Open Year-round
No
Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
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Cal-Cheak Recreation Site is a day use area and campground consisting of 55 drive-in sites separated into three separate clusters in a heavily treed area just 15 minutes from Whistler Village. The campground is fairly basic, offering fire pits and picnic tables, water, pit toilets, and firewood for sale. Most of the sites are quite shady with varying degrees of privacy; the nicer sites have direct access to either the Cheakamus River or Callaghan Creek. There is a suspension bridge leading from the South Loop across Callaghan Creek that connects with the Lava Lake Trail and Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.

Situated at the confluence of the Cheakamus River and Callaghan Creek at the base of the Callaghan Valley, the area is rife with recreational opportunities for all types of outdoor adventurers. The Sea-To-Sky Trail is always a good option for a family-friendly stroll, as are the trails at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, which is just a kilometer down the road but can also be accessed via the Lava Lake Trail straight from the campground. For those who want a longer day hike, access to Brandywine Meadows is just across the highway, and the Callaghan Valley has some great options such as Ring Lake, Hanging Lake, and Cirque Lake.

Cal-Cheak is a popular spot among whitewater kayakers as well; the campground itself serves as a takeout for the classic Callaghan run and also the put-in for a short run known as the Cal-Cheak. There are also popular runs on the Cheakamus River both upstream and downstream, and many others within driving distance. The majority of the best mountain biking trails will require either a short drive to Whistler or a slightly longer one down to the Squamish area; however, mountain bikes are allowed on the Sea-To-Sky Trail, and Cal-Cheak makes a good staging area for a longer ride to Pemberton or Squamish. And for thrill-seekers, Whistler Bungee is just 3 kilometers from the campground on the Cal-Cheak Forest Service Road.

The campground is open April 1 through October 31, and it does not accept reservations.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Good location. Close to hiking and kayaking. Nice area.

Cons

Lack of mountain biking close by. Basic facilities.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Province of BC

Features

ADA accessible
Vault toilet
Potable water
Picnic tables

Recommended Campsites Without Photos

Callaghan 3, North Site 7, South Site 20 and 23

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

06/04/2017
What are the chances of finding a site around the last weekend in June?
how do you know before heading up that there is a spot available.
04/20/2017
Campsites are now $13 as of 2017
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