Kokanee Creek Park has two campgrounds - Sandspit and Redfish that offer vehicle accessible sites. Sandspit the larger of the two is located just east of the Kokanee Creek bridge on Highway 3 while Redfish is located just this side of the bridge. An overflow area with a capacity for an additional 36 units is located by the Sandspit day- use/picnic parking lot.

Sandspit campgound is where the majority of the facilities are concentrated. After you exit Highway 3 turn right to the park gatehouse. Staff are available to check reservations and direct you to a campsite. This campground is situated in a diverse forest of both conifers (cedar, hemlock, pine) and deciduous (cottonwood, birch, aspen) trees. The mixed forest provides plenty of shade. A blend of medium to large sites can accommodate large rigs and extra vehicles. The campsites, with 18 doubles, are evenly spaced on four parallel lanes called Gopher, Osprey, Chipmunk and Porcupine. These lanes bisect the outer lane referred to as Park Lane.

Redfish campground has intimate, mostly shaded, small vehicle accessible sites within a cedar hemlock forest. Two of the sites have tent pads but there are no pull through or doubles.

Services are offered in the high use season between May and September. This park offers vehicle accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. Park gates are located at both entrances. Pay phones are conveniently located at the Visitor Centre and the first toilet building in Sandspit campground. Kokanee Park Store/Marina and the Crescent Beach Resort are both a 5-minute drive from the park.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party /night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $12.00 per senior's couple/night

No wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.

Two group campsites are located adjacent to the Redfish day-use parking lot. Together these sites can accommodate 100 + visitors and are considered multi use sites for both camping and picnicking. Adjacent to these sites is an 800sq ft grassy area used for softball, which allows easy access to the Redfish day-use picnic area. Centrally located are an enclosed picnic shelter with a wood burning airtight stove and tables, pit toilets, water tap, big barbeque and fire ring. Launching car top boats, canoes and kayaks is possible at this location. There are group campsites at this park. Click here for reservation information.
Group Camping Fee: $24.00 per party / night
Youth Group Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night

There are two day-use/picnic areas both located on Kootenay Lake. The most popular is situated beside the north end of Sandspit campground. The beach is sandy, 1 km long and has a wonderful large sandbar at its south-eastern tip. There are several picnic tables along the shore line, 60 feet from the waters edge, evenly spaced among cotton wood and pine trees. The trees offer limited shade and the beach can become very hot during mid day. Behind the tables is a large, open grassy area suitable for recreational sports and family gatherings. Nearby and conveniently located are an adventure playground, toilet change house, horseshoe pit, two fountains with taps, pit toilet and six barbeque stands. Parking is available for 240 vehicles. If you want tables by the beach, come early as this beach is popular with local residents.

The smaller day-use/picnic area is the Redfish site. The access road is directly across from the Redfish campground entrance on the opposite side of Highway 3. A short drive will bring you to the 40 vehicle parking lot. This location is also where you will find the group picnic and/or group campsite with the shelter and grassy area. The beach with picnic tables is just a short walk from here and is approximately 300 metres long, described as a mixture of rough sand and gravel. Visitors use the pit toilets and water tap by the group sites. There is no recognized swimming area or change house.

Both these day-use/picnic areas are popular but please remember there are no fire pits. A dog beach is beside the boat launch at the northeast end of the park.

Sandspit campground contains a wheelchair accessible campsite, flush toilet and shower stall. All roads within the park are paved.

Cold well water is available for cooking and drinking. Nine taps are randomly located in both campgrounds. Sandspit day-use/picnic area has two water fountains. Redfish day-use/picnic area shares a water tap with the group sites. Taps are shut off during the off-season.

Sandspit campground has three toilet buildings, the day-use/picnic area has one toilet/change house and a pit toilet. Redfish campground has one toilet building and a pit toilet. Redfish day-use/picnic area shares the pit toilets with the group sites.

One toilet shower building with 10 showers is located in the centre of Sandspit campground. There is no charge for this facility.

A sani-station/dump, available during the collecting season is located at the Sandspit campground. The entrance is to the right of campsite # 70.
Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

While 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. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.

A Visitor Centre is located beside the Sandspit campground and the spawning channel. There are scheduled interpretive programs during the summer season at this park.

There are 9.5 km of easy hiking and walking trails within the park. The majority of these trails are located around the campground, visitor centre, spawning channel, lake shoreline and through the delta. A walking bridge across Kokanee Creek can link you to roads and trails to Redfish campground. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

The most popular are three connected trails located on the west side of Highway 3, opposite the Sandspit campground entrance. Canyon Trail follows the east side of Kokanee Creek, passes through mature cedar/ hemlock trees and leads you to a set of stairs and terraced viewing platform over looking a canyon. Due to the narrowness of the canyon, the views of the spring run off are spectacular. The connecting Pine and Woodland trails take you through a forest of yellow pine and birch. The trails combine to make a circle route. All the trails are considered easy to moderate. Depending which route you choose, hiking times range from 30 to 60 min.

In addition, Kokanee Glacier Park is 16 kms away and contains over 100 kms of beginner to advanced hiking trails in spectacular alpine terrain.

A large adventure playground with swing set, monkey bars, slide, spring horses, and platforms is located between the Sandspit campground and day-use area. The equipment is set in pea gravel with benches and tables nearby for resting or picnicking. On one edge is a large grassy area suitable for other recreational opportunities.

The two day-use/picnic areas Sandspit and Redfish offer extensive sandy beaches. The water of Kootenay lake is considered cool and refreshing. Here, in shallow areas on the large sand bar the water is warmer. Sandspit beach has a lagoon, which is warm but also a bit slimy. Its popular for wading to find minnows and tadpoles but not recommended for swimming. The only roped off swimming area is at Sandspit. The sandy shoreline provides excellent opportunities for swimming, sun bathing and water skiing. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

The delta provides many opportunities to canoe or kayak and enjoy the abundant birdlife in the park. The lake can be accessed by the day-use/picnic areas or the boat launch at the north-east end of Sandspit beach. Kootenay Lake can have sudden wind or weather changes. Be prepared.

A wharf to assist with launching and singlewide concrete boat launch can be found at the north-east end of the Sandspit day-use/picnic area. The 20 unit parking lot can accommodate overnight storage of vehicles or boat trailers. A nearby marina will keep your boat overnight. Both water skiing and windsurfing are popular activities on Kootenay Lake. NOTE: Low water levels precludes boat launch use in March and April.

Kokanee, rainbow and bull trout are found in Kootenay Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Check the BC Fishing Regulations Synopsis for quotas and restrictions.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

No horseback riding.