N'kwala Recreation Site

N’kwala is a user-maintained free site in the BC Recreation Sites and Trails system. It’s a great location in an arid forest next to a river. Great sites are available next to the river, but if you get there on a holiday weekend, it will be pretty full. We arrived on arguable the busiest holiday weekend of the year - Canada Day. Even though we arrived late in the day on a Saturday, we still snagged the last remaining site. There are some unofficial sites to the left of the developed area. I’m not sure what the legality of camping in those is. There are some pit toilets available. Most sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Overall, a pretty nice quiet boondocking spot in a convenient location on the way to or from Banff.

I spent 3 nights here with my little trailer this spring while scouting out places to bring my big trailer. It is a lovely little campsite and I got a private site right next to the river. Though it was still early in the year I was not alone as there were half a dozen other campers. I suspect that in nicer weather it gets pretty busy as there are not many free campsites like this so close to paved roads and towns. It would be great for tents trucks and small to medium sided trailers. There are a few sights that would accommodate a large trailer but I wouldn't want to pull there and find out they were taken. Don't count on cell service at the campsite. I was able to wander around and pick up the random 3G signal but very spotty. There was lots of drift wood on the river to collect for fires and each site had a stone firepit and picnic table. I think it would be a great place to start or end the camping season and will return.

This was a really cool free location with pit toilets and lots of great spots… however, it was obliterated by the flood last summer. So sad. Hopefully one day the site will be repaired.