Updated BC Parks reservation system open but doesn’t work for all
Destination BC photo
This week, the BC Parks campsite reservation system opened with a four-month rolling booking window, which means reservations are open for early May.
While the new system seems to be working well and has resolved some of the technical hiccups campers experienced in the past, it is still clear that the reservation system isn't doing enough for the large proportion of British Columbians who can't - or prefer not to - plan their camping vacation four months in advance.
Of the 10,700 campsites BC Parks manages, 55% are reservable and 45% are available on a first-come, first-served basis (FCFS). This might sound alright, but the fact is that first-come-first-serve sites have gradually been eliminated from all of the busy parks. Of the 1,600 sites available with BC Parks within a 3 hours drive of the Lower Mainland, only 50 are not reservable. Consequently, many British Columbians who don't know their schedules four months in advance or who prefer to make plans closer to the time miss out on making camping with B.C.'s provincial parks part of their annual holiday plans. This is unfortunate, as this vacation option remains one of the most affordable ways to go on holiday as a family or with friends.
In addition, we are concerned that the continued imbalance between the supply of and demand for campsites in popular areas that can only be resolved through the creation of more campsites and about the efficiency of how no-show campsites are added back into the reservation system or made available through a first-come-first-serve procedure, so camping opportunities are not wasted.
We have requested a meeting with the new parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Aman Singh, to discuss how camping opportunities within BC Parks can be improved. According to his mandate letter, Parliamentary Secretary Singh will lead on work to create new campgrounds, trails, recreation sites and protected areas; propose new funding to improve infrastructure; and ensure provincial parks and recreational opportunities remain affordable for British Columbians.
We shared some of our thoughts this week with the Vancouver Sun and with the CBC.
