Few things conjure up images of a quaint, fireside wiener roast in the great outdoors than being snowed in and subjected to weeks of sub-zero temperatures.
So naturally, today (Jan. 2) the province opened up online reservations for provincial campgrounds.
The reservation system has been modified to combat the proliferation of over-booking, re-selling and online cheats.
For example, reservations made as of today apply towards a four-month, rolling window — meaning that a booking placed today can only be made at campgrounds with arrival dates on or before May 2.
Restrictions have also been introduced around changing arrival dates so that sites aren’t overbooked around long weekends. Campers will now be required to provide one or two permit holder names that can’t be changed at a later date, and at least one of those permit holders must be present for the duration of their stay.
A pilot project has also been implemented in some parks to reduce the maximum length of stay to one week, down from the previous 14-day maximum. Those parks include: Martha Creek (near Revelstoke), Mount Fernie (near Fernie), Porteau Cove (near Vancouver), Loveland Bay (near Campbell River) and Ellison (near Vernon).
The cost to make, change and cancel a campsite reservation remains the same as previous years: $6 plus tax per night, to a maximum of $18 plus tax for three or more nights per campsite.
Stats from the province suggest that of the 10,700 campsites BC Parks manages, about 55 per cent can be reserved, while the remaining 45 per cent are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Last year set a reservations record — 185,000 as of mid-September — and about 72 per cent of those reservations were made by B.C. residents.
Established in 1996, the Discover Camping reservation service is paid for exclusively through reservation fees. Demand for campsite reservations has grown by more than 90 per cent in the last five years.
Reservations are held until 11 a.m. the day after the scheduled arrival date. If the park is not notified of a late arrival, the site becomes available for others.
For more information, click here.
