Squamish Camping Guide
Plan Your Squamish Camping Trip
Squamish features numerous secluded campgrounds equipped for tents, full-sized RVs, and everything in between. It doesn't matter if you want to stop in during your journey, or make our authentic mountain town your destination – you'll find everything you need just off the road.
Please note, camping is not permitted on streets, public land including parks and parking lots, or on crown land including forest service roads within the District of Squamish boundaries. Dispersed #NoTrace Crown land campaign can occur outside the District of Squamish boundaries.
For information about camping in BC Parks please check BC Park's website.
*SPECIAL NOTICE* The District of Squamish has re-instated the municipal campfire ban beginning Tuesday July 9th, 2024. Additionally, a province-wide fire ban will take effect Friday July 12th, 2024. Please, absolutely NO CAMPFIRES, ANYWHERE.
This is due to the ongoing hot and dry weather and high (approaching extreme) fire danger rating. The dry conditions and extreme temperatures mean that forest fuels are very dry and the fire risk is serious. New fires may start easily, burn vigorously, and challenge fire suppression efforts and resources.
The campfire prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, or propane, or portable campfire devices that use liquid, or gaseous fuel, provided they are CSA or ULC approved, and the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
Read all the details on the fire ban here.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 911 if within the municipal boundaries or call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
Where to Camp
| MAP | CAMPGROUND | TYPE | SITES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stawamus Chief Provincial Park | BC Parks | 109 |
| 2 | Klahanie Campground | Private | 60 |
| 3 | Mamquam River Campground | Non-Profit | 111 |
| 4 | MTN Fun Basecamp | Private | 28 |
| 5 | Alice Lake Provincial Park | BC Parks | 110 |
| 6 | Cat Lake Recreation Site | BC Rec Site | 48 |
| 7 | Paradise Valley Campground | Private | 84 |
| 8 | Porteau Cove Provincial Park | BC Parks | 66 |
| 9 | Squamish Valley Campground | Private | 65 |
The popularity of Squamish within the #vanlife community has increased to the point where there is great concern about the group’s collective environmental impact. “Wild” or “Freedom” camping has become unmanageable environmentally because of the high numbers of campers. Use the helpful calendar on this page to find available camping sites for your trip dates.
Don't Love It To Death
Recreation Sites
Recreation Sites and Trails BC provides public recreation opportunities by developing, maintaining and managing a network of recreation sites and recreation trails throughout the province. Please visit their website for information on alerts, closures and warnings. Here you will also find information for you to plan a safe and enjoyable visit to a recreation site or recreation trail in the backcountry, including Reservations and fees, Accessing sites and trails, and Rules and Regulations.
While there are Recreation Sites located near Squamish, the access to these sites and trails is often along unpaved Forest Service roads or resource roads, which can be rough and may feature hazardous road conditions that can change at any time. We highly recommend sticking to a designated campground. It's important to understand that during peak periods (long weekends, summer, all weekends throughout the summer) these sites will not have availability and will be surrounded by no-camp areas under Recreation Closure Orders, making changes in plans difficult for those inexperienced and unfamiliar with the area.
#NOTRACE CAMPING
- District of Squamish bylaws prohibit campfires on public lands and provincial fire bans restrict campfires outside municipal boundaries. Know the local restrictions before you go.
- Be Bear Smart. Leaving food unsecured will attract bears and other wild animals. This is dangerous for you and puts the bears at risk once they become garbage bears. Never keep or consume food in your tent.
- Garbage/recycling must always be secured and disposed of properly. See the list of resources for drop-off locations.
- Ensure proper disposal of human waste and toilet paper. No one wants to encounter it while walking with kids or dogs.
- Please don’t pollute our waterways. Before leaving, return your site to the condition in which you found it.
- Be respectful to your neighbours – we live here and take great care of our community.
Important Numbers
| For Emergencies | 911 |
| Report a Wildfire (*5555 on a mobile phone) | 1.800.663.5555 |
| Police (non-emergency) | 604.892.6100 |
| Bylaw Enforcement | 604.815.5067 |
| RAPP line to report wildlife concerns (#7277 on mobile) | 1.877.952.7277 |
Important Links
Public washrooms: Map
Fire bans and restrictions:
