RV Glamping at RidgeView Resort in Radium Hot Springs, BC

We spent a long weekend at the RidgeView Resort in Radium Hot Springs, and it seriously raised the bar! Camping has never been so comfortable, and “glamping” would perhaps be a more accurate term. 

Many campgrounds label themselves as RV “resorts,” but this one truly deserves the title and gets a 5 star rating from my family.

Camping is pretty comfortable when you stay at the RidgeView Resort in Radium Hot Springs

Highlights for us included

- Large fully serviced RV sites with wooden decks and covered gazebos, BBQs + propane included on every site, and outdoor electrical sockets to create a true patio kitchen and living area. - and this is every site (not just luxury or premier sites!)

- The huge outdoor swimming pool with a legit deep end , ~ 7 feet, (clearly marked with a rope to protect young children.) There’s also an indoor pool + hot tub (with an open patio door separating the two areas.) 

Add loungers surrounding the pool, cabanas to rent, and a poolside snack shack, and we spent a LOT of time here until the recreation centre closed every night. Families can easily set up for the day, buy lunch to enjoy beside the pool, and even play cards or games at the tables behind the pool. And yes, small floaties are allowed!

- Live entertainment on Saturday beside the pool! The musician was fabulous and he kept us entertained with a great mix of sing-along classics. - and there is nothing like floating in a pool while Margaritaville is being performed LIVE beside the pool. (Note the live poolside entertainment is a special event on long weekends.)

- The Saturday night dance party with live band (a regular event all summer long.) Next year I’m brushing up on my two-step before we return!

Every campsite at RidgeView has a wooden platform and gazebo

Not a bad way to start your camping day!

Introduction to the RidgeView RV Park and Vacation Club

Promoted as Canada's best RV Park and Vacation Club, the Holmgren Family has owned and operated the RidgeView Resort for over 20 years. 

And when I say that this resort is "family" owned, I mean owned, managed, and very involved! We met and chatted with the owner, Wayne Holmgren, every single day as he drove his golf cart around the campground chatting with guests. He'd stop to ask how our day was, where we were heading for the day, or to ask if we had any questions about the resort.

Grandpa Wayne walks around the pool every afternoon, stopping to chat with every guest beside the pool. He knows everybody by name and he doesn't just sit in the shadows or spend his summers in a house somewhere else while a management company cares for his property.

Wayne's son Jeff is also a vibrant active member of the resort, living on site as well with his wife, and is the current manager of the property. Jeff is always visible throughout the day and evening, helping out with resort activities and events, and is extremely approachable and friendly.

The resort describes their property below:

"Located on the edge of Radium Hot Springs, and immersed in the beautiful Columbia Valley of British Columbia, RidgeView offers over 100 acres of peaceful wilderness. The Club includes paved roads and RV lots which accommodate Class A, C, and Super B motorcoaches, in addition to rental houses for the non-campers among us.  RidgeView is the mountain oasis you have been searching for.  A perfect place to choose your own adventure on, or off the resort."

There are many great RV sites along a scenic bench overlooking the Columbia Valley wetlands

The perfect relaxing RV site

The RidgeView Resort Vacation Club Experience

RidgeView Resort is technically a "vacation club" where members pay for their vacation week and return to the same site on an annual basis, guaranteed to have the same site and week(s) without the hassle of annual bookings. Think "time share" but for RV camping.

Non-members can still camp at the resort however, and are extremely welcome here. Sites that are not going to be used by members get released into the general rental pool, and then available sites can be reserved for the following season.

Sites are usually released by non-members by September or October each year for the following summer.

Summer availability is limited (so make your reservation early,) but there is always lots of availability in spring/fall. 

Note all campsites are for self contained trailers and RVs (must have a kitchen + bathroom.) There are no tent sites. There are also no rental RVs so you’ll need your own.

And don't worry about pressure to become a vacation club member! This isn't an all inclusive resort with pushy salespeople on site. You will not be invited to attend a special "welcome breakfast" to discuss membership. ;)

2024 Summer Bookings

Advance summer bookings for the 2024 season will have a 7 day minimum next year (meaning you will have to book the site for 7 nights.)

 Demand is so strong that the resort expects to sell out most of their inventory on this basis before revisiting their policies in the spring.  

Spring and fall campsites can still be reserved for a short term stay (think weekend or a 2-3 day stay.)

