Camping & Hiking · Fishing · British Columbia
A long-running provincial campground on Cowichan Lake, BC, loved for its sheltered swimming beach, free hot showers and family-friendly setup. Book ahead, and expect patchy cell service.
Gordon Bay is an old favourite on Cowichan Lake, and many reviewers have been coming for decades, first as kids and now with their own children or grandchildren. The draw is the lake: a beach with clear water, a swimming area and a log breakwater chained offshore that kids like to climb on. The bay is sheltered from the wind, which matters on a lake known for choppy afternoon waves.
The facilities get good marks. There are two shower buildings with free hot showers, flush toilets and sinks, and several visitors describe the grounds as quiet and well kept. Staff are called friendly, and one group of tired cyclists was found space in the lakeside overflow area when the campground was full. The town of Lake Cowichan is under 15 minutes away, and there's a convenience store nearby.
It suits families and anyone who likes being on the water. People swim, paddleboard, kayak, canoe, fish and water-ski, and there's a small boat launch. Snorkellers can look for crayfish under the logs. On land there's a playground, room for kids to ride bikes and a few short trails. Dogs are allowed.
A few things to plan for. The beach drops off quickly, so keep an eye on small children. Sites are fairly uniform with thin foliage between them, the ground can be hard for tent pegs, and bugs can be around in early summer. One recent off-season visitor found some sites with lingering trash and no active host, and cell and satellite signal can be weak at the sites. It's a busy park in summer, so reservations are recommended, and one regular notes prices keep creeping up.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 155 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Gordon Bay Camp Site directly.
