Cedar Lake Recreation Site

With just 10 campsites nestled in a mountain forest setting, this public campground provides a close connection with nature. Tall spruce trees surround the campsites: the earlier sites 1 – 5 are more open with less privacy but better sun exposure and closer to Cedar Lake. Sites 6-10 are more secluded and deeper making them better for larger rigs.

The campground is open from May 1 to Oct 15 and costs $12 per night to camp. Outside these dates, the campground remains open and accessible and you can camp there for free. The website says it is closed outside these dates, but the signage at the campground does not, and there is no gate barring access. A local confirmed it is fine to camp there off-season. To get there, you drive 8 km up the mountain on a paved road Kicking Horse Pass. Turn left on Dog Tooth Road, a gravel road with some ruts and potholes but entirely passable and only about 2 km to the campground.

Cedar Lake itself is small but pretty with a day use area at the lake with parking, pit toilets and picnic tables. A trail runs along one side and there is a rope with a platform you can swing high over the water and jump in. There is an extensive network of super pretty trails in the area. Signage on the trails provides some guidance; you can also see the trails on Google Maps to help you find your way.

Cell signal was excellent at the campground. The campground has 2 pit toilet buildings but no dump station. There are 2 dump stations in the town of Golden. The one at the visitor centre is more accessible, right off Highway 1 but charges $7 by pay station and was already closed for the season when we were there in late October. The other dump station is located in town at the Golden Municipal Campground and is free! However this campground is open May 1 to Oct 31 – dump station is likely closed outside the operating season.

The town of Golden is gorgeous in a valley surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and with a river running throught it. A lovely network of urban trails follow the Kicking Horse River, including a gorgeous timber frame pedestrian bridge. The town has a library with free wifi, a brewery, restaurants, a cinema and a vibrant main strip. A business called Free Energy on Highway 1 near the A&W filled our 20lb propane tank for just $16 and had a small store with RV supplies.

There’s 22 spots and a few days spots. It’s set back a ways from the road so it’s quiet. We made it up here in a minivan we rented but we had to go really slow because there’s a million craters in the road. On the way down there was a deer in the open close to the road eating. It takes just over an hour to get to Lake Louise from here.

We did some biking on the trails starting right at the camp site. We also got the Kicking Horse Resort trail area on the second day.

The lake itself was a little mucky like lose your shoes type of mud bottom but if you went off the nice dock it was okay.

Pending on the time of year I suppose. We had to constantly fight off mosquitos which was a little tiresome at times. Bring your bug spray! Even on the mountain biking trails when you stopped for 15 seconds they were all over you.

15$ \ night (2023) cash only
The woman collect the money directly to your spot.
Check out at noon.
No services but nice and clean toilet pit.
20 camping spot.

We have a 22 ft trailer and we had no problem. Could fit bigger. The road to go there is very bumpy.
About 15 min from the town.

The beach is not too big but a very nice spot. The water is amazing (not too cold). This is also a day used area.
Very busy during the weekend.

I would go again anytime.