Camping enthusiasts across British Columbia (Canada) went full force on Monday, desperately trying to make campground reservations.
According to a report, within one hour, campsites for the Victoria Day long weekend in May were booked solid for the Golden Ears and Rolley Lake Provincial Parks, said Stu Burgess, operations manager of Golden Ears and Rolley Lake Provincial Parks, who anticipates another jam-packed season.
This year’s revamped reservation system includes features that make search options more flexible in locating and booking campsites, including as much as five large photos per campsite.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has been gathering feedback about the new website over the last month and is hoping that the new system will offer a more accessible and more inclusive online experience for visitors booking through bcparks.ca.
“We are working at getting all the water systems up and running, making sure all the sewer systems are functional, getting all the winter debris and dirt cleaned up, we are pressure washing the interior of the bathroom buildings, we are cleaning all of the winter debris off campsites and roads and trails, and all that sort of stuff. So we’re right at the thick of it right now,” Burgess said.
Burgess reminds the public that the reservation window is two months before the expected arrival date.
BC Parks has more than 10,000 reservable day-use and overnight accommodations. These include day-use passes, parking permits, campsites, backcountry permits, a world-class canoe circuit, picnic shelters, backcountry cabins, and a yurt.
The Ministry said that the reservation demand has increased by 200% over the last decade.
This story originally appeared on Maple Ridge News.