Our cozy RV site at night with its wooden deck and gazebo

The resort also has 9 vacation homes that can be rented by non-campers who may want to join you for your trip. Each vacation home has 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a gas fireplace, a sun deck with BBQ, and high speed Wifi.

Finally, there is also the option to lease an RV site at RidgeView which includes affordable winter storage (and dry winter camping as of the 2023-24 season.)

Visit the RidgeView Resort website to check availability for RV sites or vacation homes. 

Vacation Homes at RidgeView Resort (Photo: RidgeView)

RidgeView Resort Amenities

RV sites are fully serviced and include a wooden deck and covered cabana with outdoor electrical sockets, a BBQ with propane, and full hookups. 

Note there are no fire pits on campsites, but propane fire bowls are allowed, and there is a central courtyard propane fire pit near the recreation centre.

Each campsite includes a covered cabana, picnic table, and BBQ!

Vacation homes or campsites include access to resort amenities including an indoor swimming pool and hot tub in winter, an outdoor pool in summer, fitness centre, arcade room, playground, pickle ball and tennis courts, beach volleyball, a basketball court, and mini-golf (May - September.)

The outdoor pool will hopefully open for the May long weekend in 2024 and then closes after the September long weekend.

Follow this link to see more photos of the resort. 

The Central courtyard is the place to be Saturday nights with live entertainment! (Photo: RidgeView)

 

Summer RV Life at the RidgeView Resort

The Resort Hospitality and Events Coordinator plans many family and children’s events between July and the September long weekend including a kids kraft korner, kids half-day camps, and pool-side activities.

• Kids Kraft Korner: (Monday-Thursday) – where children will have fun making a quality nature themed craft
  
  
• Kids Half-day camps – 4 hours of fun filled events under the supervision of the resort's trained staff including craft making, nature walks, mini-golf, outdoor play and snacks from the Snak Shak. 
  
  
• Pool-side activities – The resort hosts numerous activities around the pool including bingo, games of name that tune, water volleyball and other fun events sure to entertain the entire family. There is also live entertainment beside the pool over the July and August long weekends.

Krafts and day camps can be signed up for online on the resort website.

Mini golf is just one of the activities kids will be able to enjoy (Photo: RidgeView Resort)

The Outdoor pool is the place to be on a hot summer day with poolside loungers, cabanas to rent, and easy access to the indoor pool/hot tub when it's cooler outside. The poolside Snak-Shak has a full menu including hot dogs, hamburgers, poutine, fries, and nachos. They also have healthy and fresh options including salads and fruit cups, and of course you can get ice-cream and slushies. They even have staff members circulating around the pool to take orders so you don't have to even leave your lounger!

The outdoor pool and courtyard are the centre of RV life at RidgeView

A Courtyard fire pit is an exciting resort addition this season. It serves as a community gathering place in the RidgeView Courtyard, surrounded by a dozen red Adirondack chairs. Hang out here while your kids play basketball, play at the playground, or just simply to enjoy a tall glass of red wine by the warmth of a smoke-free propane fire under the stars.

RidgeView Resort courtyard 

The resort hosts a weekly Saturday Night Market and Dance through the summer season with a live band! Tables are set up in the courtyard and this is a fun event for the entire family!

Then Sunday morning, skip the cooking, and attend the weekly pancake breakfast at the resort for an affordable price.

There is live music Saturday nights all summer long! (Photo: RidgeView Resort)

Saturday night dance party with live music!

Check out what's happening around the resort for your upcoming visit on the online calendar (including events around the Valley.)

Skip the cooking Sunday morning! (Photo: Ridgeview resort)

Making a Reservation at RidgeView Resort

Visit the RidgeView Resort website to check availability for campsites and vacation homes. While summer fills up quickly, the resort always has lots of vacancy for the spring and fall months when it is very warm and sunny in the Columbia Valley. 

Truthfully, spring and fall are our favourite times to camp in the Radium Hot Springs area. 

Just one of the gorgeous campsites at RidgeView Resort (Photo: RidgeView)

Plan Your Trip to the Columbia Valley 

Recommended Reading:

Read: The Best of the Columbia Valley (Radium Hot Springs to Invermere - and beyond!) 

Radium Hot Springs is a great destination for your next camping trip

Disclaimer: We have been hosted at RidgeView and this story is written in partnership with the resort. Many photos were provided by the resort. Others are my own.