B.C. Parks camping reservations for May long weekend open on Jan. 16

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B.C. Parks is advising outdoor enthusiasts to limber up their click finger for the launch of online bookings for the first big camping weekend in May.

Reservations for most parks open at 7 a.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 16. That’s the date when the four-month rolling window opens for bookings over the May long weekend. (Victoria Day is on Monday, May 19, in 2025.)

B.C. Parks says Victoria Day weekend is its busiest weekend of the year. To make a long-weekend reservation, you must book a minimum of three nights at front-country campsites including Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. For that first long weekend of camping season, that means a stay from May 16 to 18.

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The rolling four-month reservation window was instituted several years ago to improve access. The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks says it has “significantly improved the booking experience by providing more opportunities to secure reservations as new inventory is released daily, rather than all at once in a single day.”

B.C. Parks has added 60 campsites to its reservation service in 2025: 30 with power hookups in Fintry Park, Kelowna; 17 walk-in sites at Rolley Lake Park near Mission; and 13 sites at China Beach Campground in Juan de Fuca Park near Victoria. Opening day for reservations at Golden Ears Park near Maple Ridge has been delayed as sections of the Golden Ears Parkway are under repair.

Campers are warned to only book what they need. In an effort to make reservations fair and equal for everyone, B.C. Parks reviews suspicious activity, such as booking several sites on popular dates, and reserves the right to cancel them and assess penalties for misuse. Take a look at B.C. Parks’ reservation policies.

Reserved vs. first come, first served

B.C. Parks maintains a ratio of 55 per cent reservable sites to 45 per cent that are first come, first served. That’s so people can plan ahead or spontaneously head out to snag a site that wasn’t booked up months ago.

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First come campgrounds can be found at camping.bcparks.ca. After you search for a park and your preferred dates, click on the map to see what’s available. Circles indicate you can reserve it, and stars tell you it’s first come, first served. For those sites, you have to show up and see if it’s still available.

Camping fees vary, so click on an icon to see what it costs, what’s permitted on site, what amenities are available and whether there are any restrictions. Cancellations and changes can be made online, or at 1-800-689-9025 for a $5 fee.

How to use the B.C. Parks reservation website

For less experienced campers, family-friendly front-country campsites are recommended. There are 110 sites across the province, most of which take reservations. (If you’re planning a more adventurous trip, see the backcountry camping reservation site.)

The easiest way to book is to choose a campsite and your preferred dates. Remember that you can’t reserve more than four months in advance, and the popular spots are likely to be fully booked if you wait much longer than that.

That’s why it’s useful to sign up for the “Notify me” feature. After you pick a site and the dates you want, click the green notification button in the top right corner. You can use the feature either before the four-month reservation window or after, if a site is fully booked, in case there are cancellations. You can use “Notify me” for five alerts on reservable front-country campgrounds.

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Secure your stuff

Park rangers will be on the watch this year to make sure campers don’t attract wildlife. “We share parks with wildlife that depend on it for survival,” said the park service in an email to users.

“Many animals will investigate objects left lying around or on picnic tables. Remember the motto: ‘Keep it bare when you’re not there… or sleeping.’”

Those found to have failed to secure wildlife attractants — the most obvious one being your food supplies — can be fined and/or evicted from the park. Attractants need to be locked in a hard-sided trailer or vehicle, in a food storage locker where they’re available, a certified bear-resistant container, or hanging from a high tree where no other options exist.

Know before you go

Does the campsite have pit toilets or other amenities? Is there an active water advisory?

Before you head out, you should check the park website for the latest advisories, safety information, maps, activities and other information. It can help you know what to expect and what kinds of supplies you might need — and most important, keep you safely within your experience level.

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Key dates for long weekend reservations

If you’re planning on camping over a long weekend this summer, it’s a good idea to bookmark these 2025 reservation openings:

• Victoria Day (Monday, May 19): Reservations for a three-night stay starting Friday, May 16, open on Thursday, Jan. 16

• Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1): Technically not a long weekend, but bookings for Friday, June 27, open on Thursday, Feb. 27

• B.C. Day (Monday, Aug. 4): Reservations for Friday, Aug. 1, open on Tuesday, April 1

• Labour Day (Monday, Sept. 1): Reservations for Friday, Aug. 29, open on Tuesday, April 29

For bookings early in camping season, keep in mind that some parks don’t open until later in the year. Check bcparks.ca for opening dates at specific campgrounds.

jruttle@postmedia.com

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