Turn a day hiking, fishing, or boating trip into a night of camping. Camping facilities are found in Fort Nelson, or at nearby recreational sites and regional parks. Provincial parks in the area provide great wilderness camping, one with the added bonus of a natural mineral hot springs.
Camping Fort Nelson
Relax in a quiet site at Beaver Lake Recreation Site near town, next to a small lake/wetland perfect for a quiet canoe or kayak. The campsite is rustic, with pit toilets and six pull-in sites. The short entrance is a graveled road that may be rutted or soft. Beaver Lake is 11km/7mi north along the Liard Highway. Camping and RV sites are also available in Fort Nelson.
Camping South of Fort Nelson
Take a break on the drive between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson at Andy Bailey Regional Park, named for one of the area's pioneers. The park (28km/16.2mi south of Fort Nelson) features five tenting sites that are not suitable for large RVs. RVs can however find a spot to park at Pink Mountain Campsite and RV Park (230.1km/142.5mi south of Fort Nelson) or at Sikanni River Campground and RV Park (199.5km/123.5mi south of Fort Nelson).
Tetsa River Regional Park
Spend a night or two at Tetsa River Regional Park, just past Steamboat Mountain and Teetering Rock trail, 99km/62mi north of Fort Nelson. This beautiful site set next to Tetsa River features pit toilets, picnic tables, a water pump (boil for use) and 25 private pull-in sites suitable for RVs and tents.
Stone Mountain Provincial Park (Summit Lake Campground)
Camp at the highest point on the Alaska Highway. After winding up Steamboat Mountain, drive to Stone Mountain Provincial Park. Summit Lake Campground (Mile 373, Km 601) is a superb launching point for some great hiking trails, including the Flower Springs Trail. The grey towering cliffs along the highway are amazing and home to a variety of wildlife.
Muncho Lake Provincial Park (Strawberry Flats and MacDonald Campgrounds)
Muncho Lake Provincial Park is among the most beautiful and scenic spots along the Alaska Highway. Strawberry Flats Campground (242km/151mi) and MacDonald Campground (256km/160mi) are located along the lake. From the campgrounds, hike up alluvial fans and rock valleys left where creeks have flooded out of the mountains. Some small hoodoos, tall rock formations, are also located along these valleys.
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
Soak weary bones in the second largest natural hot spring in Canada and camp overnight. Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park (312km/195mi) is also a highly specialized ecosystem. It is referred to as "the tropical valley," as it turns green earlier than other places in the north, with Ostrich Ferns and Cow Parsnip growing tall and dense. There are also tiny lake chub that are specially adapted to living in the adjacent wetland, and a carnivorous plant, the common butterwort is found near the hot springs. Boardwalks help protect the sensitive ecosystem. Check with the Visitor Centre for more information about camping near Fort Nelson and at provincial parks.