Camp for Free Across Canada

Finding and securing a summer campsite can require stealth and strategy. I know people who set their alarms to book their favourite campsite at Ontario's Kilbear Provincial Park as soon as the online reservation system opens five months in advance.

Not only are campsites crowded, but they also cost an arm and a leg. For example, a non-powered site at the beautiful Algonquin Provincial Park this summer costs $40.75 for one night. Now I love Algonquin, and for anyone who hasn't been there, I recommend a visit. But paying so much to sleep in a noisy campground is not my idea of fun.

What most people don't know is that you can actually camp for free in beautiful places across Canada. Now I should stress that the following information is only useful for tent campers and for those who are happy to forgo amenities. Those interested in RV camping can find tips on free places to stop for the night in my previous post.
The easiest province to camp in for free is British Columbia. B.C. has free campsites set up in many of its forestry sites, which are separate from provincial and national parks. You can find the locations for these free sites at Recreation Sites and Trails BC. The photo in this post is from one of the free campsites on Vancouver Island. The sites are clean, have pit toilets and nice flat surfaces for pitching tents. Some have fire pits, fire wood and picnic tables. None have showers, but all are located on rivers or lakes, which are much more fun for bathing in summer. I recommend boiling or filtering the water before drinking. I've stayed in three of the campsites listed on the site in recent weeks and on all occasions my group was the only one there.

The rest of Canada is not as well serviced for free camping in terms of access to pit toilets and water, although what many people don't know is that you can pretty much camp for free on crown land. For example, 87per cent of Ontario is classified as crown land, and while there are some restrictions, much of that is open for camping. You can find more information regarding Ontario here and an interactive map here.

Now, this sort of camping may not be everyone's cup of tea - it does involve a bit of roughing it. And it may take a bit of research initially to find a good spot to pitch your tent. You will likely have to contact your provincial government to make sure the area you want to camp in is restriction-free crown land. But once you find a spot, most likely near a lake or river, you will have a place you can return to year after year in peace and quiet, and for free.