Are you wondering where are the best places to camp this summer near Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Golden BC, and the Kicking Horse River? Look no further, here is the guide you are looking for! It’s no wonder tens of thousands of campers flock to the Canadian Rockies every summer. With 5 National Parks Clustered together and hundreds of world class hikes, the Canadian Rockies are truly a gem for campers.
Campgrounds in Yoho National Park:
For more information please visit Yoho National Park’s Camping Page
- Kicking Horse Campground. This is by far the most popular of the campgrounds in Yoho National Park. It borders the western edge of the park and has great views of Mount Chancellor, the Canadian Rockies first peak over 10,000 feet on the Western Flank of the Rockies, This Campground is open May 16th – September 14th, 2014. Typically on July and August Long Weekend, the Kicking Horse Campground in Yoho National Park that is maintained by Parks Canada is always full. The nearest campsite to the Kicking Horse Campground would Alpine Rafting’s Rustic Riverside Camping. Alpine offers this camping at no charge to all rafters, so this can add up to considerable savings if rafting is on your summer bucket list.
- Monarch Campground: A lesser know campground in Yoho National Park, the Monarch Campground sees less use than the Kicking Horse Campground, however it should not be dismissed as a worthy camping option. It is more suited to self sustained campers, such as tent or small campers.
- Takakkaw Falls Camgpround: Don’t even try and pronounce.;-) Do as the locals do and simply call is “Tak” Falls. It’s much easier! This Campground is awesome, and within striking distance of the stunning Wapta Falls, and has the upper reaches of the Kicking Horse River flowing past some of the sites. But what you may not know is that Yoho National Park is home of the waterfalls, with over 50 waterfalls in the park. What draws folks to camp at Tak Falls is that it is a starting point of most of the stunning hikes in Yoho National Park. The Iceline Trail takes the cake in our books, and the trailhead leaves right from the campsite.
Campgrounds in Golden, BC:
- Alpine Rafting Rustic Riverside Camping: For seasoned campers, there is a free camping option right along the Kicking Horse River, right outside the Western Border of Yoho National Park. This site is awesome, encompassing about 25 acres of treed and open sites suitable for larger groups. There are a couple nearby lakes to enjoy, and quads are permitted on the logging roads. Many opt to camp right out on the river flats for a once in a lifetime experience. There are sweeping views of Mount Chancellor in bordering Yoho National Park from the sites. Contact Alpine Rafting for more info, or check out their Raft and Camp Packages.
- Golden Municipal Campground: This campground is family operated and they do take great pride in providing their visitors with a positive camping experience. There are sites right along the Kicking Horse River, which are more open, and there are also sites tucked back into the forest. Bike Trails on Mount 7 are closely for downhill mountain bikers. For a more leisurely ride, the rotary trail network borders the entire length of the campground. Maps of the rotary trails are available from the Campground office. A small store offers snacks, ice cream, camping supplies and pizza.
Golden Municipal Campground
Yoho National Park is home to some of Canada’s greatest campgrounds, operated by Parks Canada. Just a short distance from the town of Field front country, RV and car camping can be found. By hiking just a little further you can reach spectacular back country camp sites. On your Canadian Rockies camping vacation you can wake up beside an alpine lake, fall asleep to the sound of a distant waterfall, or sit around the campfire watching the sun fade behind a mountain. A camping trip in Yoho National Park is the perfect outdoor vacation getaway.
The town of Field, BC is a great little town to spend an afternoon browsing the local artisan shops, grabbing a hot coffee or meal. For a town of such a small size, it does have most of the amenities a traveler seeks. As you drive into Field, you will cross the Kicking Horse River over a bridge. From most locations in town, you can see sweeping views of the Kicking Horse River Valley. Just east of Field, high up on the Wapta Icefield, is the birthplace of the Kicking Horse River. There are no campgrounds right in the town of Field, you will need to travel a few minutes by car to access the Parks Canada Campgrounds Described above.
Walking along the Upper Reaches of the Kicking Horse River in Field, BC
Campgrounds in Lake Louise AB
There are two campgrounds in the townsite of Lake Louise, which is in Banff National Park. The town of Lake Louise is in close proximity to the headwaters of the Kicking Horse River, which is the Wapta Icefield; specifically the Yoho Glacier. A recommended day trip from this campground would be to spend a 1/2 or full day rafting the world famous emerald green waters of the Kicking Horse River, known as the jewel of the Canadian Rockies.
Lake Louise
The Lake Louise Tent Campground is located 1 km from the village of Lake Louise, 4 kms from the lake itself, and lies 60 km north-west of the Town of Banff. It is open from May 15th to September. 30th. More information on the Lake Louise Tent Campground.
Lake Louise Tenting Site
The Lake Louise Campground is located 1 km from the village of Lake Louise, 4 kms from the lake itself, and lies 60 kms northwest of the Town of Banff. More information on the Lake Louise Trailer Campground.
