As an avid outdoors man one of the things I enjoy doing the most is camping. Living in Gold River affords me the opportunity to do as much camping as I like due to the number of places to do it. There are many lakes and rivers in the area where one can hike in and set up camp. There are also a lot of places where you can drive to with your motor home or camper.
During the peak summer months some campgrounds cost money to stay at and others are still free but limited as to how many spots are open. Regardless the ones that cost are reasonable and well maintained so sometimes the added cost is worth the effort.
There are places to camp on the ocean also that provide excellent amenities and boat access. The downside is that you will have to travel a little further outside of Gold River to get to them. Once you are there however you will be impressed with all they have to offer.
Local Campgrounds
Close by the village of Gold River is the local campground on the river itself which is only a 5 km west of the town. There are 20 campsites with pit toilets, picnic tables and fire pits. The fee is $18 per vehicle per night. There are group rates available if you ask the host. This is a popular campsite during the summer months and hunting season. Kayakers use this as their base campground when kayaking the Heber and Gold Rivers. A camp host is available for more information by contacting Ken Smith at 1-250-283-7969.
Muchalat Lake campground is a beautiful site on a very large lake with plenty of trout to be caught. There are 40 campsites with picnic tables, fire pits and pit toilets. A camp host is there to take your fee and provide more information. There is also a boat launch and boomed in swimming area with a nice beach. I have spent many weekends here in my camper and can tell you it is remarkable.
Nootka Sound Campsites
Further out along the Head Bay Forest Service Road to Tahsis is access to four well known campgrounds two of which have to be accessed via the Nesook Mainline (well signed) which heads southwest.
Cougar Creek Recreation site is a 60 site area alongside the ocean with a boat launch, parking, pit toilets (1 handicap), fire pits and is nestled inside a stand of old growth forest next to a creek that runs into Tlupana Inlet. I can also speak highly of this site as I camp here regularly during the off season. The campground is quite crowded during the summer months with avid anglers looking to catch a trophy salmon.
Tuta Marina is another campground located 10-15 km further down the Nesook Mainline past Cougar Creek. It offers a marina for your boat, 32 sites, picnic tables and fire pits. This is also a great spot to camp with a beautiful sandy beach nestled between two rocky outcrops that surround the bay in which the marina resides.
Back on the Head Bay Road past the Nesook turn off is the Conuma River campsite with 5 spots to set up camp next to the river. There are no picnic tables or fire pits. This site is just a day area turned into an overnight site for fisherman. Very popular in the winter for Steelhead and in the fall for Coho Salmon.
Another 10 minutes past the Conuma River campsite is a resort called Moutcha Bay. This campground caters to a larger crowd offering serviced and non serviced sites. There are public washrooms and showers available. A boat launch and marina is available also.
Although you must drive a fair distance to get to these campgrounds they are well worth the effort and provide an outstanding experience. The chamber website has more information and links to each of them.
Strathcona Park
If driving is something you don’t mind doing then having Strathcona Park next door to us provides added opportunities to camp in both provincial and park campsites. As well there are many places to hike trails in the park that cater to the experienced and non-experienced.
Two of my favourite places to hike into and set up camp are the Crest Mountain Trail and Elk River Trail. Both offer exceptional scenic views and have places where you can set up a tent and spend the night or stay for a few nights. Remember that open fires are banned year round in Strathcona Park unless in an authorized BC Parks fire ring.
Of course there are many more hiking trails and campsites within the park to visit. Ralph River Campground, Buttle Lake Campground and the reservation only campground (Driftwood Bay) next to the Buttle Narrows Campground are three to check out. Check with the park office or website to find out availability of the sites and to make a reservation especially during the summer months.
Trails like Bedwell Lake (6km-3.5 hr), Cream Lake (8.5km-7 hr), Crest Mountain (5km-4 hr), Elk River (11km-5 hr), Flower Ridge (6km-5 hr), Marble Meadows (6.6km-6 hr), Phillips Ridge (6km-4 hr), Price Creek (8.5km-7 hr), Tennent Lake/Mount Myra (7km-5 hr), and Upper Myra Falls (3km-2 hr) are exceptional trails to hike with some of them being very steep and demanding while others are moderate. For more information check out their website.
