Nicola Valley campgrounds, RV Parks and wilderness campsites in Merritt, BC, Canada

Great places to go camping in the Nicola Valley.

Some great camp sites around Merritt.

Never a lack of things to do while out camping in the Nicola Valley.

Camping in the Nicola Valley is by far one of the best pass times in the spring, summer and fall.

You can start by checking all the provincial and forestry camp sites. There is a great map to look at and see what they have available at each. You can take a look at the interactive map from Ministry of Forests. From there it would be easy to decide on which site has what you are looking for in terms of hookups, power, showers, lake , fishing hiking etc.

I have done this a couple times and it can be very convenient. I may decide to do this again one day. But right now I prefer a little more rustic way of camping in the Nicola Valley. It opens up so many more options and places that you can go.

Provincial Camp sites.

Some great provincial campsites around the Merritt area include Kentucky Alleyne. Located off of highway 5A between Merritt and Princeton. There are some great hiking trails, fishing and geocaching. There is also a great kids pond between the two lakes where children can fish in the stocked trout pond.

fishing kentucky lake

Photo credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

Another great site is Monk park on the north west side of Nicola Lake. There is also great fishing here and if you have a boat you can get out into the deeper channels to fish. Rainbow, and kokanee are among the fish you can catch in Nicola Lake. You can get there by following highway 5 from Merritt towards Quilchena. Then take the Monk Park turn off just before the Nicola Lake dam.

fishing Nicola Lake

Photo credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

More rustic camping in the Nicola Valley.

There are plenty of great forestry campsites through out the Nicola Valley as well. Some of them include Tyner, Boss, Shea, Davis, Kane, Lundbom, Marquart and so many more. Each of these lakes has it’s own pro’s. There are usually quite nice set ups for camping at all of these forestry sites and each lake has good fishing, trails and an abundance of wildlife.

Lundbom is a great place to camp for those who love to take their horses along. There are corrals and some great trails and open range land. Makes for an amazing camping trip.

Rustic Camping

We usually just drive to a nice spot in the bush by a lake and camp. No power, no hookups, no water. Sometimes we are not sure if our trailer will make it in but we do. If for some reason the road it not safe to take the trailer we will take the tent.

camping Helmer Lake

Photo Credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

Our trailer is always loaded with food.

We always bring our own water, propane, battery or solar lights. We even make a portable out house. And last camping trip we lined the path to the outhouse with solar lights. It was great.

camp at Rey Lake

Photo Credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

Canoeing, kayaking and boating

All of these lakes would be great to take your canoe, kayak, boat, belly boat or even pontoon boat. They are all easy to access. There are so many lakes close to these lakes as well so you can travel a short distance to a new lake and a new experience.

Loons

We love going fishing to catch our dinner or just catch and release. It’s all about getting out and enjoying the day. One lake we go to has a resident loon that will come and try to steal the fish right from the side of your boat or belly boat. You have to be very careful and keep a watch or your fish will either get taken or have some pretty good marks in it from the loon’s beak. It is quite exciting and kind of scary at the same time. You can get some great photos of the loon though. 

loon wanting to steal fish

Photo credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

Eagles

I remember another lake where you had to be careful as the resident bald eagle likes to come and steal the fish right off your line. Have to keep your eyes open and reel like crazy to get the fish in before the eagle steals it. It makes me laugh every time I think about it.

We are seriously so lucky to have what we have in our back yard. I remember setting up camp one summer and just going back and forth to work right from camp.

Bruce the Spruce

I have to tell you a fantastic little story about Bruce the spruce grouse. While out driving around, there is one road we always take to see what wildlife we can capture. Once particular day when we stopped at our normal corner I heard a grouse. I started to call it to see if it would come closer and what do you know. This grouse came right out strutting his stuff. He would follow me and even the truck for a little ways up the road. 

NO WAY!!!

On our way back down I didn’t see the grouse again but told my boyfriend to stop and I would try calling him again. My boyfriend said no way is it going to come back again. I got out of the truck and started to call “Bruce…come on Bruce where are you” Well, wholly crap. Here comes Bruce strutting his stuff again. We couldn’t believe our eyes. I got a few more photo’s before heading home for the day.

Week Later

Thinking there is no possible way Bruce would still be there I decided to take my daughter for a ride up the road a week later. I needed some better photo’s. The ones I took the first time were not as good as I wanted. We got to the corner and I got out. My daughter must have though me to me crazy to be calling a grouse. “Bruce, come on Bruce, where are you” My daughter was just floored as out of the bush comes Bruce the Spruce. I got some better pictures this time. Had a little visit and left for home.

When my boyfriend got home and I started to tell him that Bruce was still there. My boyfriends daughters were listening couldn’t believe that I was calling this grouse in. I let them know that we would go out again as soon as we could so they could also see.

Couple weeks after that

It wasn’t until a couple weeks later that we got to head out again. I thought for sure this time Bruce would be gone. But he was still there and came out when I called him. My step-daughters thought it was the craziest thing. I also thought it was pretty wild how this grouse would come out when I called it. He was there and kept coming out for about a month and a half. We would go up and visit for a while and get some photo’s and a couple video’s. 

I am not sure what ever happened to Bruce but he finally did disappear. It was a sad day when I went to see him and when I called he no longer came. I can only hope that he just moved on.

Gardening

I was pretty much ready to start planting a garden out there. Although we were back and forth I did plant some potato’s and lettuce. Our trailer stayed out there from April until the first snow in October. It was the best summer I have ever had. I think  this year I will bring some planters out and have a bit of a container garden. 

