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- Riverside RV
The best river, stream, or creek RV sites near Ainsworth Hot Springs
94% (65) • 8 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Ainsworth Hot Springs
Laid Back Manor Farm
1. Laid Back Manor Farm
95%
(29)
53km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
There was a dream......come visit to learn more!! Current update:
Brevity is the soul of wit!! There are some changes this season. It's been a great 5 years with Hipcamp, but the only constant is change!! So - We're open May to September this year ONLY. Otherwise, we hope to maintain the same glorious private wilderness getaway we've been providing for the past 5 years, and look forward to seeing you. I'm putting in more pear trees this year, and the orchards are growing!! I'll be upgrading all the (minimal) facilities this month. No worries!!
The location is private and quiet, and you won't see any other people unless you go looking. We are dog friendly, and Finnegan the house heeler is leashed or not on a case by case basis. The riverside area is a wildlife corridor so be prepared to see deer, bears, eagles, osprey, wild turkeys, kingfishers, cedar waxwings, mountain bluebirds, the odd rare coyote/cougar, and possibly elk among others!! Generally, it's pretty quiet, but there are days...... August is peak Grizzly time, so please be bear aware.....They come here only rarely and we didn't see any on site last year, *whew* The river is perfect for swimming and diving in high water, but very cold (glacial runoff) which is amazingly refreshing, but don't count on being in it for hours.
As a semi-retired chef, writer, musician, farmer, English teacher, entrepreneur and revolutionary,your host can offer impressive gourmet meals to feed
body and soul -made with local organic ingredients and great conscious awareness at an agreed-upon price according to your needs. The garden is full of organic veggies, and there may be fresh venison or wild turkey if you're here in the fall. Please no hunting and no guns if you are a guest.
There are amazing day and multi-day hikes within minutes or hours drive, and as a local of many years, your host can provide excellent advice and directions. Grayson and Finnegan look forward to meeting you and seeing to it that you're well situated and outfitted for a good time in the Canadian Outback!!
Looking for a quiet, peaceful, private wilderness retreat? This place is rrreally beautiful and I'm looking forward to hosting for another glorious year of laid back wilderness camping. Cheers to all of you and HAPPY TRAILS!!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$36
/ night
Private river getaway
2. Private river getaway
94%
(31)
64km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Once this property was a cattle ranch but now it's a private spot nestled right next to the Salmo river.Learn more about this land:Private camping spot and small tree fort down by the Salmo River. We have room for a 35ft camper, you will be parking on grass but the site requires levelling.We are located in Salmo, BC which is 30 minutes south of Nelson, BC. Nelson is surrounded by the rugged Selkirk Mountains and sits on the shores of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Whether gliding through the incredible powder at Whitewater Ski Resort, rafting down class 4 rapids on the Salmo River, catching a twenty-five-pound rainbow trout on Kootenay Lake, hiking up to Kokanee Glacier, or watching the fabulous live performances at The Capitol Theatre, the area has attractions for everyone.Only a 5-minute drive to the local grocery store.Access to the mountains from the old railroad system directly off of the property by motorcycles and/or side by sides, you just need to go slow until you clear the houses.Campfires are permitted, pets are welcome.We look forward to hosting you.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
CA$35
/ night
Makinaak Crossing
3. Makinaak Crossing
8.4km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Private secluded camp sites nestled in the cedar forest along Crawford Creek.
Nestled right by Kootenay Lake, outdoor lovers will enjoy easy access to Pilot Bay Provincial Park (~5 mi) for lakeside hiking and swimming, the warm sandy beach at Crawford Creek Regional Park (~1 mi), peaceful birdwatching along the Crawford Bay Wetlands Trail (~1 mi), and the scenic Pilot Bay Lighthouse Trail (~5 mi) with views over the water—perfect for exploring, unwinding, and soaking up nature.
Pets
Toilets
Picnic table
from
CA$23
/ night
Perfect Puppy Ranch
4. Perfect Puppy Ranch
100%
(2)
38km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Slocan Lake and Valhalla Provincial Park is visible from the property.
