Visitors and locals will pay more to camp in popular BC Parks campgrounds this year.

The Ministry of Environment and Parks said in a media release that in response to record visitation, escalating operating costs and the growing impacts of extreme weather, BC Parks is introducing a new camping surcharge for people living outside of B.C. and increasing camping fees.

During the past six years, the number of people visiting BC Parks sites has grown by about 30% and now averages more than 27 million visits every year. That has put a strain on aging infrastructure, trails, day-use areas and the natural environment, particularly at BC Parks’ most popular locations, the media release outlined.

At the same time, floods and wildfires have caused widespread damage to facilities and infrastructure, driving the need for significant repairs and ongoing reinvestment to keep parks open, safe and accessible.

“As British Columbians, we care deeply about our parks and recreation areas, and we recognize the significant cultural, economic and recreational roles they have for communities. At the same time, they have seen challenges, from extreme weather impacts to significant increases in visitors,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “By renewing the parks and recreation system, we are creating a more sustainable operating model that strengthens stewardship and long-term protections of the natural spaces people cherish.”

Camping fees will be updated in 59 high-demand parks and four popular backcountry parks: Garibaldi Park, Golden Ears Park, Joffre Lakes Park and Mount Assiniboine Park.

A new camping surcharge will also be introduced for people living outside of B.C., to help keep costs more affordable for B.C. residents. Approximately 15% of BC Parks visitors are from outside of the province and many of them visit the most popular locations.

Beginning May 15, non-B.C. residents will pay an additional $20 flat rate for staying in front-country campgrounds, trips to backcountry parks, renting a cabin and using mooring buoys and docks. Residency will be assessed by the home address people provide when making a reservation or arriving at a campsite that’s first come, first served.

B.C.’s camping fees remain competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions and will continue to vary by service level, demand and season to reflect the cost of operating and maintaining different park experiences, the ministry said.

For B.C. residents, updated camping fees in the 59 high-demand front-country parks include:

* an average increase of 40 cents per night during shoulder season;

* an average increase of $13.29 per night during the summer;

* a resulting average nightly rate of $30.81 in shoulder season and $42.91 in the summer.

Front-country refers to any area within one kilometre of a park road or highway.

The fee updates for backcountry camping in Garibaldi Park, Golden Ears Park, Joffre Lakes Park and Mount Assinboine include:

* an average fee increase of $13.62 per night;

* nightly fees ranging from $17 to $25 per night, depending on the park.

Fees will remain unchanged for 388 parks that have frontcountry and backcountry camping so people can choose from a range of experiences at different prices. There are also no fee changes for B.C. residents to sani-stations, mooring buoys, picnic shelters and group camping.

During the past decade, the number of people visiting the 59 front-country parks has increased by an average of 40%, representing nearly half of all front-country campground visits. The fee adjustments will go directly toward supporting the wide range of services people expect in these B.C. parks.

East Kootenay and nearby area parks seeing increases in fees include: Dry Gulch, Kikomun Creek, Kokanee Creek, Kootenay Lake, Mount Fernie, Moyie Lake and Syringa.

“Parks and trails are vital public assets that support community health, well-being, and local economies across British Columbia. As use continues to grow, targeted reinvestment in the parks system helps ensure these benefits remain available to British Columbians, while supporting the infrastructure and stewardship needed to care for these places responsibly,” said Louise Pedersen of Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.

“Campgrounds across British Columbia are seeing unprecedented demand, and continued reinvestment is essential to maintaining the high-quality experiences campers expect. Updating fees in the busiest parks helps ensure the entire system remains safe, well-maintained and able to support the growing number of people who rely on camping as an affordable way to connect with nature,” added Jamie Cox with B.C. Lodging and Camping Association.

B.C. has one of the largest parks systems in the world, with 1,050 provincial parks, recreation areas, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas covering more than 14 million hectares, or approximately 14.7% of the land base.

The system includes nearly 20,000 campsites and 28,000 kilometres of trails.

New economic data shows in 2023 alone, the outdoor recreation sector contributed $4.8 billion to B.C.’s economy, generated $17 billion and supported jobs worth $3.2 billion.

Lead image: Kikomun Creek Provincial Park.  e-KNOW file photos

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