Whitehorse campgrounds packed, officials say 'go further'

If you've been frustrated trying to secure a weekend camping spot at a Yukon park, the territorial government has some advice — look beyond the Whitehorse area.

"On weekends, we really encourage people to go further afield," said Dan Paleczny, a director with Environment Yukon. "We've got some nice campgrounds."

Paleczny says more and more people are camping in Yukon.

Since 2008, the parks system has seen about a 30 per cent increase in the number of campers, he said. Campers are also staying for longer periods.

But they're tending to stick relatively close to the capital, Paleczny said — at campgrounds such as Wolf Creek, Marsh Lake, or Kusawa Lake. 

The new Conrad campground, which opened this summer, has also been full or nearly full most weekends, he said.

"We've increased the number of campsites by 19 per cent, within an hour and a half to two hours from Whitehorse. And all of those are full, really," Paleczny said.

He says there are 42 territorial parks, and "a lot of people really don't know that we've got all of those other campgrounds.

"There's a lot going on out there, there's a lot of neat places to explore."