BC Camp Trip Advice

Drove under Idaho Peak ( drove past the mine and hicked out to the lookout) is still covered in snow. Most likely won't be hacking up t here for another few weeks to a month. We had fresh snow on all the higher mountains about 2 weeks ago. Last year at this time we were looking for a bigger A/C unit....
Weather,,,, go figure.....
Soup.

teambeeson wrote:
Thanks folks. Gary I've had my eye on the Duffy road so that's good to know you can boondock along the way. I also looked into the Shelter ferry. I've been to New Denver before & liked it... drove up the mountain past that old mine and hiked out to the lookout... beautiful. Maybe this trip will shape up after all. Really want to share the mountains up there with the better half. Thanks again.

We are all here to help. If you have any questions, lots of us have experience in the areas.

Now...not to be throwing a wrench, but one 'could' turn south from Kamloops and head into the Okanagan Valley and spend the days playing golf and or wandering the vineyards. Do that for two or three days and then off to Highway 3 and eastward ho, into the wilds of Grand Forks, Castlegar, and so on.





Gary Haupt

Thanks folks. Gary I've had my eye on the Duffy road so that's good to know you can boondock along the way. I also looked into the Shelter ferry. I've been to New Denver before & liked it... drove up the mountain past that old mine and hiked out to the lookout... beautiful. Maybe this trip will shape up after all. Really want to share the mountains up there with the better half. Thanks again.

Man..I am having a hard time figuring out your plans. For sure, go via 99 to Cache Creek. You can boondock in lots of places after Pemberton, once on the Duffey Lake Road.

If you want to go to Revelstoke, you can boondock in Chase at the Safer Foods. (free dump in Kamloops at the info centre) Grass lot right at the store. Shuswap 'docking is slim to none. However, in Salmon Arm you can at The Mall at Piccadilly..also has a free dump. Plus probably at CDN Tire. From there to Revelstoke is pretty slim boondocking. I'd say turn right at Highway 23..just before Revelstoke and head down to the free ferry at Shelter Bay. Cross on over and just toodle around the Kootenays till you want to head for Montana. Lots of boondocking to be found after you get off the ferry and if you like hot springs, you have two to choose from. The Nakusp ones have a campsite. At New Denver you make a choice...east or south...both great options. If you go left on 31a, Kaslo is wonderful tiny community. Then you just follow your noses on down to Nelson and carry on.


Gary Haupt

I'm not sure of the route you have planed but Mica dam ( creek) area is a dead end road that you get to from Revelstoke.
I have been drunk through Banff, Lake Louise and Kootenay Natinal parks for the last month helping my kids move back to BC and there hasn't been one available campsite with full hookups for weeks now. There could be sites available in the non service campgrounds, so you will have to check. You can not " boondock" in any national or Provincal campgound period.
Also the Provincal campgrounds in BC in the main tourest areas are also booked solid. Your bat bet is to travel on roads less traveled and then do as I have since I was a kid with my parents we stated driving at sun up and "tried" to park by 10 or 11:am at the latest.
I live in the Kootenays and we are pretty lucky that a lot of people don't like driving up and down over mountain passes and or drive on narrow roads with lots of curves. On the July 1st ( Canada day weekend) all campgrounds that we see around us were full. Now it has tapered off, but that could also have something to do with the weather as it has been wet.
Stay in the back roads, stay away from the populated areas and park early is your best bet.
Soup.