redstreak campground

Why You Need To Stay At The AWESOME Redstreak Campground

Last updated on August 30th, 2024 at 02:55 pm

Summer always arrives a little earlier in the Columbia Valley, making Redstreak Campground a great choice for early season camping. It has been a long winter in the Rockies and with a higher than average snowpack and chilly spring, it’s been a slow start to the camping season. We finally had a weekend off and desperately wanted to go camping and decided two nights at Redstreak was just what we needed.

Redstreak campground is a Parks Canada run campsite, so you can expect firewood, running potable water and well maintained sites. It’s a great choice for an easy camping trip!

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redstreak campground

Where Is Redstreak Campground?

Redstreak Campground is located above the town of Radium Hot Springs, where Highway 93S meets Highway 95. Located in Kootenay National Park, you technically enter the National Park when entering the campground, the majority of the park is a short drive up Highway 93S.

Since Redstreak Campground is a National Park campground it is clearly signposted. If heading south on Highway 95, the campsite is located on the left of the Highway, the same turnoff as the visitor centre. A short 2.5km drive up a winding road which gains elevation quickly. Watch out for the sheep which roam and you’ll know you’ve made it to Redstreak Campground when you reach the check in booth.

radium hot springs
Radium Hot Springs entrance and cold pool

The Redstreak Campground

Redstreak Campground is a great spot for families, with a site to accommodate any and all types of camping. They have comfort camping in the form of OTentiks as well as serviced and unserviced sites and walk-in sites. We stayed at a walk-in site on loop B which had some amazing views plus, since we were there mid week, nobody else was in the surrounding sites, a truly peaceful break for us!

In total there are 232 camping spots at Redstreak Campground, split across 8 loops. The majority of the sites are unserviced and there are varying degrees of privacy site to site. Every loop has a washroom building including showers and most loops have playgrounds.

redstreak campground

The tent pads themselves come with picnic benches although I still like to take camp chairs for around the fire. Firewood is provided by Parks Canada at a central location near the check in kiosk and it’s included in the price of your fire permit if you wish to purchase one.

redstreak campground
views from our walk in site at Redstreak campground

All the facilities at Redstreak Campground have always been impeccably maintained when I’ve stayed here, from clean washrooms to raked and clean campsites, it really is a treat to stay here.

My favorite loops to tent camp in are easily loop A and B, located close to the edge of the campground with sites which look out over the valley if you are lucky to snag one!

redstreak campground

There is a great interpretive program at the Redstreak Campground as well, based out of the amphitheatre, ask at the campground entrance kiosk or the visitor centre in town, to find out what is going on while you are visiting.

The Redstreak Campground and surrounding park are known to be home to many bears both black and grizzly. Make sure to be bear aware, keep a clean campsite and of course carry bear spray!

It is a popular and busy campground and therefore although you don’t need a reservation, I would highly recommend it to snag one of the best spots at Redstreak Campground. For the 2022 summer season, campsites are reservable from April 29th to October 9th.

redstreak campground
Heading out to the viewpoint, a short walk from the campground

What To Do Around Redstreak Campground

There are numerous hiking trails which start right from Redstreak Campground and are on the campground map you get given when you check in. On the first afternoon after we checked in and got set up we headed to the Edge Of The Rockies trail which starts from next to the play park in Loop E of the Redstreak Campground.

It’s a steep climb which leads to a number of viewpoints looking over the valley from above the campground. There are benches to sit and take in the view and the trail loops round and you can come out almost where you started. A fairly easy and short trail with great views!

redstreak campground

It is also possible to hike down to Sinclair Canyon from the Redstreak Campground, the trail starts from the edge of Loop H and descends quickly down to the highway and viewpoint for Sinclair Falls. From there it is possible to connect the Juniper Trail which has incredible views over the valley before ending up at the hot springs.

redstreak campground
Sinclair Canyon

The last and possibly the best trail from the campground also starts at Loop H and it takes you to the Radium Hot Springs. It’s a 2.5km hike which is mostly flat with a few short steep sections dropping down to the pools. It’s awesome being able to walk to the hot pools, not fight for parking and of course go a little later in the day to avoid the crowds. 

The town of Radium itself is a great way to spend they day with restaurants and cafes all along the main street.

juniper trail
The valley bottom from the Juniper trail

For anyone into golfing, there are numerous options in the Columbia Valley. The Radium Golf Course being one of the closest.

A short drive also brings you to the bigger town of Invermere and Windermere Lake where there are lots of rental opportunities for anyone wanting to get out on the water.

Things You Might Need When Camping At Redstreak

You’ll want a tent to camp in, especially if you want to use the cute walk in sites, we love our Marmot Tungsten tent. It fits a queen air mattress in easily, making it a comfortable and spacious spot for two people to spend a few nights.

I always take my Chaco cloud sandals camping, these are perfect for hiking round the Redstreak campground, plus they are the perfect footwear for hitting the trail to the hot springs from the campground if you are walking to go for a dip.

Never forget bear spray and make sure you know how to use it, Redstreak campground is in bear country so make sure to keep a clean campsite as well.

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