Reservations open for spring 2025 camping season in British Columbia

CHILLIWACK — B.C. Parks says campsites at many of its managed facilities can now be reserved for the upcoming spring 2025 camping season.

The provincial agency made the announcement Monday (Jan. 13), saying campsites can be reserved four months ahead of the desired arrival date. Reservations for the May 2025 long weekend open this week for many BC Parks campgrounds that accept reservations.

This year, 60 new campsites located in three BC Parks are being added to the reservation service. This includes:

* 30 new campsites with power hookups in Fintry Park near Kelowna;

* 17 new walk-in sites at Rolley Lake Park near Mission; and

* 13 new sites (eight park-beside for tent camping and five walk-in) at China Beach Campground in Juan de Fuca Park near Victoria.

B.C. Parks says these three campgrounds have several facility upgrades to improve the visitor experience. At Fintry Park, new flush toilets, upgraded services centres with a dishwashing station, a potable water tap and garbage/recycling containers are part of the $1.5-million campground upgrades.

The new $2-million walk-in campground at Rolley Lake Park has a communal day-use shelter, bike racks, bear-proof storage and picnic tables.

At China Beach Campground, two accessible showers and flush toilets are being constructed and are scheduled to open in May 2025, along with the 13 new campsites. In spring 2024, 33 new campsites (22 drive-in and 11 walk-in) were added to the campground as part of the $2.7-million campground upgrades.

B.C. Parks states it is also working to repair civic facilities in parks that were damaged by recent storms.

The opening date for camping reservations in Golden Ears Park near Maple Ridge is delayed as several sections of the Golden Ears Parkway are being repaired. The road affords access to all three campgrounds that are expected to open in spring 2025. Updates about the progress of the work and the opening date for reservations will be posted on the B.C. Parks website.

Details about reservations for backcountry camping along the 23-kilometre Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park near Valemount will also be announced at a later date as work continues to repair and open the last phase of the popular trail that was damaged by extreme weather in 2021. Another significant storm in September 2024 damaged a section of the newly rebuilt trail.

The government says more than 2,000 new campsites have been added to BC Parks and recreation sites in regions with the highest demand, since 2017. Of the 10,700 campsites BC Parks manages, approximately half are available on a first-come, first-served basis.