Park overview
This cozy campground park is a quiet and shady retreat from a sunny and vibrant tourism area. Located on the east side of the Rocky Mountain Trench under the peaks of the Stanford Range, Dry Gulch Park is 4.5 km south of the town of Radium Hot Springs off Highway 93/95. It is a perfect resting place for travellers.
At the hub of numerous recreational activities offered in the Upper Columbia Valley Dry Gulch Park is a great base camp for golfing, swimming, windsurfing, boating, hiking, bird watching, visiting hot springs and shopping in the towns of Invermere and Radium Hot Springs.
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: 18
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 27
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 30
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: May 15 to September 29
- Winter season note
- Gate is closed during the off-season.
Safety info
Bears and cougars are occasionally seen in this area. Children should be supervised.
Special notes
- Motorized vehicles are restricted to roads and parking lots at posted speeds.
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
There are 27 campsites at this park which are divided into two loops. There are no drive-through sites. The majority of the sites accommodate large recreational vehicles and there are approximately eight sites that have tent pads. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table.
Reservations are accepted at this park and first come, first served sites are also available.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $25 per party per night |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $12.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
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.
The six unit flush toilet building, which has one wheelchair-accessible toilet on each side, is centrally located at the junction of the upper and lower campground loops. There are also four pit toilets conveniently located in each campground loop.
Activities
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 and bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
For details on e-biking within Dry Gulch Park, see the e-biking section.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Dry Gulch Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Located 4.5 km south of the town of Radium Hot Springs on the east side of the Columbia Valley and Highway 93/95. The closest communities are Radium Hot Springs and Invermere.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 16, 1956
- Size: 29 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
EK Parks Ltd.
camping@ekparks.ca
250 422-3003
Nature and culture
Conservation
The campground is situated on a lightly forested benchland. Dry Gulch Creek cuts through this generally arid landscape creating a cool green gully alive with rustling poplars, birch and maple.
Wildlife
Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and deer can often be seen grazing on the steep slopes of the glacial lateral moraines in which the park is set. The nearby Columbia Wetlands at the headwaters of the Columbia River are a birdwatchers paradise. Please view all wildlife from a distance.
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.