With the sunny hot days we’ve been having across BC, the province has implemented fire restrictions, and in most cases bans. The ban includes most of Vancouver Island, and while in previous years the fog zone may have been an exception to the bans, this zone no longer exists, which means the coastal areas will be regulated by the local community or Parks Canada. It’s important to stay up to date on current fire restrictions, as well as follow any municipal guidelines in the area you’re visiting. Read more about the current fire restrictions on the coast.
There’s no need to worry about how you’ll cook up your campfire treats while camping on Vancouver Island though; we’ve put together a couple of cooking alternatives that will not only yield some delicious eats, but keep our campgrounds and forests safe.
Traditional Camping Stove
Car camping connoisseurs and back country backpackers alike can attest to the efficiency of the traditional camping stove. Whether you’re packing in a lightweight system and some fuel or setting up a propane cooktop on the hitch of your truck, you’ve got plenty of options for your Vancouver Island camping meals. There’s a beauty to a camping stove too—the heat is more predictable, making it easier to get a consistent cook on whatever dish you’re prepping outdoors. If you must have hotdogs while out in the woods, bring along a propane BBQ. You’ll get the same roasted-outdoors satisfaction you get from a campfire.
For a camping stove s’more, you’ll have to get a bit more creative. On a sheet of tinfoil, sandwich your layers of graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. Seal up the tinfoil, and place it on the grill of your camping BBQ. It’ll melt the marshmallow and chocolate, all while keeping your BBQ from getting sticky.
At the end of the night, these systems are easy to clean up and pack away.
Tip: Remember to be bear aware while your cooking up food at a Vancouver Island campsite. Always clean up when you’re done, and store food in your car or in a bear container.
A DIY Tinfoil Oven
This option is for the hardcore DIYers out there. A solar cooker uses carboard, tin foil, and the sun to create a mini oven, getting hot enough to heat up pre-cooked hot dogs. In addition to being a safe method for cooking during a fireban, it’s also a fun food project.
A Portable Propane Fire Pit
And because the light of the fire lends so much to the ambiance of your Vancouver Island camping trip, you can always go for a portable propane fire pit. These handy fire pits are hooked up to a propane tank, and the fires are contained within the pit quite safely. If you’re using one in BC, it must be CSA or ULC approved. If you don’t mind a potential clean up later, you can also use these firepits to cook hotdogs and make s’mores!
Other safety tips
- Remember to leave no trace when you’re out in the woods. You can take it a step further by cleaning up any garbage you find along the way.
- Be bear aware: pack up all of your food in bear boxes or in your car when you’re not cooking or eating.
- Share any hiking plans with a friend.
Plan your entire camping trip! Check our our Vancouver Island camping listings and add them to your travel plans.
