Spruston Staging Area

We camped directly across from the access gate into the staging area, apparently this area and the area prior to it (opposite side of the road to the staging area) is private property. Take it as you will. Owner (we think) wasn’t too stressed.

The staging area has a locked gate so access is no longer available. Lots of trees down from the storm last night. Access road in is difficult due to low hanging trees.

My girlfriend and I camped out in our car for one night with no issues. There were some cars driving past and some people quading in and out of the site next to us but we didn’t mind. It’s a beautiful area in the forest and not too far off the highway! I think the area in the pictures was fenced off but there were plenty of spots along the road that were unoccupied. There’s some areas where people are obviously living full time with lots of garbage and stuff but there were no issues. As 2 girls camping alone we were very wary but actually felt very safe here!

This is a popular spot for good reason: it is located just 20 minutes outside the city of Nanaimo and accessible by a paved road. The asphalt eventually gives way to a short gravel section leading to a large clearing in the forest with a stony/grassy/dirt base. Signage at the entrance indicates this is a multi-use site managed by the Back Country Horseman of BC and there are multiple horse corrals around the site. There is also a large communal fire pit though 2 campers chose to build fires at their site.

The area is open enough to provide plenty of solar. Unfortunately, while we were there, the site was occupied by a group who don’t have solar and instead ran a loud generator til 1am and again at 7am the next morning. In addition, there is a gravel road that continues past the site and there were several pick up trucks that drove right past our spot late in the evening and again the following morning.

While we were there, there were 2 campsites that were obviously being occupied in an ongoing way by homeless persons. Nanaimo is experiencing an ongoing crisis over homelessness. The city has a large tent city downtown that is about to be closed and it seems very likely that more homeless people will seek to live here.

Having said all that, we did meet a couple fulltiming in a van with solar and friendly man with a homemade tiny house, both nomadic travelers from out of province. There are also stunningly beautiful trails that lead into the forest from the far outhouse. Well worth exploring on foot or horseback!

Note as we left on a Friday morning, 4 trucks pulling horse trailers were pulling in. Beware this can be a busy spot for the equestrian users on weekends.

Marginal AT&T signal only with booster, no Bell Canada even with booster.