Fairness changes to B.C. campsite reservation system due this spring

VICTORIA – Changes to the campsite reservation system at British Columbia's provincial parks will be introduced in time for next year's camping season.

Environment Minister Mary Polak says in a statement that the changes aim to improve fair access to everyone wanting to book a campsite in B.C.'s parks.

She says the changes are in response to complaints this year of overbooking at some in-demand camping locations and the reselling of spots at prime park locations.

Polak says she will eliminate the opening-day reservation system in an effort to replace the one-day scramble for every available campsite with an extended four-month rolling system of open campsites.

She says the new reservation system also includes a pilot project to increase camping opportunities at five high-use parks that cuts the maximum stays to seven days from 14 days.

Polak says there are about 10,700 vehicle-accessible campsites in B.C., with campers making more than 185,000 reservations this year.