If you’re planning a spring Vancouver Island camping trip, no matter whether you’re seeking a beachfront, forest, or riverside location, we have a feeling your ideal tent pad awaits in Vancouver Island North. Enjoy full-service campsites with all the amenities close to our communities or venture into the quieter, remote spots across our region.
Before you arrive, Take the Wild Pledge to spark a deeper connection, rooted in conservation and respect, to the people and wildlife that call Vancouver Island North home. Check seasonal operating hours and remember that the weather can shift suddenly in the springtime, particularly on the coast and near the mountains. Come prepared for the potential of cooler, wetter, and windier weather at night and the warmth of spring sunshine in the daytime.
Once you’re all packed and prepared for the wild beauty and ruggedness of our region, these are the best campsites for spring in Vancouver Island North based on the location and activities you seek.
Oceanfront campgrounds close to community hubs
Camping right on or near the oceanfront in Vancouver Island North increases the chances of spotting marine mammals and seabirds without needing to venture far from your tent. But when you’re ready to leave in search of sustenance or a cultural experience, these campgrounds aren’t far from community hubs like Port McNeill and Port Hardy where restaurants, tour operators, museums, and shops can be found.
At Alder Bay RV Park and Marina, 12 campsites right by the beach look out toward Alert Bay. A tasty food truck, hot showers, a kayak launch, and a boat dock are available on-site. Open year-round, their peak rates start on May 14th, so why not make the most of spring rates?
The Indigenous-owned Cluxewe Resort near Port McNeill is located on an original Kwakiutl ancestral village site. The resort and its luscious coastal ecosystem teem with wildlife, fungi and flora. Beachcombing, shoreline walks, and birdwatching are all viable mere steps from your zippered door.
On Malcolm Island, the Bere Point Regional Park campground is particularly popular due to its proximity to a picturesque hiking trail that passes a known orca rubbing beach. For this reason, campers are encouraged to keep the noise down, resulting in a peaceful stay near the water’s edge, a short drive or bike ride from Sointula’s artistic spaces and eateries.
Forest campgrounds for hiking trails and Cultural experiences
After a day experiencing the U’mista Cultural Centre and exploring the trails of the Alert Bay Ecological Park, spend the night at the Alert Bay Campground. It’s just a ten-minute walk from eateries and amenities like Gordie’s Restaurant and Lounge yet nestled in the quiet sanctuary of the forest.
Stay at one of the 100 serviced sites at Telegraph Cove Resort’s Forest RV Campground and you’re just a ten-minute walk from the historic boardwalks of Telegraph Cove. The campground has all the little luxuries of a full-service site while being minutes from the tucked-away Bauza Cove and the more challenging Dave Farrant (Blinkhorn) Trail.
riverside campground for fishing and water activities
Toward Devil’s Bath, the Eternal Fountain, and other popular curiosities, is the Link River Municipal Park Campground. With 41 campsites on the western shore of Alice Lake or beside the Link River, beach access, play equipment, and covered BBQ shelters, it’s popular with families. Free camping on a first come, first served basis is available from October to April. Pre-booking and paid sites begin in May.
Just a five-minute drive from Port Hardy, the Quatse River Regional Campground is a great choice for birdwatchers and nature buffs as it’s close to the Quatse Estuary and the Quaste Salmon Stewardship Centre & Hatchery. The campground opens in mid-May each year.
Backcountry camping for hiking remote beaches
Vancouver Island North’s remote beaches to the north and west are renowned with enthusiastic hikers. Cape Scott Provincial Park and the North Coast Trail in particular beckon spring campers eager to add a multi-day trek to their adventure in our outer edges. For those after a more relaxed adventure but still keen to set eyes on some of these breathtaking locations, camping can be found at San Josef Heritage Park and within a 45-minute to hour-long hike at San Josef Bay.
Backcountry camping is also available to the south of Cape Scott Provincial Park at Raft Cove Provincial Park. This location is popular with surfers, and the beach is about an hour from the (small) parking lot along a rugged trail. Rustic beach camping is also available 10 minutes from your vehicle at the spectacular, sandy Grant Bay Recreation Site.
For these backcountry hike-in campsites, it’s vital to be wildlife aware, use food caches, practice water safety, be prepared for changing weather, and have enough food and water with you. Put your Wild Pledge into action and practice Leave No Trace principles.
If the campsite you had in mind is fully booked or their seasonal operating hours don’t quite fit your dates, many more campgrounds exist in Vancouver Island North for you to discover.