CAMPING, who can afford to go camping?
The friggin Government just HAD to make a poor man’s holiday into a cash cow! Fishing license’s is another cow!

So true, I have been camping all my life and since the B.C. gov’t started charging I have not use their campsites. I prefer either private sites or will just pull over in a convenient spot to spend a night. The gov’t has truly spoiled the fun for those who can least afford a holiday! This year I will holiday in Alberta thanks to the BS in B.C.

sorry grampa but it isnèt much cheaper in Alberta. best to just go out a local lake and camp in the bush, while we still can haha

The BC government have priced camping out of the reach of many families. They should take a look at what they do in the Yukon where residents can buy a yearly pass for $50 that allows them to camp in all of their sites.

I know this will never happen because our government likes to nickel and dime us whenever they can.

BC Hydro have three campgrounds in the Lillooet to Gold Bridge corridor. Acording to people on the internet they are are free campgrounds and very good.

BC Froestry has sitees that are free as well.

Just put free camping BC into google and a number of sites come up for free camping.

http://www.tracksandtrails.ca/2011/04/free-camping-at-duffy-lake-in-kamloops

This is a nearby BC forestry sitehttp://freecampsites.net/ahbau-lake

This is a site for free camping with an interactive map for Canada and the USA

http://freecampsites.net

Gus, are the MoF sites maintained now?
We did a lot of free camping with the kids in many excellent B.C. Parks and MoF sites but found that by the early 90’s, the MoF sites were no longer maintained with T.P. and garbage collection. The kids profited by collecting many beer bottles, but we all got tired of having to clean up the campground every time we wanted to pitch a tent. Less inconvenient was having to remember to bring extra garbage bags and extra T.P. The outdoors experience is ruined when you are camping alongside people’s garbage.
metalman.

So if I’m reading these comments right, you guys want fully maintained camping sites for free? Just curious what the expectations are?

I camp mainly in Provincial parks and I don’t mind spending the money as the sites are very well maintained. That being said what does irritate me to no end is the fact that I now have to pay for firewood. I suppose I am lucky in that I have enough storage in my motorhome that I can bring my own wood.

Motorhome? Camping? I never did understand that oxymoron. ;-)

As far as MoF sites. I do not know. Too old and lazy to go camping.

Cottage as close to the ocean beach as possible.

Many rec sites are maintained, some better than others. I love these sites. You get to camp close to a lake and often have the place to yourself. When you don’t, it can get right rowdy, and that’s not great for families. We’ve been pretty lucky so far.

I also like the parks, though, as they’re generally quieter and cleaner. I don’t mind paying, though it can get expensive for an extended weekend.

Sure, it’d be nice to have a free site that someone else cleans and maintains, but I don’t expect it.

Now what would REALLY be nice is a provincial park that offers power / water services for trailers. Alberta does.

gus: @Motorhome? Camping? I never did understand that oxymoron. ;-)”

Hey now. Not all of us want to rough it in a leaky lean-to.

I agree with the other comments. Camping used to be cheap, but I guess the maintenance costs have gone up like everything else.

And yes, paying for firewood is a joke. But people would build ten storey bonfires if it was free… cause that’s what people do.

Abd also, many people who go to the maintained campsites are pigs who leave their garbage everywhere. It doesn’t help to keep costs down, that’s for sure.

We live in Quesnel. We have been to several free sites here and had people come and clean the outhouse, rake the ground and check everything out. Nyland Lake, Maude Lake, Fish Lake and Crescent Lake are all done like this. I am quite sure that Ahbu was also done while we were there. Lady I talked to doing this at Nyland said she worked for West Fraser….

Not looking for free camping, just telling it like it was. We had it good, and I know it. As kids grew up and left home, we camped less and less. If I was inclined to leave our peaceful country home to “camp” with several hundred others, many of whom seemingly must have a boom box, generator, lights etc. in order to survive, I would not mind the paltry sum.
After all, our BC Parks are, for the most part, excellent facilities. I mean maintained toilets and some of them are flushers! usually potable running water, firewood available for a fee, or, bring your own, how liberal. Generally a well made boat launch, if the site adjoins a lake, garbage facilities, a modicum of security, all the above for a nominal sum, sounds great! Just not our cup of tea, anymore.
metalman.

Gus… Ok. Oxymoron or not, camping is camping no matter what type of unit you have weather the back of a truck, tent to a MoHo to a (well) cottage on the ocean, the experience is all the same to everyone. Families and friends gather,eat,fish,bike,visit and make new memories.Please do not comment on peoples accomodations, its what ppl can afford to get out and see beautiful b.c.

On another note there Gus, I primarily camp in a MoHo out west, but to you that means a rusted tent and to the north east (as the crow flies).

Provincial parks or private parks – good for the motorhome users etc who want the city necessities such as running water, fire wood, toilets and showers etc. When I went to a couple of them I expected to hear generators, the person next door playing one type of music and the other side another type of music.

Forestry campsites is a cheaper way to go. Most foresty sites south of Quesnel charge now. Locally, no charges anymore. The only one I know of so far that does is one the other side of Fraser lake – Peterson Beach which in now run by the local natives.

I tried camping at the Private/provincial and it drives me crazy,,,I would like some peace and quiet – that is why I go elsewhere. If any rowdies – I attain their licence plate number etc. when at the forestry sites and report them.

Been camping for over 50 years in BC and the Yukon. Prefer to camp in the bush away from cell phones etc. Went from a tent to a camper and hubby cannot pay me to use a motor home. Don’t want to hear the damn generator going……..

What will reporting their plates get you? It’s a free country and unless they’re doing something illegal you’d be wasting your time. If some goofs wanna blast their boom boxes all weekend in a backroads forestry site they can. It’s not illegal.

There are other ways to deal with those types. It’s more fun too!

I agree Dragonmaster but they can and have been charged for littering and damages to name a few… You also forget that boom boxes can be used elswhere up to 10PM.

I have had no problem with the younger people. It has always been the middle aged males, hunters, or the so called mocho man.. Oh, was that you last year?

Read again – I did not mention boom boxes……:P

I did not mention boom boxes – that was you and yes they can have their music on like anywhere else – depending where they are up to 10 PM. I have reported them and they have been charges laid against them for mischief, damages etc.

The problem ones I have found are not the younger ones but the middle aged male ones, hunters, or the mocho man…..Oh, was that you last year? :P