2025 camping reservations open for many B.C. parks

It's that time of year: camping reservations for many of British Columbia's provincial parks are now open. 

Campsites can be reserved up to four months in advance of arrival date, according to the Ministry of Environment and Parks, which means reservations for the May long weekend open this week for campgrounds that accept bookings. 

On Monday morning, the ministry said in a statement that 60 campsites in three parks have been added to the reservation system. B.C. Parks manages more than 10,000 campsites in hundreds of parks across the province, and about half of them can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

B.C. Parks says it is working to repair infrastructure that was damaged by recent storms.

The opening date for reservations at Golden Ears Park has been delayed due to repairs to Golden Ears Parkway. Details about the reservations along the Berk Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park will be announced at a later date as a section of the trail undergoes repairs.

In 2024, B.C. Parks said it shut down a camping reservation scalper who was trying to resell reservations in two parks at a profit. 

It said at the time that campers should only purchase campsite reservations from camping.bcparks.ca or an authorized agent. 

"If B.C. Parks suspects a reservation holder of reselling, B.C. Parks will do an investigation to confirm the behaviour. If it's found to be true, the reservation holder will have their reservations cancelled without refund," it said. 

Ryan Stuart of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. said that for those who miss out on reservations for B.C. Parks over the May long weekend, there are other options. 

"There always are empty campsites out there," he said. 

"You just need to be a little bit more flexible, maybe willing to travel a bit further."

Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson said cancellations do happen, so interested campers can keep an eye on the B.C. Parks website.