefits of this pass. Simply stated, the benefits are free admission to many Federal recreational facilities and 50% discount on many other charges, including camping fees at U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) campgrounds! This makes it of great interest to many RVers!
It's easy to become confused by this new pass; maybe this little bit of history and background will make it more clear. In 2004, a new discount program for Federal agencies called the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass Program was enacted. This act created the new pass.
My research revealed that the pass is known by a variety of names. The full name, apparently, is America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass. On some government sites, it is referred to as Interagency Senior Pass, or sometimes simply Senior Pass. The best I can tell, they all refer to the same thing. It's possible that you already have or have heard of a Golden Age Passport. These passes ceased to be issued on December 31, 2006. The Interagency Senior Pass effectively replaces the Golden Age Passport. If you have one, please be assured that it will remain valid for your lifetime and that the benefits are the same as they were before its issuance was discontinued.
There are a couple of points worth noting regarding the Golden Age Passport, however. If you have a paper Golden Age Passport, you may (but need not) exchange it at no cost for the new Interagency Senior Pass. If your Golden Age Passport is plastic, you may (but need not) replace it but the cost of this will be $10.
Interestingly, the Corps of Engineers does not issue the Interagency Senior Pass but they do honor it, so if you want to use it at a CoE park, make sure you get your pass before you go! You can get them at most Federal recreation sites which charge an entrance fee or a standard amenity fee. It is not crystal-clear where they can be used and where they can not. Therefore, if you are planning to visit a Federal recreation site you can eliminate surprises by calling ahead and asking or checking their website.
Theoretically, these are not valid at any place other than Federal facilities. However, I have heard, but not personally experienced, that state parks in some states do use the card as justification for a hefty discount on camping fees. My suggestion: Ask! The worst thing that could happen would be that the attendant would say, "No, I'm sorry. We do not honor that card." While this article is about the pass and not about the specific uses of it, I will make a couple of comments which may be of interest to those who have not camped at a Corps of Engineers campground. In short, some of them are pretty nice! And sometime you can spend a night in one of those nice ones for well under $10!
We have camped at Grant River, Potosi, WI, which is adjacent to the Mississippi River. We have also camped at De Queen Lake, De Queen, AR. We consider both very nice and recommend them. We have heard reports that the CoE park near Thomson, IL, is very nice also. My suggestion: try some! If you find one which you recommend, add a comment to this article so others can enjoy it too.
The America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass: a big name for a great bargain! You can easily recoup the cost the first time you visit a national park or two or spend a couple of nights camping at a Corps of Engineers park. And it's good for the rest of your life!
Effective January 1, 2007, United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States age 62 or older can purchase an America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass. The cost is $10 and the pass is good for the lifetime of the holder.
A senior RVer's gotta love it! I know I do!
Copyright 2007 Keith A. Williams
The author is a part-time RVer who enjoys more natural settings than commercial campgrounds while enroute and needs a place to spend a night or two. Corps of Engineers campgrounds fill this bill, and with the Interagency Senior Pass are a great bargain.
County park campgrounds are also a great answer! Although incomplete, you can see his county parks site here: http://countyparks.us
He also has a couple of commercially oriented sites, http://awninglock.com and http://awninglock.info on which he offers a product in which he believes every RVer should have an interest, the RV Awning Travel Lock.
This is his seventh RV-related article, two others being "The Greatest Myth in RVing—and What To Do About It" and "RV Awning Travel Lock—Why Do I Need One?"
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