Frontcountry camping

• Camping is only permitted in a designated campsite.
• Vehicles, trailers and tents must be within your designated site and on the tent pad.
• A maximum of six people (including children) are permitted on each site.
• Maximum length of stay is 14 nights.
• The maximum number of vehicles and tents per site varies by campground. Select your campground below for details.
• Do not tie anything to the trees, including tarps. Tarps should be strung using poles.
• Never leave your food unattended! It is your responsibility to keep animals away from the campground. Secure all food and scented items inside your vehicle or hard-sided trailer/RV when you aren't eating. Click here for more information.
• Check-in time: 2 p.m. (oTENTiks and Equipped camping: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
• Check-out time: 11 a.m.
• Payment accepted:
  • For self-registration campsites, please have exact change or a credit card. Debit is not accepted.
  • Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, CPU, Debit, Traveller's cheque or Cash.
• For self-registration campsites, please have exact change or a credit card. Debit is not accepted.
• After hours, please refer to signage posted in kiosk.

Campers must acquire the following permits to camp in Kootenay National Park:

• National park entry pass - Available at the National Park entry gate, visitor centres, staffed campground kiosks, or online.
• Camping permit - Available online (reservation.pc.gc.ca), over the phone (1-877-RESERVE) or at the campground kiosk. Upon arrival, check-in at the campground kiosk.
• Fire permit - If you would like to have a fire, permits are available as part of your online reservation or at a campground kiosk.

You can ensure you're a good neighbour, and guarantee a good camping experience for yourself, by respecting and adhering to the following guidelines:

• Washing dishes - Use the outdoor sink or a personal basin for washing dishes. Do not use the sinks inside the bathrooms. Dump dish water down outdoor sinks or at the sani-dump in campgrounds. Do not dump in bushes or on the ground.
• Washing laundry - Please use your own tub and dump water down the outdoor sink or sani-dump. Laundry facilities are available in the village of Radium Hot Springs.
• Recycling - Bottles and cans (refundable containers) can be recycled in each campground
• Children - To ensure the safety of your children, please supervise them at all times. Children may become lost in the campground or may unknowingly trespass on a neighbouring campsite.
• Driving - Respect the posted speed limits and remain alert while driving in the campground. Trees may obstruct your view and pedestrians, especially children, may suddenly dart out onto the road. Watch for stumps close to the road and campsites that might be hidden.
• Accessing facilities - Please use roadways and pathways to access campground facilities (picnic shelters, bathrooms, etc.) and your own campsite. Cutting through a neighbouring campsite will disturb other campers and may cause damage to the fragile vegetation.

Excessive noise is not permitted at any time of the day. Any disturbance should be reported immediately to Park Wardens or park staff. Contact us.

• Quiet hours are in effect from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• During quiet hours, music, campfires, alcohol and cannabis are prohibited.
• Only site occupants are allowed on a campsite after 11 p.m.

Generator use is only permitted between the hours of 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. daily, in order to provide campers with a quiet and enjoyable experience.

From May to September, a number of policies are in place to ensure visitors get a good night's sleep. Daily fire bans are in effect during quiet hours (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.).

In order to keep your campfire safe for you and for the environment, adhere to the following regulations:

• Fire permit - Each registered party wanting to have a campfire must purchase a fire permit. Permits are available when reserving your site, at a staffed kiosk or at self-registration kiosks
• Fire size - Fires must be contained within the metal fire ring provided. It is illegal to have a fire outside of a designated ring. Rock rings are prohibited but portable gas burning firepits are allowed. To reduce the negative impact of campfires on the environment, keep your fires to a reasonable size—stack the firewood no higher than the top of the ring.
• Wood - Transporting wood from elsewhere may spread invasive bugs and disease, only burn wood obtained from the campground woodlot. Do not burn food or garbage or collect deadfall from the surrounding forest for burning. Use an axe to make your own kindling from the firewood provided.
• Times - Campfires are permitted from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Please respect your neighbours by keeping your voices down and putting out fires during quiet hours (11 pm to 7 am).
• Never leave a fire - Fires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished before leaving the area.

From May to September, a number of policies are in place to ensure visitors get a good night’s sleep. An alcohol and cannabis consumption ban and a fire ban are in effect daily at campgrounds during quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. During summer long weekends, a complete ban on the possession of alcohol and cannabis is in effect at all campgrounds.

In Parks Canada campgrounds, non-medical cannabis and alcohol consumption is limited to the visitor’s campsite.

Smoking and vaping is not permitted in campground within 6 meters of common areas (such as playgrounds, kitchen shelters, washrooms, trails, or roads).

Please note: there is a difference between a ban on the consumption of alcohol/cannabis and a ban on possession.

• Ban on consumption: alcohol and cannabis are permitted at registered campsites but may not be open or consumed during quiet hours.
• Ban on possession: alcohol and cannabis are not permitted at any time.

To keep pets and wildlife safe, your pets must be leashed at all times and not left unattended. Pet food should be stored inside your vehicle to avoid attracting wildlife to the campground.

Pets are not permitted within the oTENTiks.

A national park fishing permit is required. Permits are available at Parks Canada visitor centres. Learn about special rules related to fishing in a national park.