If you’re looking for a well-equipped campground that offers easy access to both wilderness and amenities, Redstreak Campground in Kootenay National Park deserves your attention. In this comprehensive review, I take you through a complete tour of all the camping loops at Redstreak, showcase the different types of sites available, explore the stunning lookouts at Sinclair Canyon, and hike the Redstreak loop trail for breathtaking views of the Columbia Valley. Whether you’re planning a family camping trip or seeking a comfortable base to explore the region, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Redstreak Campground represents one of the hidden gems in Canada’s national park system, offering a unique blend of accessibility and natural beauty. Situated on a sunny plateau above the village of Radium Hot Springs, this campground serves as an ideal launching point for exploring the surrounding area while providing modern conveniences that make camping comfortable for everyone from first-timers to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.
In my video below, I walk through the experience exactly as shown and explained:
Campground Overview and Location
RedStreak Campground sits 2.5 kilometers above the village of Radium Hot Springs, perched on a sunny plateau that occupies 90 acres of beautiful woodland. This elevated position provides campers with spectacular views and a sense of being immersed in nature while remaining close to town amenities. The campground’s location makes it incredibly convenient for those who want to balance wilderness exploration with access to services, restaurants, and supplies in the nearby village.
The campground operates seasonally, opening on May 1st and remaining accessible through October 13th, 2025. This extended season allows visitors to experience the area during spring wildflower blooms, summer warmth, and the stunning fall colors that paint the Columbia Valley in September and early October.
Campground Capacity and Site Types
Redstreak Campground is substantial in size, offering a total of 242 campsites to accommodate various camping preferences and equipment types. The diversity of site options is one of the campground’s greatest strengths, ensuring that whether you’re arriving in a fully-equipped RV, a small camper, or with just a tent and backpacking gear, there’s an appropriate spot for you.
The campground features 10 oTENTik units, which offer a unique camping experience that bridges the gap between traditional tent camping and cabin comfort. These structures are spacious blends of a tent and an A-frame cabin, complete with beds and furniture on a raised floor. For those who want to experience camping without investing in extensive gear or for families introducing children to outdoor sleeping, the oTENTik units provide an accessible entry point.
For RV campers seeking full amenities, there are 50 sites with full hookups, providing water, electrical, and sewer connections. An additional 38 sites offer electrical hookups only, perfect for those who need power but can manage without full services. The remaining 144 sites are unserviced, ideal for tent campers or those who prefer a more traditional camping experience without hookups.
The sites are designed to accommodate tents, motorhomes, and trailers up to 35 feet in length, making the campground accessible to a wide range of camping setups. This size accommodation covers the majority of recreational vehicles on the road today, though those with larger rigs should verify their specific site assignment can handle their dimensions.
Exploring the Camping Loops
During my complete tour of Redstreak Campground, I walked through all the camping loops to give you a comprehensive view of what each area offers. The campground is thoughtfully laid out with multiple loops that wind through the forested plateau, each offering a slightly different character and level of privacy.
The wooded setting provides natural screening between many sites, offering campers a sense of seclusion even in a campground of this size. The forest canopy consists of mixed woodland that provides shade during the heat of the day while still allowing plenty of sunlight to filter through, maintaining that sunny plateau character the campground is known for.
As you navigate the different loops, you’ll notice variation in site sizes, proximity to facilities, and the level of tree cover. Some sites offer more open space suitable for larger RVs and family setups with multiple tents, while others are more intimate, tucked into the forest with natural vegetation providing privacy screens from neighboring campers.
Amenities and Facilities
Redstreak Campground features a network of short trails with spectacular views of the Columbia Valley, allowing campers to enjoy scenic walks without leaving the campground property. These trails provide excellent opportunities for morning or evening strolls, wildlife watching, and photography as the changing light illuminates the valley below.
