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Sleeping under the stars
Monday, July 7th, 2008 by GetawayBC.com
While Kitimat is not short of excellent motel accommodations, it can also meet your needs if you prefer to “rough it”.
Operated by the city, Radley Park is the community’s premier campsite and superbly located a literal stone’s throw from the banks of the river.
And yet it is also only a couple of minutes from all the amenities of the downtown area.
Set amongst trees, the sites come equipped with fire pits and picnic tables with sturdy shelters and plenty of dry firewood supplied.
There are electrical hook ups available at a number of sites and the washroom facilities include coin operated showers.
And there is a sani-dump, fish cleaning station and even a smoker for your catches of the day.
Believe it or not, Radley Park is so appealing even local residents frequently camp there for a weekend.
Just be mindful of the signs in a few spots warning you to stay back from the edge of the bank.
The flow of the Kitimat River is shifting westward towards the park and has eroded its bank in places.
Hirsch Creek is another city-operated site but more rustic in nature.
Although you won’t find electrical hook-ups and showers, the setting is magnificent with towering trees, and the sparkling waters of the creek for which it is named. There’s also a large, open grassed area where the kids can play ball or run around to their heart’s content.
Many visitors like to get even closer to their chosen fishing spots by camping on the banks of the Kitimat River itself. However, in consideration of other anglers and the environment, you are asked to make camp at least 30 metres from the water’s edge.
You’ll see signposts indicating the 30m mark.
Vehicles displaying a disabled sign are permitted to park at the water’s edge – but cannot camp there.
For those who really want to get away from it all, the Kitimat Valley has several Forest Recreation rustic campsites such as Mount Elizabeth, Deception Lake, Enso Park and West Lake.
The staff at the Visitor Information Centre will be more than happy to provide information on those sites and how to get there.