Property

Now we live on property and I thought by having property I wouldn’t want to go camping in the Nicola Valley anymore. So I started to get animals to sustain us on our own land. Well, I was wrong. I miss camping in the Nicola Valley. Quading, fishing  going on hikes from out in the bush some where. There is absolutely nothing like it. I love being able to see all the amazing wildlife when I am camping in the Nicola Valley.

bull moose calf

Photo credit Michelle Lea’s Photography

New places to explore

Usually we always camped at Helmer Lake. Unfortunately there was a bad flood that took out most of the camp sites as well as the road. Forestry has not fixed it for the past 3 years. So on to new and exciting places.

We decided to sell all the animals so we can do some serious exploring again. Some of the lakes that we are looking forward to checking out this year are forestry camp sites. But that’s okay. I am looking forward to picking fresh berries and catching my supper again.

Can’t wait to share with you all what I have experienced over the spring, summer and fall and which ones we love. There are so many places to check out when you go camping in the Nicola Valley. Some you may have heard about. Some maybe you haven’t. I will tell you about all of the ones I visit and what I see and experience at each.

Take Care

Please take care of our country so that others may also enjoy it for generations to come.

I would like you to make a promise. When you go into the back country please, leave it like you were never there.  Always make sure your camp fire is out before you leave. If you see someone else has left a mess behind, please make an effort to clean it up then make a note and message me at Experience Nicola Valley. I will make a point to go back and see if there is anything else I can do. Thank you all so much. 

Great places to go camping in the Nicola Valley.

Merritt, B.C. things to do

Moonshadows campground is much more than a campground!

Check out upcoming activities at Moonshadows RV Park and Campground

Merritt B.C. things to do

Talking a Walk at Moonshadows RV and campground

Merritt, B.C. things to do offers more than just camping!  Moonshadows RV Park and Campground is much more than a campground! It is a spectacular destination family camping experience with lots of things to do for both visitors and locals. Campground manager Melvina White says, “ We want to invite the locals to come and  enjoy out gorgeous grounds. Also, we are planning events throughout the year to entice everyone.” What better way to enjoy Merritt, B.C. things to do?

Merritt, B.C. things to do

Camping in Merritt BC

This year Moonshadows RV Park and Campground hosted the first Annual pumpkin walk and did we have fun! On Halloween weekend although it was freezing cold we lit up the trails with carved pumpkins. Many community members contributed  their own pumpkins; more pumpkins  were donated from the pumpkin carving contest at Merritt’s downtown Halloween event and the rest were carved by the Moonshadows staff.  Everyone enjoyed participating in the lighting ceremony, placing the pumpkins and walking the lit paths.  We warmed our chilly toes afterward by roasting wieners and s’mores over a big bonfire.  This was only the first of many community events that Melvina will be host at the campground. Check out things to do in Merritt BC.

Winter activities at the campground

For more Merritt, B.C. things to do, pull out your snowshoes and enjoy a trek though the miles of trails in and around Moonshadows campground. Plan a group excursion or go with a friend. Bring snacks and wind down your day with a roaring bonfire!  

About the campground

Moonshadows R.V. Park and Campground is located South of Merritt at 1145 Neilson Street. The park itself is a gorgeous, treed area along the spectacular Coldwater River in an easily accessible location ideal for many day outings. For even more Merritt, B.C. things to do, fish at one of the hundreds of lakes in the area, run your quad or ATV all over the challenging mountains you see from your campsite, lace up your boots and take a hike up those inviting trails or go mountain biking! Of course, you are right beside the river so you could even swim or grab an inner tube and go floating! And remember, you are almost in town! Shopping is right on your doorstep!

Moon Shadows proudly hosts 50 fully serviced RV sites, 8 Power only sites, 36 non-serviced RV & tent sites and 19 tenting sites, available throughout the year. The fully serviced campsites have electrical, wireless internet capabilities (two park networks and a Shaw hotspot), and water & sewage hookups with sewage disposal facilities. All campsites have picnic tables. Choose from: 20, 30 and 50 amp power, plus plenty of pull-through sites. Please refer to our campsite map for details. 

Merritt, B.C. things to do

Hoodoos Merritt BC Moonshadows Rv Park Coldwater River

This campground boasts many services and amenities, including:

Comfort Stations – located at the administration building are laundry facilities, hot showers and bathrooms. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible including a shower stall for special needs guests. 

Services: 

Dumping station on site for guests using non-serviced sites and metered propane delivery are available for longer term stays. 

Campground Store – providing basic groceries, ice, camping supplies, local tackle and bait, firewood, souvenirs and clothing. Also sells cold beverages, ice cream treats, refreshments and munchies. 

Recreation Area – with space for outdoor activities and a horseshoe pit. Also a few rides (FREE!) for the little ones as well as an arcade game and TV room for your entertainment. 

All of the campsites are set within the beautiful trees and provide access to the Coldwater River. Red rock pathways and roads wind their way throughout the entire campground. The site is secure, immaculate and scenic.

We invite you to enjoy a great vacation getaway at Moon Shadows RV Park and Campground.  Register by telephone or email

Moon Shadows RV Park and Campground is open all year round with our main season running from Apr 15 through October 14. Drop-ins are welcome. Reservations are recommended, especially during the peak camping season (June 25 through September 8).

Visitors – Visitors please register at the office.

Pet Friendly – Please check with office for details

Gate – For the privacy of our guests the campground entrance is gated during festivals.

Remember watch for upcoming events at Moonshadows RV Park and Campground!