This is an off grid Homestead. Humble living working towards sustainability. We provide fresh potable water for drinking and washing
We have three golden retrievers on the property in 45 chickens
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$15
/ night
Appledale Mountain Garden
5. Appledale Mountain Garden
100%
(1)
43km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Nestled in the mountain side of the picturesque Slocan Valley we are situated on 63 acres of forest with glacier fed creeks feeding into the Slocan river in the valley bottom.
A variety of accommodations are available including tenting, cabana or tipi. The land has a shared summer kitchen, wood fired sauna as well as hiking trails. 15 minute walk/bike to the river and rail trail.
Wifi, Firewood & Bike Rental available for extra fee. No pets. No parties. 420 friendly. families welcome. We have chickens and dogs.
10 minutes to Slocan Lake, grocery, cell service, gas, recreational activities. 45 minutes to Nelson.
Toilets
Campfires
Potable water
from
CA$40
/ night
Cedar Creek Farm
6. Cedar Creek Farm
79%
(7)
48km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 3 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Best described as Heaven on Earth. Whatever outdoor adventure you enjoy, this will be an ideal home base. The mountains and waters of the Kootenays are legendary. This is also a source of legendary BC Bud. This farm has been cultivating medical cannabis since 2008 and in 2020 we received our recreational cannabis licence. Wholistic health and wellness are the values that motivate our work
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
CA$40
/ night
Caribou Creek Market Gardens
7. Caribou Creek Market Gardens
100%
(4)
75km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Private & secluded camping site with lots of sun and nature all around. See and listen to the year-round creek. Lake and boat launch very close with great fishing (Dolly Varden, Rainbow, Burton, and Kokanee Salmon). The camping site itself is approx .5 acre. Only one spot available is perfect for you want privacy. Must be fully self-contained. RV or tent. RV can be huge. Pop-outs no problem. Your dogs are fine. issue. Mine will leave you in peace.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$45
/ night
94% (65) • 8 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Ainsworth Hot Springs
Laid Back Manor Farm
1. Laid Back Manor Farm
95%
(29)
53km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
There was a dream......come visit to learn more!! Current update:
Brevity is the soul of wit!! There are some changes this season. It's been a great 5 years with Hipcamp, but the only constant is change!! So - We're open May to September this year ONLY. Otherwise, we hope to maintain the same glorious private wilderness getaway we've been providing for the past 5 years, and look forward to seeing you. I'm putting in more pear trees this year, and the orchards are growing!! I'll be upgrading all the (minimal) facilities this month. No worries!!
The location is private and quiet, and you won't see any other people unless you go looking. We are dog friendly, and Finnegan the house heeler is leashed or not on a case by case basis. The riverside area is a wildlife corridor so be prepared to see deer, bears, eagles, osprey, wild turkeys, kingfishers, cedar waxwings, mountain bluebirds, the odd rare coyote/cougar, and possibly elk among others!! Generally, it's pretty quiet, but there are days...... August is peak Grizzly time, so please be bear aware.....They come here only rarely and we didn't see any on site last year, *whew* The river is perfect for swimming and diving in high water, but very cold (glacial runoff) which is amazingly refreshing, but don't count on being in it for hours.
As a semi-retired chef, writer, musician, farmer, English teacher, entrepreneur and revolutionary,your host can offer impressive gourmet meals to feed
body and soul -made with local organic ingredients and great conscious awareness at an agreed-upon price according to your needs. The garden is full of organic veggies, and there may be fresh venison or wild turkey if you're here in the fall. Please no hunting and no guns if you are a guest.
There are amazing day and multi-day hikes within minutes or hours drive, and as a local of many years, your host can provide excellent advice and directions. Grayson and Finnegan look forward to meeting you and seeing to it that you're well situated and outfitted for a good time in the Canadian Outback!!
