Campgrounds and RV parks near Thompson-Nicola J (Copper Desert Country), BC

Copper Desert Country is the informal name for Electoral Area J of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in south-central British Columbia. The area sits west and southwest of Kamloops and takes in country around Ashcroft that includes some of the driest, most arid terrain in Canada. The landscape ranges from low-elevation sagebrush and cactus flats along the Thompson River to mid-elevation grasslands, lodgepole pine forest, and trout lakes on the Thompson Plateau. Most campgrounds in the area are BC Parks properties operated by concessionaires, along with a municipal site in Logan Lake. Steelhead Provinicial Park sits at the outlet of Kamloops Lake in Savona, about 40 km west of Kamloops on Highway 1, with beach frontage and river access. Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park sits midway between Savona and Logan Lake on the southern Thompson Plateau, about 40 km southwest of Kamloops, reached by 24 km of paved road from Savona or 16 km from Logan Lake. Up the Coquihalla corridor, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park appeals to campers and anglers seeking an easy getaway spot with swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, and nature appreciation. Down at river level, Juniper Beach Provincial Park protects a representative desert landscape of sagebrush, prickly pear cactus, and juniper on the north shore of the Thompson River. Logan Lake Municipal Campground offers a small-town base between the plateau lakes.

Reservations for BC Parks sites are handled through the provincial reservation system at camping.bcparks.ca. Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park accepts campsite reservations and also holds first-come, first-served sites. Juniper Beach Provincial Park follows the same mixed model, with a portion of the 32 sites reservable and the remainder walk-in. Steelhead Provinicial Park was long walk-in only, but new for 2026 the park accepts reservations for half the number of its sites. Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park is largely first-come, first-served across its three campgrounds, and it also offers designated long-stay sites which require a booking of minimum four consecutive weeks. Logan Lake Municipal Campground is booked directly through the municipality. Book the reservable inventory as early as possible for July and August weekends. For walk-in sites, arriving Thursday or on a weekday morning gives the best odds during summer holidays.