The weather outside is cold, but it’s already time to start thinking about camping.
Registration for BC Park’s campsites opens at 7 a.m. on Jan. 3. People can book a site up to four months ahead, by going online to the BC Parks website.
In previous years, reservations were only available two months in advance.
"Through our ongoing visitor engagement, we've heard the majority of campers prefer a four-month rolling window, allowing people to book a site well in advance of their visit," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "We will continue to listen to public feedback so we can improve people's park experiences, and everyone can easily access the many beautiful parks and backcountry areas our province has to offer."
Registrations for the popular Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit in Bowron Lake Provincial Park opened on Dec. 1 for the entire 2023 season.
“People need to be prepared and self-sufficient for this backcountry experience that involves 116 kilometres of paddling across 10 lakes with several portages that require transporting canoes and gear over land,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Environment said.
The majority of the 23-km Berg Lake Train in Mount Robson Provincial Park will be closed for the 2023 season, except for 14 sites at the Kinney Lake Campground. The trail was damaged by extreme weather in 2021 and remains closed for repairs.
Registration for the Kinney Lake Campground, located 7 km from the parking lot, will open on Feb. 1.
"We are fortunate to live in a province that has an abundance of spectacular parks for people to connect with nature and learn about Indigenous Peoples' history and culture," said Kelly Greene, parliamentary secretary for environment. "We continue to expand opportunities for camping and improve accessibility so more people can experience the natural treasures of our beautiful province."
More than 317,000 campsite reservations were made on the BC Parks reservation service in 2022, up by 26.5 per cent from 2019. BC Parks have more than 10,000 reservable day-use and overnight accommodations available, ranging from day-use passes and parking permits to backcountry cabins and yurts.
Of the 10,700 campsites BC Parks manages, roughly half are available on a first-come-first served basis, and most campgrounds with reservations also maintain some spots available on a first-come-first-served basis.
