Free RV Camping on Vancouver Island!

In the 3rd installment of our Northern Vancouver Island trip in our Roadtrek Zion campervan, we make our way south from Port McNeill and explore the Clint Beek Recreation Site, but end up staying at Nimpkish Lake, where we enjoy a great free site and Gordon has an adventurous paddle. We then head south to the Campbell River area (driving through the communities of Woss and Sayward) and have challenges finding a campsite for the night with campgrounds being full. We drive all the way to Gold River without any luck. Finally, we are just about to give up and head to Walmart when we end up finding one of the nicest sites we've ever had, and a cute little bird adopted us there too!
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Our Camera Gear for this video:
• Sony FDR-X3000
• Sony FDR-AX53
• GoPro Hero Session 5
• GoPro Hero 8 Black
• Sony RX100 VII
• iPhones 10 & 11
Video Editing Software: • Cyberlink PowerDirector

[@hikenrv]

* Correction on this video: we mistakenly noted camping is free at Clint Beek Rec Site. They actually charge a fee of $15 per night. Our apologies!

[@rustykatt3870]

Wonderful...thank you! Loved the little bird 🦜...😀

[@hikenrv]

Our pleasure and glad you enjoyed! The bird was quite amusing!

[@richardnoggen1674]

Your rice dinner looked YUMMY!...Great video...

[@hikenrv]

@@richardnoggen1674 🙏

[@scallywags12]

Camp at Nimkish for years. Just south is Auntz lake which has a creek connects into Nimkish. Paddle between the lakes is fun. Also seals come in from the ocean from the north end of the lake.

[@hikenrv]

We really enjoyed it there…and now, with your tips want to go back!

[@scallywags12]

@@hikenrv Also when camping at Anutz Lake explore the Huston Cavern a great place to hike to and explore. Just south of the lake. 20 minute drive. Use Back road books of Vancouver island.

[@jamesb9780]

How cute that the bird befriends the campground visitors. I enjoyed the series on Vancouver Island. Definitely has given me some ideas for places to visit!

[@hikenrv]

Glad you enjoyed! We had a wonderful time! We do miss the bird though…

[@maiad.9716]

What a great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the little bird was cute too! Thanks for the camping suggestions 🙂

[@hikenrv]

Appreciate the comment! Yes, we actually found it tough to leave the little guy behind!

[@albertaadventures7750]

I’ve stayed at the north Campbell river rec site last summer and it was wonderful. My site was very close to yours. Got to put my sea kayak in the water and paddle all around. Such a beautiful place and yes those outhouses were beautiful. I commented on them in my video as well 🤙👍🤗🤣

[@hikenrv]

The outhouses were nice...similar ones at the BC Hydro site in Lillooet. Glad you got to enjoy the campground and lake! 🚐

[@Lauraannmccall]

Watched all three of these in one sitting - so much fun! Loved your little bird friend. :-)

[@hikenrv]

You qualify for a frequent viewer discount! We enjoyed that little bird as well! Miss him!

[@adrianhockey9334]

Striking scenery, you were lucky to find that super spot and the resident bird who enjoyed your company.😁👍🚐

[@hikenrv]

The bird did add to the trip! All of Vancouver Island is beautiful, but we quite enjoyed the northern parts!

[@ant-1382]

Lived on Vancouver Island for 50+ years, still haven't seen it all, getting older and may not get to see it all. Thanks for your video, been to most of these places maybe not the exact spot. Check out Marble River, and Alice Lake, near Port Alice. Not free, but really nice. Marble River has a stand of old growth yellow cedar, impressive. Kudos to those that had the foresight to preserve it.

[@hikenrv]

Thank you! Appreciate the tips!

[@carolmelton9067]

Great trip! Thanks for taking us along!

[@hikenrv]

Glad you enjoyed! We got home and headed out next to northern BC...another amazing area!

[@shirleyjordan6340]

Really enjoy your videos. The country is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Be Safe!

[@hikenrv]

Thank you! Our experience is that almost everywhere outdoors has beauty, just need to have the time to find it!

[@bhenry5091]

I'm glad you found a campsite, as the Campbell River Walmart has been closed to parking lot camping for several years now.

[@hikenrv]

We actually called them and they said the same....but also noted unofficially that if we were discreet and left early likely not an issue. Glad we never had to find out!

[@maureentweedly]

Beautiful video of the northern parts of the island. I lived up and down the island for quite a few years and always love returning to it. So many more places to visit.

[@hikenrv]

It is nice on the island....beautiful scenery and a much quieter pace of life!

[@serni6880]

I recently found your channel and I have really enjoyed watching! Thanks for posting your adventures 😊

[@hikenrv]

Our pleasure! Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!

[@switchrousseau4992]

Great video

[@hikenrv]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@VanlifeMidlifeRocks]

Nice to find some fellow Roadtrekers! We too love the north Island and appreciate your bravery of exploring without reservations! Look forward to following your adVANtures! :)

[@hikenrv]

Perhaps less about bravery and more about not planning too far ahead...but we enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@metaxaanabeer]

You guys need the VI Backroads Guide and Mapbook and the stand alone map. Because I can guarantee you there were camp sites open and available, you just didn't know where they are. Muchalat would have had spots and going further along Nimkish Main, back towards Woss but overland, you find Vernon Lake (my personal favourite). Do you air down your tires on rough roads? I go from 34 psi to 15 psi and drive slow...way more comfortable, less dust. On your van I'd not go half down but maybe a third? Thanks for being so kind and complimentary on my beloved North Island. It has warts but as you saw, lots to praise and enjoy.

