Paradise Valley Campground

Paradise Valley is a rural area on the Cheakamus River about 22 km north of Squamish. Paradise Valley Campground is open from May to mid-October.

To learn more about the campground at Paradise Valley, continue reading. For information about other places to pitch your tent or park your RV, see our article about Camping in the Lower Mainland.

Paradise Valley in the Sea to Sky Region

There’s a nice private campground in the area, appropriately named Paradise Valley Campground. It makes for a good and affordable place from which to explore the area.

Of the two main camping options in the Squamish area, Alice Lake is our first choice, primarily because of the lake for swimming in the summer and the free hot showers. Paradise Valley though places a close second. Rarely do private campgrounds come close to comparing to ones in provincial parks, at least in our opinion, but Paradise Valley is an exception – it’s a great one.

The camping season at Paradise Valley runs from around the beginning of May until close to Thanksgiving and rates are reasonable for a private place. They have a “no amplified music” policy, which most guests appreciate, while campfire singing and guitar playing is welcomed.

Just steps away from the Paradise Valley Campground is the Tenderfoot Creek Salmon Enhancement Hatchery.

Camping During COVID-19

The campground at Paradise Valley was closed for a while because of the outbreak for the novel coronavirus. As of June 12th, 2020, however, it had reopened (although without the washroom facilities).

The 2021 camping season looked a little different at the Paradise Valley Campground. Masks were mandatory within all indoor facilities, unregistered guests were not permitted and campsites were restricted to one family. Restrictions at group sites were based on the provincial government’s health region guidelines. For more information visit the Paradise Valley Policies page.

The campground opened for the 2022 season on April 29th. The same COVID restrictions from the year before still applied (or at least they did at the start).

Where is Paradise Valley

Parade Valley Campground is located at 3520 Paradise Valley Road which is about 18 km north of Squamish.

Instead of turning right off the Sea to Sky Highway and heading to Alice Lake Provincial Park, you turn left at the same turnoff to get to Paradise Valley.

Don’t have a recreational vehicle of your own? Thinking about buying one or renting? Then check out the specials at Fraserway RV in Delta or Abbotsford. They often offer some really good deals.

Paradise Valley vs Alice Lake vs Stawamus Chief

There are three main campgrounds in Squamish (plus Porteau Cove which isn’t actually in Squamish, but just a 20-minute drive away). In Squamish there is Paradise Valley, Alice Lake and Stawamus Chief. We’ve stayed at the first two, but not yet at the third (but hope to one day). All three places are nice, but very different.

Unlike the others, Paradise Valley is a private campground. It’s a business, not a provincial park. It’s really nice, and usually much easier to get into than Alice Lake. After recent upgrades, the bathrooms there are nicer than at the other campgrounds. There is also more undergrowth (i.e., plants and foliage on the ground) between sites than at Alice Lake. There are also sites with hookups for recreational vehicles, plus a country store that sells everything from cappuccinos to candy, camping supplies, groceries and booze.

What Paradise Valley doesn’t have is a lake or beach. You have to drive if you want to go somewhere. This campground though has a no music policy, so you don’t have to worry about your neighbours blasting loud music until late at night (which can be a really nice feature).

Alice Lake is one of the Lower Mainland’s most popular campgrounds. It can be hard to get into (which is one of the reasons why Paradise Valley does so well). At Alice Lake there is the lake, walking trails and beaches. Also close to the campsites are a children’s play area and a small bike park. In the summer there are also boat rental facilities. Being a provincial park, camping fees are less here than at Paradise Valley.

Stawamus Chief is also a provincial park, but its campsites are much more rustic. Don’t expect fancy washrooms with running water or showers. The sites are good for tents, not recreational vehicles. You also can’t reserve sites here in advance, or at least that used to be the case. Of the three venues, it is the cheapest. Stawamus Chief is where you go for serious hiking!