Camping reservations for BC's provincial parks now open for locals

The weather has warmed up since British Columbia experienced a winter cold snap earlier in February, which has many people dreaming of sunny summer camping trips.

Those camping trips are still a few weeks away, but BC residents can officially start to plan and book some of those trips today.

As of 7 am, the Discover Camping reservation system is now open for the season, giving BC residents the chance to book their favourite campsite.

George Heyman, minister of environment, says our provincial parks have never been more important than they are right now and they provide a place that people can safely connect with nature.

“We are all looking forward to another summer of camping and outdoor recreation in BC,” he said.

“While public health concerns and advice remain, we are asking people to pick a campground as close to home as possible to avoid long road trips and non-essential travel."

Reservations can only be made within two months from the start of your camping trip and once again it’s expected to be a busy camping season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many of our campgrounds will be very busy, so it's important to plan ahead, follow public health guidelines, and enjoy BC's outdoors,” explained Eddie Wood, Society of Park Operators president.

British Columbians won’t have to fight for spaces with out-of-province campers, however, as anyone outside of BC will have to wait until July 8 to reserve a campsite.

The current public health restrictions advise against travel between provinces, but it’s expected those will be eased by the time camping season truly rolls around this summer.

Everything you need to know about reservations and camping facilities in your favourite BC provincial parks is available online.