Elk Falls Provincial Park

Also called Quinsam Campground, this provincial park campground has a long row of sites backing onto the Quinsam River, plus two more rows of sites in the forest. No hookups at the sites but water spigots are located throughout the park, as is garbage and recycling bins. No flush toilets but there are multiple pit toilets throughout. Near the entrance is a sanidump station with a coin operated machine - $5 in loonies and toonies and anyone can dump here. Easily accessible with fresh water fill as well.

Great spot to camp for something affordable while very close to town. Campground is popular and busy but also has lots of sites. Reservations are recommended in peak season.

The Elk Falls Provincial Park Day Use area is another mile or so west from the campground where you can hike to the famous Elk Falls Suspension Bridge.

Good cell signal here since you are right in town.

Great camping. River was refreshing. Close to town. There is no hookups but theres a sump station and clean drinking water. If you want quiet pick a spot away from playground.

Very nice area to chill, and relax. Sites are far apart, under trees (so not very good for solar) but clean and levelled. Water spikes not too far/good tasting water. Not too expensive for what it delivers: a great dry camping experience!

I am not sure where a previous reviewer got the $35 nightly rate from. It’s $22 per night and $11 for an extra vehicle. A TOAD vehicle is not considered an extra vehicle because it is akin to a pulled trailer which they don’t charge extra for. If you pay cash upon arrival for one of the 52 first come campsites, $22/nt is all you pay, no taxes and no $6/nt reservation fee. But for those amenities, you takes your chances.

We dropped in here on a Wednesday, two days before the start of the busiest holiday weekend of the year - CANADA DAY on 1 July. Of the 52 first come campsites, most would accommodate our 34’ motorhome. There were only about three sites open and the park was FULL by the next night! Part of the high use and occupancy is due to the proximity to Campbell River, less than 3km distant.

The campground is spacious with most all the campsites separated by more than 50’ from each other. There are no services, but there are water spigots throughout, multitudes of trash and recycling receptacles and pit toilets. The dump ($5 fee) and potable water filling (no charge) station is a single but was never overcrowded when we used it on three different occasions. Water quality is very good; we did not use a water filter and didn’t notice any bad taste or smell. The campground is situated in a forest so there’s not much solar exposure, excepting several of the campsites along the Quinsam River.

The park operators are prevalent and maintain a clean campground. The BC park system sprays the gravel roads throughout the campground with Calcium Chloride, a substance that does not evaporate quickly. It works wonders to knock down dust.

Generator Hours are 9-11am and 6-8pm. That is a condition throughout the BC Parks system. I wish they’d make the morning hours 8-10am but that ain’t gonna happen.

My partner, Hans evaluated this campground below. I thought it was very noisy but of course this is the big holiday weekend. He sleeps like a bear.
No fires allowed this year due to all the forest fires throughout Canada. I can see it would become very Smokey with all the sites. We were backed up to another site, suggest getting a different one on the outer loop that backs up to the forest or over by the river.
I don’t personally like a Campground with this many sites. I would prefer not to stay here again, although I would, if necessary. We have stayed at many others I found more appealing.
There are a number of hikes close by for hikers of various abilities.
I found the price excellent.
We had varying degrees of cell service but figure it would vary with your site.
No Starlink due to the forest cover.
Just noted sanitary dump is broken and closed