BC Provincial Parks

They may accept them according to availability, according to their official site:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/fees/

I suppose that means the camp host has to have a connection to the credit card processor.

There is generally three tiers in BC Parks. The highest level has a gate attendant, and during summer they are there to take your card. They usually have hot showers and flush toilets, but not individual hookups.

The next level down may have flush toilets and pumped water to connect with a hose. I doubt they will be at the gate.

The lowest level is generally pit toilets and well water without a connection other than filling a bucket. Usually they rely on your putting money in the iron warden, or they come by to see you at your site. They do check, and the more people that comply with the system, the cheaper it remains for everyone.

So, the odds of using your credit card there is pretty slim.

OK, thanks. So it's cash, then.

Unless you use the reservation system, don't count on a BC PP taking a credit card, even ones with showers and flush toilets. Our parks are very backward compared to WA and Oregon when it comes to payment.

Well I wouldn't say backward. A lot of the campgrounds are in areas that there is no internet or Wi-fi, so cash only. There are also a number of private campgrounds out there that don't take credit cards or debit cards.
As a rule when I travel I always have enough cash for a hotel for a night or two, food in a restaurants for a day or two as well as gas for a day or two.
Ya never know when systems can crash and the only way to buy something is with Cash.
Soup.

I don't consider it backward. I don't usually use a credit card at public campgrounds here in the US but am permitted to write a check. Just wanted to know what to expect. Thank you.

mock...are you interested in boondocking at all? or prefer cg's? If you are good for drycammping/dockin...if you offer up your routing, there are those of us that can offer up places.

And, if you are in need of a shower, bed...gimme a shout. I am just south of Terrace, BC.


Gary Haupt

Thank you, Gary, for the kind offer but I do have a shower and a bed. :) I plan to do some boondocking and have a good source of potential locations. But the provincial parks are very nice and I will be visiting them, as well.

And don't count on Provincial Parks to have any hookups either. I can't remember one that did. No showers, at least hot, just water spouts here and there, bigger bathrooms and they are generally in spectacular places. I greatly favor rec sites which are the equivalent of USFS campgrounds. They used to be 8-10 buck per night but now they are all 'user maintained' meaning there is no water, usually, or garbage service, just a table, fire ring and an outhouse or two. But free! And usually beautiful. Mostly on a lake in BC.

BC Parks and Trails web site, takes a little getting used to but has directions, and GPS coords to the free ones. Your rig will get into just about all of them. Sawmill Creek, Deese Lake, was recently re done and is a nice place to stop for a few days. Your solar should do fine there from what I remember.