The race will soon be on to reserve a campsite for the May long weekend in British Columbia.
The Ministry of Environment and Parks announced on Jan. 13 that BC Parks campgrounds for the spring season are available.
BC Parks reservations can be booked four months in advance. This year, the long weekend falls on May 17 and 18 with the Victoria Day holiday on May 19.
As of Jan. 13, there are many available campsites the weekend before the holiday in Coastal Mainland, Islands, Southern Interior and Northern B.C.
Getting a reservation for a long weekend is highly sought after in B.C.
While people can make reservations for sites, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Parks says that half of the 10,700 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
"Since 2017, more than 2,000 new campsites have been added to BC Parks and recreation sites in regions with the highest demand,” they say.
More campsites added
Sixty new campsites have been added to three BC Parks in Kelowna, Mission and Vancouver Island.
Kelowna’s Fintry Park now has 30 new campsites with power hookups. The park also has new flush toilets, an upgraded dishwashing station, a potable water tap along with garbage and recycling containers. The new updates are part of provincewide $1.5-million campground upgrades.
In Mission, the Rolley Lake Park has 17 new walk-in sites. According to ministry staff, the new $2-million walk-in campground has a communal day-use shelter, bike racks, picnic tables and bear-proof storage.
Reservations for the campsites in Fintry Park and Rolley Lake Park will open at 7 a.m. on Jan. 15 for May 15 arrivals.
On Vancouver Island, China Beach campground in Juan de Fuca Park has eight new sites that people can park at and five new walk-in sites. Two accessible showers and flush toilets are being added to the park and will open in May 2025. This park had upgrades in the spring of 2024, which included 33 new campsites.
Reservations for these new sites will open at a future date.
Repairs to damaged parks
An atmospheric river heavily damaged the parkway in Golden Ears Park near Maple Ridge in October 2024.
The public road used to access all three campgrounds was damaged and was gated off.
The opening for reservations at the park will be delayed as repairs are ongoing and the road is expected to open in spring 2025.
Work is continuing at the Berg Lake Trail, which was damaged in 2021 and again in 2024.
For more information about specific camp sites, visit BC Parks’ website.