One of the campground’s most valuable features is its network of easy trails that connect directly to several important destinations. There are trail connections to the village of Radium Hot Springs itself, making it possible to walk into town for dinner, supplies, or simply to explore without needing to drive. The campground also connects via trail to the Radium Hot Springs pool, a major attraction in the area that offers naturally heated mineral waters in a developed pool setting.
Additionally, the Letwilc7úl̓ecw interpretive trail is accessible from the campground, providing educational opportunities to learn about the indigenous history and cultural significance of the area. This connection to interpretive resources adds educational value to your stay, particularly for families traveling with children.
Redstreak Loop Trail Experience
During my visit, I hiked the Redstreak loop trail, which offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Columbia Valley you’ll find in the area. This trail is one of the highlights of staying at the campground, providing an accessible hiking experience that rewards you with panoramic vistas without requiring a full-day commitment or advanced hiking skills.
The loop trail winds through the forested terrain surrounding the campground, gradually climbing to viewpoints that open up to reveal the expansive Columbia Valley below. The valley stretches out in a stunning display of geographic diversity, with the river valley floor contrasting against the surrounding mountain ranges that define this region of British Columbia.
The trail is well-maintained and suitable for most fitness levels, making it an excellent option for families or those looking for a morning or evening hike that doesn’t require driving to a trailhead. The views from various points along the trail provide excellent photography opportunities, particularly during the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon when the light angles across the valley create dramatic shadows and highlight the landscape’s contours.
Sinclair Canyon Lookouts
Beyond the campground itself, I explored the stunning lookouts at Sinclair Canyon, which are easily accessible from Redstreak Campground. Sinclair Canyon is a dramatic natural feature where the highway passes through a narrow gorge with towering rock walls rising on either side, creating a spectacular entrance to Kootenay National Park.
The lookouts provide perspectives on this geological wonder, allowing you to appreciate the scale and beauty of the canyon formation. The canyon walls display layers of rock that tell the geological story of the region, with the forces of water and time having carved this passage through the mountains over millennia.
These viewpoints are perfect stops for sightseeing and make excellent short excursions from your campsite. The combination of easy accessibility and dramatic scenery makes Sinclair Canyon a must-see feature during your stay at Redstreak Campground.
Location Advantages
The strategic position of Redstreak Campground above Radium Hot Springs provides numerous advantages for campers. The elevation offers cooler temperatures during hot summer days compared to the valley floor, while the sunny plateau designation means you’ll enjoy more direct sunlight and warmer conditions than you might experience in heavily forested campgrounds at higher elevations.
The proximity to Radium Hot Springs village means you have immediate access to restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and other services. This convenience is particularly valuable for longer stays when you might need to resupply, or for those who enjoy the option of dining out occasionally during their camping trip. The ability to walk into town via trail also means you can enjoy an evening in the village without worrying about parking or driving.
From a broader regional perspective, Redstreak Campground serves as an excellent base for exploring not just Kootenay National Park, but also the wider Canadian Rockies region. Banff National Park and Yoho National Park are within reasonable driving distance, making Redstreak a potential home base for a multi-park exploration trip.
Planning Your Visit
When planning your stay at Redstreak Campground, consider the seasonal timing carefully. The May opening means you can enjoy spring conditions with fewer crowds and the possibility of seeing wildlife that’s more active during this season. Early season camping also means you’ll witness the forest coming to life after winter, with wildflowers beginning to bloom and trees leafing out.
Summer months from late June through August represent peak season, with the warmest weather and longest days. This period offers the most reliable weather for hiking and outdoor activities, though you can expect fuller campground occupancy and should book well in advance to secure your preferred site type and dates.
The fall shoulder season from September through the October 13th closing offers some of the most spectacular conditions of the year. The autumn colors transform the forest, particularly the deciduous trees mixed throughout the coniferous woodland. Temperatures cool down, making hiking especially pleasant, and you’ll encounter fewer crowds than during the summer peak. Wildlife activity increases as animals prepare for winter, offering enhanced viewing opportunities.
