Each year, RVwest magazine conducts a survey of their 30,000 readers, asking about their favorite campgrounds. The 2009 RV survey results (published in the March/April. 2010 issue) are given here for favorite lake or waterfront destinations in western Canada.
The lake summaries come from the official web site for each area; for further details, search for the lake or campground name.
Favorite RV Lake Camping in BC
- Platinum – Osoyoos Lake was last year's Silver winner. Located on Hwy 97 just north of the US border, Osoyoos is said to be the warmest fresh water lake in Canada. With Mount Baldy ski hill less than an hour away, visitors can "ski in the morning – golf in the afternoon". The town of Osoyoos is "in the heart of Desert Wine Country" and the semi-arid climate produces "hot, dry days in the summer and mild days in the winter" which makes it a year-round RV destination.
- Gold – Shuswap Lake (last year's Platinum winner). Both a lake and a region, Shuswap is famous for its sunshine and its water activities. Located in south-central British Columbia, the lake is accessible from the Trans Canada Hwy and Highway 97. Popular RV campgrounds are in these cities:
- Sicamous, "the houseboat capital of Canada";
- Sorento, home of the "Adams River Salmon Run";
- Chase and Salmon Arm are also popular destinations.
- Silver – Okanagan Lake (up from Bronze last year)
- Bronze – Lake Koocanusa, East Kootenay.
Favorite RV Lakeside Camping in AB
- Platinum – Waterfowl Lakes Campground in Banff National Park is about 60 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North). The campground, located where the Mistaya River flows into Waterfowl Lake, has 116 unserviced sites with:
- Gold – Lesser Slave Lake is Alberta’s largest recreational lake. Located about two and one-half hours north of Edmonton, Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park is a popular RV spot for its excellent fishing and birding opportunities. The park is home of the northernmost bird observatory in Canada and the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation (BCBC).
- Silver – Seba Beach
- Bronze – Pigeon Lake.
Favorite RV Lake Campgrounds in SK and MB
There were no repeat winners in this category, which last year included only lake camping in the province of Saskatchewan.
- Platinum – Turtle Lake, Turtleford, SK. "A beautiful clean lake with sparkling clear water, a shallow shore and sandy beaches which makes it great for families," says the Midwest Country website (midwestcountry.ca). The lake is northeast of Lloydminster, about four hours from Edmonton or 2.5 hours from Saskatoon. Keep an eye out for the Turtle Lake Monster while watching the glorious Saskatchewan sunsets.
- Gold – Clearwater Lake, the Pas, MB.
- Silver – La Ronge, La Ronge, SK
- Bronze – Wellman Lake, Duck Mountian Provincial Park, MB
Anyone planning a trip to the prairies, the Rockies, or the west coast would do well to consider one of these "top twelve" lake or waterfront destinations.
More Favorite RV Lake Destinations in Western Canada
- Luxury RV Resorts on Shuswap Lake, B.C.
- Favorite RV Lake Destinations in Western Canada (2008 Survey results)
- Cold Lake Provincial Park, AB, Canada
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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