Looking for a quiet, peaceful, private wilderness retreat? This place is rrreally beautiful and I'm looking forward to hosting for another glorious year of laid back wilderness camping. Cheers to all of you and HAPPY TRAILS!!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$36
/ night
Private river getaway
2. Private river getaway
94%
(31)
64km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Once this property was a cattle ranch but now it's a private spot nestled right next to the Salmo river.Learn more about this land:Private camping spot and small tree fort down by the Salmo River. We have room for a 35ft camper, you will be parking on grass but the site requires levelling.We are located in Salmo, BC which is 30 minutes south of Nelson, BC. Nelson is surrounded by the rugged Selkirk Mountains and sits on the shores of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Whether gliding through the incredible powder at Whitewater Ski Resort, rafting down class 4 rapids on the Salmo River, catching a twenty-five-pound rainbow trout on Kootenay Lake, hiking up to Kokanee Glacier, or watching the fabulous live performances at The Capitol Theatre, the area has attractions for everyone.Only a 5-minute drive to the local grocery store.Access to the mountains from the old railroad system directly off of the property by motorcycles and/or side by sides, you just need to go slow until you clear the houses.Campfires are permitted, pets are welcome.We look forward to hosting you.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
CA$35
/ night
Makinaak Crossing
3. Makinaak Crossing
8.4km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Private secluded camp sites nestled in the cedar forest along Crawford Creek.
Nestled right by Kootenay Lake, outdoor lovers will enjoy easy access to Pilot Bay Provincial Park (~5 mi) for lakeside hiking and swimming, the warm sandy beach at Crawford Creek Regional Park (~1 mi), peaceful birdwatching along the Crawford Bay Wetlands Trail (~1 mi), and the scenic Pilot Bay Lighthouse Trail (~5 mi) with views over the water—perfect for exploring, unwinding, and soaking up nature.
Pets
Toilets
Picnic table
from
CA$23
/ night
Perfect Puppy Ranch
4. Perfect Puppy Ranch
100%
(2)
38km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Slocan Lake and Valhalla Provincial Park is visible from the property.
This is an off grid Homestead. Humble living working towards sustainability. We provide fresh potable water for drinking and washing
We have three golden retrievers on the property in 45 chickens
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$15
/ night
Appledale Mountain Garden
5. Appledale Mountain Garden
100%
(1)
43km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Nestled in the mountain side of the picturesque Slocan Valley we are situated on 63 acres of forest with glacier fed creeks feeding into the Slocan river in the valley bottom.
A variety of accommodations are available including tenting, cabana or tipi. The land has a shared summer kitchen, wood fired sauna as well as hiking trails. 15 minute walk/bike to the river and rail trail.
Wifi, Firewood & Bike Rental available for extra fee. No pets. No parties. 420 friendly. families welcome. We have chickens and dogs.
10 minutes to Slocan Lake, grocery, cell service, gas, recreational activities. 45 minutes to Nelson.
Toilets
Campfires
Potable water
from
CA$40
/ night
Cedar Creek Farm
6. Cedar Creek Farm
79%
(7)
48km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 3 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Best described as Heaven on Earth. Whatever outdoor adventure you enjoy, this will be an ideal home base. The mountains and waters of the Kootenays are legendary. This is also a source of legendary BC Bud. This farm has been cultivating medical cannabis since 2008 and in 2020 we received our recreational cannabis licence. Wholistic health and wellness are the values that motivate our work
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
CA$40
/ night
Caribou Creek Market Gardens
7. Caribou Creek Market Gardens
100%
(4)
75km from Ainsworth Hot Springs · 1 site · Tent, RV
Private & secluded camping site with lots of sun and nature all around. See and listen to the year-round creek. Lake and boat launch very close with great fishing (Dolly Varden, Rainbow, Burton, and Kokanee Salmon). The camping site itself is approx .5 acre. Only one spot available is perfect for you want privacy. Must be fully self-contained. RV or tent. RV can be huge. Pop-outs no problem. Your dogs are fine. issue. Mine will leave you in peace.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
CA$45
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
D
Diana
September 2025
24 ft travel trailer
We had a wonderful few days at Monica's campsite. The directions were great and easy to follow. Which helped tremendously since it was already dark when we got there. The site was peaceful and relaxing. We really enjoyed falling asleep listening to the nearby creek. The flattened clearing was a nice change. Much cleaner area to camp at than gravel/sand. Our trailer was too big to drive through the trees (27 ft plus the truck) so we turned around and backed into the site. That worked. Lol. Great location. Very scenic. Even the town of Nukusp was beautiful to visit and just a short drive away. And the Nakusp Hot Springs were a welcome treat. Monica was a fantastic hostess. Really nice lady. Provided us with some lovely daytrip ideas in the area, like a nearby waterfall. Would definitely recommend.
