KAWARTHA LAKES-Scouts Canada recently surveyed its 46,704 members to name Canada’s ‘most epic’ campsites and some hidden gems. The survey also explored many decision-making questions that are critical to finding the best campsite for any level or type of adventure.
Key findings of the survey done by Scouts Canada:
1) Asked to name the most epic camping destinations in all of Canada, the Scouting community responded:
# 1 Jasper National Park, Alberta – 39.5%
# 2 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia – 34.6%
# 3 Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario – 32.9%
# 4 Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador – 27.3%
# 5 Fundy National Park, New Brunswick – 22.5%
Atlantic Canada scored the highest number of epic campsites with Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador and Fundy National Park in New Brunswick.
2) Hidden Gem Campsites You’ve (probably) Never Heard of
Scouts Canada also asked seasoned Scouters to identify their top ‘hidden gem’ camp destinations across Canada. They responded:
| Campsite name | Province | Why is it a ‘Gem?’ |
| Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park | Alberta | Straddles the milk river, nestled in hoodoos (incredible rock structures), rich history. |
| Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve | British Columbia | Lush rainforest islands, rich in Haida culture (learning opportunities) and wildlife sightings. |
| Spruce Woods Provincial Park | Manitoba | Sand dunes to explore where the Assiniboine River used to flow. |
| Pollett’s Cove | Nova Scotia | Challenging coastal hikes overlooking stellar bay views |
| Virginia Falls, Nahanni National Park Reserve | Northern Territories | Mind-blowing waterfalls in the remote wilderness |
| Bon Echo Provincial Park | Ontario | Paddle beneath soaring cliffs or hike through forest. |
| Grassland National Park | Saskatchewan | Experience the Badlands with expansive skies and endangered prairie wildlife |
“We are all in need of a solid summer getaway this year, why not try something different like camping with front-row seats to panoramic view? With camping emerging as an adventurous and affordable option for many Canadians, we wanted to make sure that every Canadian knows where the most epic campsites in the country are, and which criteria they should consider when searching for a spot,” said Mike Eybel, a volunteer Scouter of 7 years, “Our seasoned Scouting community has named the most epic places to camp; now Canadians can also challenge themselves to visit as many of them as possible with our interactive map, Camping Dream Destination Guides and the Canadian Camper’s Bucket-List.”
Canadians can see comprehensive information on Canada’s top camping locations, pictures and booking information with Scouts Canada’s epic campsite companion at www.scouts.ca/EpicCampsites.