Other short and easy to moderate hiking trails to visit include Auger Point (5 min loop), Elk River Viewpoint (400m-10 min), Karst Creek (2km-45 min), Lady Falls (900m-20 min), Lower Myra Falls (1km-15 min), Lupin Falls (800m-20 min), Shepherd Creek (1.5km-45 min) and Wild Ginger Loop (15 min). For more information check out the park webpage.
To Sum it up
Camping in the Gold River and Nootka Sound area is an outdoor adventure that will leave you awestruck at the beauty and exhilarating experiences. Next time you and your family discuss going camping seriously think about giving the Gold River/Nootka Sound area a try.
Hello,
My name is Uwe Stief and I’m from Germany.
We are 4 people (two couples) and travel by camper van on Vancouver Island for 12 days from May 10, 2019.
Is there a local campgrounds in Gold River? We want to stay two days with the motorhome.
If you could give me the email address of Gold River Visitor Center, I would like to get more information about Gold River.
Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Greetings from Germany
Uwe Stief
Hi Uwe, thanks for your inquiry. The local campground is located about 5km from town on the Gold River and can be accessed by driving through town towards the ocean. For inquiries regarding reservations please contact Ken at keewee at cablerocket dot com. I’ll have to find an email address for the visitor center if one exists and post back here later.
UPDATE: Here is the local facebook page for the Gold River Visitor Centre:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Gold-River-Visitor-Centre-100069042685790/
Is there a campground where I can plug in? Get water? And is there a sanidump? In the area?
Hi Mary, sorry for the late reply. Unfortunately there are no campgrounds in the Gold River area that provide power other than Moutcha Bay Resort or Tahsis. The Gold River Campground does provide water and there is a sani dump at the tourist information center as you come into town. Thanks for your comments.
It all sounds wonderful!
What’s your best suggestion for woman (Active Senior plus Lab) travelling with small popup (SMALL..Prius towable) to camp in this area?
Not looking for services but would love water access (I did say a Lab) and peace!! Hiking etc looks obvious…
Time frame June 24 -?. (May never return….haha
Thanks
Yo
Hi Yolanda, thanks for your inquiry. The Gold River municipal campground is on the river and only minutes from Gold River. Muchalat Lake campground is about 30 minutes on the gravel road to Woss but has great access to the beach. Remember all campgrounds in the area require pets to be on a leash. Hope this helps.
Hi there,
Who can I email regarding reservations for the municipal campground? Also, everything open to phase 3? Bring travel manners is obvious, but is there anything else to know or be prepared for?
Thanks!
Hi Jon, You would be best to contact the village office for more information on the municipal campground reservations.
http://www.villageofgoldriver.com/contact.html
Thank you very much!
You’re very welcome!!
We are looking for a campground that we can pay and stay possibly 5 months every summer. As near to Gold River as possible. Is there any places that we can reserve yearly? Thx.
In reply to Jan linderbeck.
Jan, thanks for your question. I am unaware of any campgrounds locally that offer what you seek. I don’t believe the municipal campground offers this but you could check with the village office to confirm (250-283-2202; http://www.villageofgoldriver.com/contact.html).
Moutcha Bay Resort (Tel: 1-877-337-5464; info@nootkamarineadventures.com; http://www.nootkamarineadventures.com) may offer this type of package but they are located about 45km from Gold River towards Tahsis.
You might also want to check with Tahsis (250-934-6344; reception@villageoftahsis.com) if that is not too far out of the way for you.
Looking for a nice and not too remote campground near Gold River. Will be camping with camper and dog. Do any campgrounds have hookups like electrical?
In reply to Linda D..
Hi Linda, thanks for your question. There are a couple of campgrounds near Gold River but neither of them have electrical. There is the municipal campground on the river about 1km from town and Muchalaht Lake Campground about 13km from town. You may want to contact the village of Gold River concerning the municipal campground at https://goldriver.ca/village-hall/contact/
For more info on Muchalat Lake Campgrounds visit this website: https://www.vancouverislandcamping.net/muchalat-lake-campground/
There is also Cougar Creek Campgrounds which should be open still. This campground is about 40 km from Gold River on the road towards Tahsis.
https://www.vancouverislandcamping.net/one-of-the-best-camping-sites-cougar-creek/
Hope this helps.