See more
Dawn and Fred
September 2025
24 ft travel trailer
Beautiful, peaceful site right beside the river where the red Kokanee were flipping in the water. Easy access with our 24ft trailer.
Thanks Jason!
See more
Starr
September 2025
24 ft Class C
With pets
We had such an amazing stay on Robert’s property! Exactly as described - private, lots of trees and a short walk to the river. We enjoyed the beach areas and swimming with the dog in the nearby swimming hole. You can tell the owners take pride in the place as everything is very well maintained and marked off. We would definitely return and recommend to others!
See more
j
janai
August 2025
25 ft travel trailer
With pets
Gary is a wonderful host and we'd be happy to stay again anytime!!
See more
L
Lawrence
August 2025
12 ft travel trailer
With kids
The campsite was excellent, kids loved the treehouse. the beach area by the river was vey nice, you can tell the owners have put alot of work into it. Felt very private and secluded in the trees. Having a water tap right in camp was also extremely convenient.
See moreP
Peter
August 2025
25 ft campervan
Fabulous semi-wilderness with king-fisher, geese, ducks and while I was there, leaping bright orange kokanee primed for spawning season. Duncan dam was releasing huge amounts of water to nearly bank full for the first day. Ducks floated by at 10kph and it almost seemed that they would fly back upstream for another ride.
If you want an EMF holiday there was 1 wifi feed from the host and NOTHING else. No cell or other wifi. Also if you are there on a cloud free night there is the a nearly a complete milky-way.
On the downside, mosquitos were in full force during the day but checked out at dusk. Overall a great wildlife experience in a rustic spot.
See more
K
Krysta
August 2025
17 ft travel trailer
Neat spot with a tree house. Robert gave us clear directions that were easy to follow, even with us arriving after dark. Thanks Robert!
See more
Diana
August 2025
32 ft travel trailer
With pets
My husband and two poodles absolutely loved hanging out on the Laid Back Manor Farm. It felt like home. The site by the river is private, beautiful and spacious. The glacier fed river was like nature's air conditioning and definitely worth the cold plunge. Wildlife abounds and will not disappoint. We have a 30 foot motorhome and having such a beautiful level spot was amazing. The beauty of the area is intoxicating and host Jason is a superb host with culinary skills to boot! To be able to practice our archery skills was such a bonus. It was a difficult place to leave for so many reasons but for sure I will go back.
See moreN
Nicole
August 2025
16 ft car
Great site, easy directions to follow. River was a short walk but very nice
See more
M
Meghan
August 2025
15 ft campervan
Perfectly secluded. Easy trek to the water. We spent the entire day in the river and had a cozy night back under the treetops.
See more
S
Simone
August 2025
17 ft travel trailer
With pets
You want peace and quiet, this place is for you.
Not a sole around except for host and his pup.
This area is so beautiful and relaxing.
Target practise with your bow or fish right off deck at site.
Try J food and you won’t be disappointed. 5 star meal.
Tips.
If you coming from the north on Hwy 31 it’s slow going and several switch backs. It took a lot longer then it looked on maps and google. Road is well maintained for a forestry truck road but some wash board and narrow passing. We didn’t see any vehicles except for a couple of quads. The scenery is spectacular. Beware there is no CELL service. So have your route laid out in screen shots with directions. Once you pass Meadowcreek ( Meadow creek community has a free WiFI hotspot and hot showers) look for Cooper Creek sign and the speed limit goes down to 60km/hr. It’s the first left after the signs.
If you kayak or paddle board, Howser and Glacier regional parks have great launch sites. Howser has a small beach for kids and dogs.
Also bring firewood. It’s hard to find. We went to Davis creek PP to get some, 10 mins drive.
Kaslo is 30 mins south. And has no big name stores. But well stocked and great places to eat.
Highly recommended and will be back. 😀
See moreA
Arnoldo
August 2025
16 ft travel trailer
With pets
Lovely secluded spot, perfectly located near Salmo. We loved the privacy, the pad were we could set up our stuff, and the well maintained outhouse. We would definitely recommend.
