Camping & Hiking · Scenic Views · British Columbia
A rustic provincial campground in Manning Park, BC, between Highway 3 and the Similkameen River, prized for riverside sites and trail access. Pit toilets only, no cell service, and road noise at some sites.
Coldspring Campground sits between the highway and the Similkameen River in Manning Park, a few minutes' drive from the resort. The river sites are the ones to aim for: campers say the sound of the water drowns out the road and makes for a relaxing night.
It's basic camping. Sites have a fire pit and a sturdy picnic table, there are pit toilets, and water comes from old cast-iron hand pumps under a boil advisory, so boil it for a minute before drinking. There are no showers or flush toilets on site; the resort nearby is the place for supplies and possibly a paid shower. Rangers are described as friendly and informative, and one camper was glad to have firewood delivered around the loop.
Hikers have plenty to do. The Canyon Nature Trail leaves right from the campground and connects to other routes, and one family mountain biked up to Poland Lake as a demanding day trip. Lightning Lake is a short drive. It suits tenters and self-contained RVers who don't need hookups.
Choose your site carefully. Those along the highway are noisier, and shade varies: some sites are open and hot in summer, which suits solar but not everyone. There's no cell service, even with a booster. One late-arriving camper was woken early by a ranger, so arrive in daylight if you can.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 95 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Coldspring Campground directly.
