Forest camping near Powell River with surfing
Adventure along the rocky shores and rainforests of BC’s Sunshine Coast from this quirky oceanfront town.
99% (149 reviews)
- Powell River
99% (149 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Powell River
4 top forest campgrounds near Powell River with surfing
99%
(42)
3 sisters ranch
4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Parksville, BC
Close to all the amenities the Oceanside area of Vancouver Island has offered. Quick access to Parksville, Qualicum, Coombs, The amazing beaches of. Qualicum. Parksville and Rathtrevor 15 and 10 minutes away.
1:45 minutes to Tofino and our amazingly rugged and world renowned West Coast experience surfing amazing scenery. Epic Mountain biking at your doorstep. DH At Hamerfest is a 10 minute drive or a 45 minute pedal away cross country. Fine dining and all amenities including urgent care after riding is only 10 minutes away.
Great hub to experience Vancouver Island from.
While the fire ban is on, it is generated towards open fires. Propane fire pits and cook stoves are always welcome.
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from
CA$40
/ night
99%
(141)
theDoighouse Earthship
8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Qualicum Bay, BC
Have you ever imagined a house built from tires, dirt, pop cans, and concrete?
Welcome to theDoighouse Earthship, an eco-retreat nestled in the forest, mere minutes from Qualicum Bay waterfront. Our location is a haven for adventurers and peace-seekers alike, offering easy access to the natural wonders of Vancouver Island.
Just an hour north of Nanaimo, our property serves as an ideal base for day trips to Hornby, Denman, and Lasqueti Islands. Or don’t leave the island and spend the afternoon eating delicious fresh-made doughnuts at the famous Old Country Market in Coombs, home to the iconic goats on the roof, it’s only a 20-minute drive from our doorstep. Or 10 minutes to the waterfront and delicious ice cream at the Cone Zone.
Stay local and discover forest trails, a children's playground, and a bike park right in our neighbourhood. Lighthouse Country area teems with opportunities for exploration, from pristine beaches including Sunny Beach and scenic Spider and Horne Lakes to an array of hiking paths, or if you climb, consider the Horne Lake Caves! Use your All Trails App to discover the Wilson Woodlot and Lost Runners Trails. Urban legend has it that it was the running shoes that were lost, not the people wearing them!
Or stop here for a night en route to and from the mainland to Ucluelet or Tofino for world-class surfing, or if skiing is your calling, Mount Washington is just a 45-minute drive away.
You can pitch your tent in our gardens, park your RV on the edge of the forest, or stay in our cozy tiny cabin. You can wander in the gardens and check out a young permaculture food forest filled with fruit and hazelnut trees, berries, and all that good stuff!
Our Earthship, currently under construction, is all about exploring a low-impact lifestyle, off-grid living in an energy-efficient dwelling built from recycled materials. It is love for the planet, and people and sharing of abundance that makes this project come alive.
Attend a group tour, or arrange for your own private tour where Tony will spend a couple of hours with you, sharing theDoighouse project, and answering any and all questions you may have.
We also offer workshops and other onsite activities. For more info check out our website www.thedoighouse.com/events.
On arrival, you will be greeted by Bentley (our standard poodle), Mabel (mouser extraordinaire) and the 'hens' who generously gift fresh eggs daily.
Come visit, tour, and stay.
Susan and Tony Doig
Pets
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from
CA$30
/ night
100%
(1)
The Glamping Beachcomber
1 site · Lodging18 acres · Campbell River, BC
Wake up surrounded by the stunning sights and sounds of nature. It's your panoramic view! Just 300 meters from the beaches of the Strait of Georgia, nestled on an acreage of family property is The Glamping Beachcomber. This oasis consists of a spacious canvas tent on large, fenced, wrap around deck (with room for your camping tent for 2 additional people). It’s well-furnished inside and out with an outdoor covered, supplied kitchen.
Step off the deck and choose your path! If Oyster River is your destination, the nature trail will take you there. Stop along the way for a swim, picnic, paddle, driftwood fort building, maybe try your campfire building skills! Or meander above the shoreline along the driftwood covered shore on one side of you and past acres of distillery farmland and the Oyster River Estuary on your right. Where the river meets the sea just around the corner, it’s not uncommon to find a seal bobbing and heron near the shoreline, and maybe an eagle further out on the sandbar waiting for their seafood meal. To smell the forest, sea, and freshness of a flowing river all in one breath doesn’t happen many places, but it’s here every day.
Deer, rabbits, herons and eagles are a near certainty right on our property. Currently there is a Great Horned Owl’s nest with 50 meters and you may catch sighting of the owlets.
The bright sunny fielded forest alongside the beach blends together these experiences so seamlessly.