Booking Considerations
With 242 sites spread across multiple loops and four different site types, Redstreak Campground offers options for most camping preferences. However, the most desirable site types—particularly the oTENTik units and full-hookup sites—can book up quickly for peak season weekends and holiday periods.
When selecting your site, consider what’s most important to your camping experience. If you value the ability to walk to viewpoints without getting in your vehicle, sites closer to trailheads might be preferable. If you’re camping with children and want easy access to facilities, sites more centrally located in the loops might be better. For those seeking maximum privacy and quiet, sites at the ends of loops or with more forest screening would be ideal.
The Broader Context
My work as Eric Tremblay has been focused on exploring the Canadian Rockies since 2020, documenting experiences across multiple national parks and providing practical information for trip planning. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Jasper National Park like Maligne Lake, Spirit Island, or Athabasca Falls, searching for hikes in Jasper National Park including Valley of the Five Lakes, Icefields Parkway trails, or the Skyline trail, or need to know where to stay in Jasper National Park at campgrounds, cabins, or hotels, my content provides detailed guidance.
The same comprehensive approach applies to Banff National Park, where I cover attractions like Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, along with hikes ranging from Tunnel Mountain to Sentinel Pass and Bow Glacier Falls. Accommodation options in Banff National Park including campgrounds, cabins, and hotels are also thoroughly documented.
For Yoho National Park, I explore destinations like Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls, and Emerald Lake, along with challenging hikes such as the Lake O’Hara Alpine circuit, Iceline trail, and Hamilton Lake trail. Accommodation resources for Yoho National Park complete the coverage.
This comprehensive documentation of the Canadian Rockies provides endless ideas for road trips, travel guides, campground reviews, and itinerary information that proves invaluable to trip planning in Alberta Parks and BC Parks.
Making the Most of Your Stay
Redstreak Campground offers more than just a place to sleep—it provides a complete camping experience with built-in hiking opportunities, spectacular views, and convenient access to both wilderness and amenities. The variety of site types means that whether this is your first camping trip or your hundredth, whether you’re traveling in a luxury motorhome or carrying a backpack, you’ll find accommodations that suit your needs.
The Columbia Valley views, Sinclair Canyon scenery, and trail network make this campground destination-worthy in itself, not merely a convenient place to stay while exploring elsewhere. Taking time to walk the Redstreak loop trail, explore the various lookout points, and perhaps make the trip down to the hot springs pools via the connecting trail will enhance your appreciation of what this area offers.
The 90 acres of woodland that comprise the campground provide ample space for exploration and discovery without ever leaving the property. Early morning walks through the campground loops often reveal wildlife, from deer browsing in the understory to birds active in the canopy. The plateau setting means you’re positioned in an ecotone where different habitat types meet, increasing the diversity of species you might encounter.
Regional Exploration Opportunities
While Redstreak Campground provides plenty to see and do without leaving the immediate area, its location makes it an ideal base for exploring Kootenay National Park and the surrounding region. Day hikes throughout the park range from easy interpretive walks to challenging backcountry routes, providing options for all ability levels and time commitments.
The park’s highway corridor connects to both Banff National Park to the east and the Columbia Valley region to the west, positioning you perfectly for excursions in multiple directions. Whether you’re interested in hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, or simply scenic driving, Redstreak Campground places you within reach of diverse opportunities.
The village of Radium Hot Springs itself offers dining, shopping, and entertainment options that complement your camping experience. After a long day of hiking or exploring, the ability to walk or drive a short distance to a restaurant for dinner provides welcome variety from camp cooking, while the grocery stores allow you to resupply fresh foods without a lengthy expedition.
Redstreak Campground in Kootenay National Park combines the best elements of developed campground amenities with genuine natural beauty and wilderness access. The complete tour I’ve provided of all the camping loops, the showcase of different site types, and the exploration of Sinclair Canyon lookouts and the Redstreak loop trail gives you a comprehensive understanding of what to expect when you visit this hidden gem in Canada’s national park system.