[@hikenrv]

We think you are the second person to recommend that book...added to our list! Agree likely other spots available, but we certainly found camping near Campbell River much busier than the northern parts! We don’t tend to air down, but we should (we have an air compressor so we could do so)..a little lazy perhaps! Next time we will reach out in advance for some Island tips...your guidance here has always been helpful. Truly loved the northern island!

[@metaxaanabeer]

@@hikenrv And your guidance re: the Mainland, has been helpful to us. I appreciate you two and what you do very much.

[@milesfong3901]

The Loc Ness monster made it to Vancouver.

[@hikenrv]

Almost…Vancouver Island! It appeared docile!

[@cleanerlakes]

Lovely!

[@hikenrv]

Thanks for some of the camping spot tips!

[@danieltaylor3396]

Thanks to a court case some 30 years ago between an enviro group and logging company the Supreme Court of B.C. ruled that the public can camp for free with no time limit on Crown Land (land owned by the Provincial Government) provided no permanent structures are built and no interference with timber values. Most of The Island is Crown Land, lots of lakes have access roads used by logging companies to refill fire tanker trucks resulting in numerous free camping locations.

[@hikenrv]

Good information! We usually prefer at least a rustic campsite, so more likely a B.C. recreation site (effectively B.C. Parks) or one operated by a logging company (we have only seen this on Vancouver Island). Also, road access has to be reasonable as our van is only 2WD and about the same ground clearance as a car. As we understand it at least one of the logging companies have now started to charge fees closer to those of Provincal parks in the last year or two in some locations.

[@RVRollingWithMJ]

Thanks for sharing about the free site!! We are planning a trip there for next summer but we have a Class A so not sure if that would be smart? Excited to follow along!! We post videos of our travels and campgrounds on our channel!! Melissa from RV Rolling with MJ

[@hikenrv]

Most of the places we stayed on this trip would likely accommodate a Class A, certainly the commercial sites we covered earlier in the trip. Some of the recreational sites may be too small. Many of BC recreational sites can be checked online and if they note motorhome they are likely OK. We are always amazed at where we see some folks get their larger rigs into! 🚐

[@RVRollingWithMJ]

@@hikenrv thanks!! Will check out the other videos!!

[@switchrousseau4992]

What is the name of that BC hydro campsite and where is it exactly?

[@hikenrv]

Here you go: www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/strathcona_dam.html On the way to Strathcona Park....not that far from Campbell River, approx 30 km.

[@bhenry5091]

Unfortunate that many of these north island rec sites have been abandoned by their original forest company sponsors. Many of these sites were originally free, but due to many forest companies leaving the area, after relatively cheap logging leases, sites have been taken over by the BC department of forestry, requiring camping fees for the popular areas. A real travesty!

[@hikenrv]

Thanks for sharing the information!

[@Sean.L722]

Beautiful... I'm planning a van trip from Los Angeles to the Vancouver Island late Aug. early Sept. What month did you visit? Can you give me 3-4 must see or stays.. thanks.. really enjoyed

[@hikenrv]

Glad you enjoyed! 🙏. We were there in early August. It’s hard to say the top 3 or 4 spots only in that what we like the most may not be what you do; that said, our top spots to visit when we go back: Pacific Rim National Park (we have a few videos on this and a new one out today - and always a place we recommend but busy all summer), Strathcona Park, nearer Campbell River (mid island and not far from the free camping site with the small bird in this video) and Juan de Fuca Park on the southern part of the island. We also like Rathtrevor near Parksville and would like to camp at Bere Point Campground on Malcom Island (near Port McNeil, so near the north tip- we visited here on one of our northern island related videos but didn’t get to stay). Wishing you safe travels! 🚐

[@TheIronDuke18159]

Heres a fact Nimpkish Lake is the deepest lake on Vancouver Island it is 1,050 feet deep

[@hikenrv]

Wow! Thanks for the info!

[@TheIronDuke18159]

@@hikenrv your welcome

[@jeanhuber5057]

Title ….free rv camping

[@hikenrv]

Yes, the end of an enjoyable trip to the northern part of the island with 2 spots you can stay for free! Unfortunately, we thought we had 3, but as we corrected one actually was a rec site with a fee. We are sorry about that.

[@stephano6793]

That bird is fat on human food.

[@hikenrv]

We thought the same...very cute, but likely well fed, either directly or from bits of food left at sites. Will be tough when camping season ends.

[@stephano6793]

@@hikenrv did it even fly? Or just short jumps?

[@hikenrv]

Haha, yes, flew quite well in fact. Seemed to visit all the different campers at some point and spend the evening in one of the large trees nearby.

[@stephano6793]

@@hikenrv it's in no danger then. At least it wasn't something bigger🙂