Camping & Hiking · Fishing · British Columbia
A large forested provincial campground on the Quinsam River just outside Campbell River, BC, with spacious, well-kept sites and friendly staff. No hookups, no cell signal, and it can feel busy.
Quinsam Campground sits in tall forest along the Quinsam River, only minutes from Campbell River. Campers are struck by how wild it feels this close to town, with big trees, clear water and well-spaced sites screened by forest. One visitor mentions bears along the river during salmon spawning season.
It's run well, according to most reviewers. Staff and rangers get praise for being friendly and helpful, firewood delivery is convenient, and outhouses and water taps along the roads are kept clean. There are no power or water hookups at sites, gates are locked overnight, and quiet hours apply, with no generators at night. There are plenty of first-come sites along the central road.
Anglers use it as a base for the river, which is right across the road, and one fly fisher caught pink and coho salmon in season. McIvor Lake is a short drive for paddling and swimming, and there are hiking trails through the park.
With more than a hundred sites, it's busy, with steady traffic and people noise, and one visitor called it more of a camp city than a retreat. Sites are gravel, which one bikepacker found hard for tents, especially in the wet. There's no functional cell signal. A solo traveller felt uneasy about some long-term campers, though a ranger reassured them. Pick a riverside site if you can.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 226 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Quinsam Campground directly.
