Park overview
Loveland Bay Park is located near Campbell River on central Vancouver Island and offers a quiet area for camping, swimming and fishing. This small and rustic park provides a boat launch onto Campbell Lake.
Loveland Bay is a convenient base camp for day tripping to attractions in the nearby communities of Campbell River, Gold River, Sayward, Kelsey Bay as well as Quadra and Cortes Islands. If you don’t want to leave Loveland Bay’s peaceful setting, you can spend the day relaxing at the lake, waterskiing, fishing, canoeing or kayaking.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open May 15, 2024 to September 30, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 28
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 31
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 30
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: April 25 to October 13
- Facility type
- Group camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 2
- Groupsites: 2
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 30
- 2025: April 15 to September 30
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: April 25 to October 11
- 2025: April 17 to October 13
Safety info
Access to this park is by active logging roads. The chance of encountering loaded logging trucks while traveling these roads is highly likely. Logging trucks have the right of way at all times. Drivers should use caution and yield to logging trucks. Use pullouts whenever possible.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total reservable frontcountry sites: 54
- Total vehicle-accessible sites: 52
- Total groupsites: 2
- Total walk-in sites: 3
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. Group campsite reservations are also accepted at this park.
All campsite and group site reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites, some with tent pads. All the campsites are along the lakefront. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $22 per party per night |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page
There are two group campsites at this park, one at each end of the campground on the lake. Group campgrounds are open during the main camping season.
Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
Regular group camping fee | $80 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the youth group policy see the group camping page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is one drinking water well and hand pump in the park, located in the campground.
A boat launch for small boats only is located in the middle of the park. A small wharf on the lake also provides tie-up facilities. Many boating opportunities are accessible from Loveland Bay on Lower Campbell Lake.
- There is no reserving or holding of moorage space when vessels are not tied to the dock.
- Boaters are advised that dock space is limited and intended to be available to all registered campers.
Campfire rings are provided at each campsite, and at the group campsites. While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Pit toilets are available at this park.
Activities
There is no designated swimming area at this park. Lower Campbell Lake offers opportunities for swimming.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking at this park on Campbell Lake. Paddlers can set in from their campsite or from a boat launch located in the middle of the campground.
Lower Campbell Lake offers good opportunities for trout fishing. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Loveland Bay Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
There are opportunities for waterskiing at this park. A boat launch for small boats only is located in the middle of the park. A small wharf on the lake also provides tie-up facilities.
- Boaters are advised that dock space is limited and intended to be available to all registered campers.
- There is no reserving or holding of moorage space when vessels are not tied to the dock.
There are opportunities for windsurfing at this park.
Loveland Bay is located west of Campbell River on central Vancouver Island. Access is from Hwy 28, 4 km west of Campbell River. Take the turnoff to Elk Falls viewpoint and Loveland Bay. Drive past Elk Falls and over the dam, then take the first road on the left. Follow the gravel road 12 km to Loveland Bay.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 21, 1989
- Size: 30 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Quality Recreation Ltd.
250 850-7125
info@explorebcparks.ca
Nature and culture
History
This former forestry site was established as a provincial park in 1984.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.