British Columbia, Canada is a great spot region for U.S. citizens to go camping in. Fortunately, it isn't too difficult to travel into Canada from the U.S., and there aren't really any language barriers. There are plenty of locations to camp at, but I'll leave it up to you to find the best location. Taking a camping or backpacking trip to the region isn't that hard, but you need to know what you're doing. On that note, here are some tips for camping in British Columbia.
1. Know everything about traveling into Canada from the U.S.
You obviously have to travel across the border into another country to get to British Columbia. So then, there are plenty of laws and regulations you will have to follow. A passport or passport is required to get into the country. For certain campers, firearm laws must be followed when bringing your own guns into the country. Tons of other laws must be followed, so you will want to look up the most important ones that pertain to you and your camping trip.
2. Make reservations a few weeks or a couple months ahead of time.
Most camping sites require a reservation during peak times of the year. Plus, it's a good idea to reserve a spot anyway if you are coming from the United States. Nothing could be more of a letdown than arriving to find that there are no spots available. Reservations are pretty simple, and the associated fees are small enough to not pose a hassle. Obviously, you should plan this trip ahead of time.
3. Tack a mini-vacation onto the camping trip.
It takes a lot of driving to go from the United States to Canada, unless you happen to live in Washington or another border state. After your camping trip, you should consider spending some extra time in British Columbia. A smart and rewarding idea is to take an extra day or two to stay in Vancouver or another city if you never have before. Vancouver is a great city, so it's an amazing location to visit after a camping trip. Once there, you can relax for a couple days in a sort of mini-vacation and then head back home.
4. Research the park rules and applicable laws in Canada.
Most rules and regulations in British Columbia parks aren't that different than the ones you would find in U.S. parks. Still, there might be rules that you will want to know about, so it's a smart idea to check out the rules of the location you are staying at. You don't want to look like a fool by breaking a park rule and then getting scolded or possibly arrested. In that vein, you better know about the local rules and follow them!
5. Make sure that someone knows where you are.
As with traveling to any other foreign country, someone should always know where you are. You should keep your friends and family members on the trip or back at home informed about your location and plans. Sure, you probably won't have any major troubles on your trip, but it's always better to be cautious about trips in a foreign country. Give someone an update on yourself every few hours or at least once per day.
6. Consider campsite camping the first time instead of wilderness camping.
For your first trip in British Columbia, you should probably stay at a campsite even if you prefer wilderness camping. Staying in Canada's parks and wilderness areas can be quite different than in the United States. You are better off taking things slowly the first time. On your next trip, you can do whatever you want for al it matters. The first trip should be more leisurely than anything else.
7. Don't camp too close to the U.S.-Canada border.
Well, it's not like it's dangerous or a bad idea, but it is somewhat pointless to camp too close to the border. If you live in Washington and camp near the border on the Canada side, then you won't really be experiencing anything different than your every day life. On the other hand, things will become much more interesting and new the farther into B.C. you travel. Therefore, you should pick a camping location that is at least a few hours away from the U.S.-Canada border.
8. Never camp alone when wilderness camping.
Wilderness camping is dangerous at any location even with a group of people. Therefore, you shouldn't solo camp in the middle of nowhere because of the associated dangers. You definitely shouldn't try this out if you haven't been to British Columbia before. It's a bad idea to risk your own life by going out into the forest or mountains without anyone else. Also, Canada's wilderness is usually more dangerous than the areas found in the United states.
Camping opportunities are abundant in British Columbia!
There are multiple camps and areas spread throughout British Columbia where you can go camping. Of course, that includes staying at a campsite or going backpacking in the wilderness. Plenty of opportunities are there, but you'll have to seek them out. You won't regret taking a trip north of the border, so mark Canada for your next outdoor vacation. Without a doubt, you will enjoy the experience!
For more information, visit Camping and RVing in British Columbia.
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