And If a touch of civilization appeals, you'll find the essentials just past the nature trail, or a short drive away.
Just beyond our property at Salmon Point…
Shelter Point Distillery tastings and tours. Oyster River plaza (Grocery store, liquor store, pizza and coffee, and a medical clinic/pharmacy). Sandy Saratoga beach (water sport rentals) across the Oyster River. Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Saratoga Speedway on Saturday nights. Golf and mini golf. And we're 15 min drive to the bottom of Mt Washington, popular for hiking, ziplining, mountain biking and competition.
Or, pocket your keys, and stay put. You really are in the thick of it! As a Glamping Beachcomber, natures majesty is your panoramic view.
It's a complete holiday right here on the property.
Pets
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from
CA$99
/ night
Foot Forward Farm
2 sites · Lodging40 acres · Campbell River, BC
Nestle in to our walk-in private 'Pond Cabin' located on our 40 acre Regenerative mixed farm on beautiful Quadra Island.
This idyllic 160 square foot, wood stove heated, cabin overlooks the largest pond on our property. The private site boast a glorious on-demand hot water outdoor shower and covered outdoor kitchen.
Walk beside our grazing sheep, goats and chickens and visit our forest raised pigs on your way to the cabin. As Foot Forward is a Permaculture inspired Regenerative farm, no fossil fuels are used in pasture/grounds maintenance. Sheep and goats are used to graze all of the grass including the grass around the pond and cabin. There is a chance, depending on which paddock the sheep are working in, that you may have some 4 legged grounds keepers in and around your space.
Contact us to book a farm tour and regenerative agriculture introduction. Farm fresh eggs, and a variety of other products from the farm are available including (assuming they aren't sold out) our famous sausages.
Solar power provides you with all the lighting, shower-water pressure and technology charging you will need for your stay. There is no refrigeration onsite at the moment but access to a farm fridge can be arranged.
Quadra Island was recently rated by Forbes Magazine as #5 on its most up and coming travel locations in the world. Perhapse it was beccaue of its natural beauty or the fact that it is a nearly mosquito free outdoor paradise. Quadra is the largest island in the Salish Sea. Endless recreational opportunities abound on the island. Hundreds of kilometres of hiking and mountain biking trails crisscross the island. Several guiding companies give provide access to the world class kayaking and scuba diving off of Quadra's shores.
Do all that... or simply grab a book and curl up beside the pond or read a book in the hammock.
*** Winter Comment***
The cabin is winterized. The stove is actually to hot for the size of the cabin. It requires a little practice timing your fire and opening windows to keep it at the best temperature. Since we are all 'Hip" here... it just adds to the adventure. :) Oh yeah... bring boots. :) About once a year a rainstorm intense enough to overflow the stream you need to cross to the cabin overflows. In that case it is a bit of challenge getting there.
Potable water
Toilets
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Showers
Cooking equipment
from
CA$90
/ night
Forest camping near Powell River with surfing guide
Overview
The Sunshine Coast hugs the Pacific Ocean between Howe Sound and Desolation Sound within day-tripping distance of Vancouver. Although it’s technically part of mainland BC, the jagged coastal mountains make road travel impossible, so you reach this region by ferry or float plane. From Powell River, the largest community on the northern Sunshine Coast, you can go hiking, kayaking, boating, or watch the sunset over the ocean. Camp oceanfront at Saltery Bay Provincial Park, or near town at private RV parks with full-service campsites, hookups, and tenting sites. Haywire Bay Regional Park, on Powell Lake, is another option for RV and tent campers.
When to go
Powell River and the Sunshine Coast are year-round destinations. The weather is warmest, driest, and most comfortable for campers from April through October. The busiest season is the mild summer, between late June and early September, but spring and fall are both lovely, if cooler and damper. Winters are mild, compared to other destinations in Canada, with temperatures normally above freezing. Just prepare for plenty of winter rain—better for cuddling around the fire than camping on the beach.
Know before you go
- From Vancouver, it takes two ferries to reach Powell River. From the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, take BC Ferries service to Langdale, at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast. Drive north on Highway 101 (the Sunshine Coast Highway) to catch the Earl’s Cove-Saltery Bay ferry, and continue north on Highway 101 into Powell River.
- Before crossing to the north Sunshine Coast, stop at Skookumchuck Narrows, near Egmont, to see the dramatic tides and spectacular whirlpools that sweep between Sechelt and Jervis Inlets twice a day. It’s an easy four-kilometre hike through the forest to the Narrows. Check the tide schedule to arrive at the best viewing times.
- You can find groceries and other camping supplies in Powell River. Many of the camping areas outside of town or on the islands are fairly remote, so stock up on what you need before you reach your campsite.
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