Before having kids, hubby and I liked driving around in the mountains or in the Interior searching for that perfect deserted spot to set up a tent and camp for a few days. But since the girls came along, we’ve limited our camping trips to provincial and forestry sites where we still get cell service and can easily access services in case of an emergency. While it certainly isn’t as isolated as what we used to enjoy, Chehalis River just outside Harrison Mills has become one of our favourite campgrounds to visit every summer.
Many of the sites are directly on the bank of the Chehalis River so we have a ready supply of water (we do bring our own drinking water though), and the water is shallow enough for the girls to wade in it. The water’s cold, but when a heatwave hits, not so cold we can’t go swimming. Every time we visit there’s always a group of kids in their inner tubes lazily floating downstream, and there’s a deeper spot just across the bridge and slightly upstream that’s our favourite spot to swim in.
Chehalis River is a salmon run with a hatchery right next door to the campsite. There’s a little interpretive centre at the entrance to the site with interesting info about the salmon life cycle and the different types of salmon you’ll find in the Chehalis. Plus the kids love riding the salmon sculptures every single time we walk by.
We’re no fishermen (except when we pretend like hubby and Kay are doing here!), but I’ve been told the fishing along the Chehalis is great for Coho and steelhead.
Whether it’s the bright morning light or the annoying crow that will not shut up in the tree directly above our tent, I’ve never been able to sleep in when I’m camping. On this trip we were all up before 8:00 am both mornings. Even in late August it was a little chilly first thing in the mornings, but the days warmed up quickly and we spent most of our time in t-shirts and shorts.
We’re hoping to go one more time before the winter rains set in. Fingers crossed for some warm, dry weather into September!
Does your family enjoy camping? Have you been camping yet this year?
Haven’t gone camping this year….
Your girls look so grown 🙂
Truly a pleasant looking place to spend time with your family.
I have never gone camping, have always wanted to but never found the time. Maybe someday I will be able to because I love nature and think I would really enjoy it.
This looks like a beautiful place to camp.
What a gorgeous place for family camping..come across the mountains to Alberta, we have some fabulous places too
This looks like a wonderful place to visit and share with family, I think it is such a great thing to do as a family, going camping you can really have that time to bond with one another.
@tisonlyme143
What a beautiful location! I will need to check it out!
looks like a beautiful place to visit.
I live in the Vancouver area yet never knew about the Chehalis River area until I read your blog. I’m going to have to add this to our places to visit this summer.
It’s a beautiful spot! We go almost every year.
It looks amazing there. I will have to check it out as it isn’t too far of a drive from Richmond. I love camping right on a river.
I had a friend RAVE about her family trip here.Your pics make it even more appealing.Will try to work this in next camping season.
This is extremely beautiful. Wish I was there now.lol
I love camping too with our family and we travel quite a bit too.This would be a lovely place to visit someday.It looks like you had a lot of fun.
I would love to visit this area someday. It looks so peaceful and quiet.