orfsotr
Missouri
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I plan to travel to Alaska in April, have always preferred to camp at Provencial Parks, but understand they do not open until May? All the "official" tourist publications I read say boondocking is not allowed in BC, Alberta or Yukon. So what is the real story? Are parks open, is boondocking allowed, if so where? Thanks for the advice and help!
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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We stayed only once at an organized campground on our trip, heading north. We went up the Alaska Highway and stayed at roadside rest areas, gravel pits and stream banks each night other than an overnight in a PP north of Whitehorse (Pine Lakes) and a stopover in Watson Lake in a campground (Campground Services).
In Alaska itself during the month we spent there, we were about 50/50 for campgrounds vs boondocking sites and enjoyed the disbursed camping MUCH more than the campgrounds. The area immediately around Whitehorse was pretty much marked as "no camping" at any of the possible sites we came to and I believe there was another area that was also marked "no camping" but can't remember exactly where it was. Just don't confuse boondocking with staying in a retail parking lot though.
Good luck and enjoy the trip / Skip
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garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
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I can say most assuredly that boondocking is not just allowed, but thriving in BC and Alberta. Most provincial parks are indeed closed until May, but there is no shortage of rest areas, etc. The further north you go, the fewer the people and more opportunities to drive down to a creek/river side or or or....there is a good book for BC, Backroads BC. Kinda spendy for a drive thru but it does have lots of info on roads, lakes, creeks, etc.
Really tho, you can overnight in many many places..also most BC Info offices have space for an overnighter. If you drop a line here with a route? members will be able to offer more specific locations.
Gary Haupt
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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orfsotr wrote:I plan to travel to Alaska in April, have always preferred to camp at Provencial Parks, but understand they do not open until May? All the "official" tourist publications I read say boondocking is not allowed in BC, Alberta or Yukon. So what is the real story? Are parks open, is boondocking allowed, if so where? Thanks for the advice and help!
Maybe its a misundertanding on how it is written. Dry camping in provincial parks that are closed is not allowed but as far as I know there are no other rules in place as long as the property owner allows it.
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jimbob3ca
British Columbia
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Not sure how early in April you intend to be passing through Canada on the way to Alaska. For the most part, the Provincial Parks in B. C. won't be open until early May. Most will be gated, but some may have access to camping spots. For opening dates, check here:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/index.html
Sorry, not sure how to make this a clickable link. In B. C. there are small campsites known as Forest Service Recreation sites. These will be open, but may be snowed in if we have a late spring. Most however are off the main travel routes. Check here for information:
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/parks/?id=627
In Alberta check this website for information on campsites:
http://www.albertaparks.ca/
Boondocking is allowed in most areas as long as you are not on private property, or it is not posted otherwise. The further north you go, the more public land available for boondocking opportunities. If you can find them, there are recreational atlases that give lots of information about recreational opportunities.
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DesertHawk
Las Cruces, New Mexico
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This site seems to have Canadian sites as well: FreeCampSites.Net
My son used a few Wal-Marts on his move up to Alaska in 2009: Allstays.com Wal-Mart Locations However, the UHaul Truck got 'Tagged' (spray painted graffiti) in Dawson Creek as did at least one RV.
They did one overnight at a Provincial "Welcome Center" by Moose Jaw.
Used off roads (remnants of an older Alaskan Highway) to do real boondocking after Dawson Creek. But this was in August.
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afraid of bears
Prince George Area
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In central to northern BC, we've had no problem finding spots to pull off the road for the night. We've used rest areas, parking lots, pullouts by bridges, etc.. In our little town, we regularly see people parking near the arena, in the parking lot by the gas station and hotel, in the parking lot by the lake, near the public library (this gets you free WIFI) and even on the street in front of our house. This happens even when the local Provincial Park IS open. From what I've seen, this seems to happen in many of the smaller towns.
Forestry campsites can be found all over the place as well. Here's a link to an interactive map showing the sites. It may take a bit of clicking and cursing, but I've found most of the info to be pretty good. It's sometimes a bit of hit and miss as to whether or not it works though.
Interactive Map
****For some reason, when the map opens, it seems to go to the last location I looked at. In order to reset it to show the province, click on the little black province shape in the top left corner. When the map opens, every little red triangle shows a rec site.
Have a great trip.
* This post was
edited 01/23/12 12:38pm by afraid of bears *
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Supreme Oppressor
Grande Prairie, Alberta
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Non-privately owned property is government property and the rules are different for residents and non-residents. Generally people don't get bothered if they are just over nighting, as long as it isn't in a place where it is specifically prohibited or unsafe. The no-boondocking rule is rarely enforced - its there if abusers need to be removed, though. (usually long term, dirty or offensive types.)
Often times entering a closed park is considered trespassing, but these will be gated or marked in some way.
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joe b.
Florida
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I suspect it depends on each RVers definition of boondocking. Some forum members appear to enjoy, what I would call "big box pavement parking", etc. I don't care for the big box stores for overnighting unless it is all that is available.
Over the years I have made a number of trips to/from Alaska and never yet have I had to drive all night because I couldn't find a place to park/stay. The farther north one goes, the easier it is to find a spot to pull over to sleep. Along side a creek, a lake, a river, a rest area that is not signed that over nighting is prohibited and so forth. One of my favorite places to stay are in a remote corner of the parking of a road house on the Alaska Hwy. I will fill up with fuel, often have a meal with them and with their permission, spend the night in my RV on their property. Can't remember ever being told "no". Some of the provincial parks are getting a bit costly IMHO. Last summer, I was a bit shocked with the increase in prices, especially in BC. Places we had stayed in the past for roughly $15cd were closer to $30cd last summer. It appeared to us, that more and more of the provincial parks are being run by concessionaires, instead of government employees. Not sure "who" has the final say on setting the prices for camping.
Some places I stay commercial, i.e. Whitehorse, some places provincial, i.e. Boya Lake PP, other places beside a body of water in an "impromptu" camping area. Some of these can get somewhat full of other RVers by morning. With the rest areas, often the OTR trucks are in and out all night, or stop with their refer generators running all night so they are not my favorite but sometimes as they say, "any port in a storm is good". LOL More and more of the Crown Lands of the north are being closed off to boondocking IMHO. Old gravel pits where I have stayed for many years, are now gated off, with brightly painted pipe gates, especially in the Yukon.
In smaller towns in AB, BC or YT, if I get to the town while the city office is open, I will go in and ask about someplace to spend the night. Often I am told to go down to the city park and use the parking lot, etc. Or I will stop in at the local police station and ask. Then when their officers are on patrol, they already know about you and don't need to stop.
I do have what I call a 5 mile rule. Normally, unless I am in town, I won't boondock within 5 miles of a community, just due to kids out cruising main street, looking for some mischief to get into, etc. Make sure the rest area you are using is, not "their" turn around place or you may hear them most of the night. Kids are kids no matter where you find them.
Unless you see a sign like this one at a YT rest area, you are good to go for the most part.
* This post was
edited 01/23/12 04:14pm by joe b. *
joe b.
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Little Kopit
TheMaritimes.ca
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& if you consider coming back to see a bit more than just western Canada and the States on your way, I'll bet you find equally good places to stop over night.
& I, I took the road less travelled by.
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