See moreL
Leanne
August 2025
Tent
Very private and lovely camping spot. Great tent platform, cool tree house and just a short walk from the river. Very clean composting toilet.
See moreJ
Jenn
July 2025
17 ft travel trailer
With pets
This is such a beautiful piece of property. You can tell that Jason is a great stewart of the land. We swam and played with our dogs and explored this beautiful area of the country. I can’t recommend this place enough. It was incredibly quiet. One night we were woken up by (I think) foxes. We saw some bats. It was really fun to experience.
For folks planning on booking a stay here, bring cash for the hot showers at the community centre. Kaslo is the closest town with a bank machine and it’s an hour away or so. It’s also a beautiful spot and fun to explore. It would also be good to bring maps, we had no cell phone service. It’s not hard to get around at all, but in case you were wanting to go some place specific, you’ll want a working GPS!
See moreS
Scott
July 2025
Tent
With pets
Stayed two nights. There was a new large tent pad that I was able to squeeze a large (6 person) tent on without issue. It's a quiet/ private spot a short walk from the river, which is nice to walk along. My dog loved it, hope to come back :).
See more
R
Rebecca
July 2025
21 ft campervan
With pets
Jason’s land is stunningly beautiful and our stay was a much needed system reset 😊 we would love to be back one day! Thank you for having us Jason!
See moreE
Emily
July 2025
10 ft campervan
With kids
Robert’s place was pretty and peaceful. He was a good communicator and it was easy to get to. I recommend staying here.
See more
M
Maria
July 2025
Tent
With kids
Beautiful views and very peaceful! The tree house was fun and the kids loved it. Heads up that there isn’t really a level spot for the tent but otherwise it’s perfect.
See more
N
Nora
July 2025
Tent
Jason’s tent spot was absolutely gorgeous. The new tent pad was perfect for our 2 person tent and allowed us to cook and hang off the edge.
Jason was a wonderful host, communicated as soon as we were booked to introduce himself.
Gave effective directions to his place and gave a great tour of the space.
Only word of warning - do not forget your bug spray. The pad is by the river which means mosquitos! But also means you can watch the bats do their job by the river at dusk.
Looking forward to stay there again.
See more
A
Ali
July 2025
21 ft campervan
relaxed and beautiful site at Jason’s land! Jason was very kind and gave us a full tour of his property.
Highly recommend and we hope to be back!
See moreAinsworth Hot Springs camping guide
Where to go
Nelson
With 350 restored heritage buildings and a historic streetcar that’s still in operation, Nelson has a small-town feel with the amenities of a metropolitan area. It sits 45-minutes south of Ainsworth on the western arm of Kootenay Lake. From the snow-capped Selkirk Mountains to the lake views, Nelson has natural splendor from every angle. Many camping accommodations are available, including tent camping, RV campsites, and glamping in cedar wood cabins. The hilly mountain terrain provides epic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in winter. Hiking, golfing, mountain biking, and fishing are popular activities in the summertime.
Nakusp
The town of Nakusp is a remote area beside Arrow Lake, roughly an hour and a half from Ainsworth. The three local hot springs—Nakusp Hot Springs, Halcyon Hot Springs, and Halfway Hot Springs—are surrounded by more than 15 kilometres of hiking trails. Mountain biking is a hit in the summertime while the winter snow creates the perfect playground for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Tent camping, RV campsites, and chalet cabin rentals are available near the Halfway Hot Springs.
Howser Recreation Site
Nestled beside Duncan Lake (an hour north of Ainsworth), the Howser Recreation Site has a boat launch, covered picnic tables, and excellent fishing. RV and tent campsites are available, but they’re on a first-come, first-serve basis, so no reservations are needed. Get there early in the morning to snag a campsite with a lake view or one close to the pit toilets to make life more convenient. The Glayco Beach day-use area is just down the road with rock and sand beaches.
When to go
Ainsworth has distinct seasons with perfect weather for outdoor activities year-round. Summertime heat runs from July until the end of August with temperatures up to 26°C. Snowfall is common from December until February, with a peak in January. Typically, Ainsworth doesn’t get colder than -5°C in winter, which allows for outdoor sports and activities without frostbite. Spring, from March until June, brings lots of rain in the area, but some campsites are equipped with concrete pads.
