It's only the first week of January, 2025, and the prospect of many more months of cold, wind, rain and possibly snow on the horizon may seem bleak. That's why starting to think about where to camp on May long weekend, when the sun will hopefully shine, might be a good idea.
BC Parks announced today, January 7, that the four-month rolling window will open most May long weekend provincial park camping reservations starting January 16 at 7 am.
The qathet region has plenty of camping options, but the two provincial parks that get busy are at Saltery Bay and Inland Lake.
The May long weekend and Victoria Day, which takes place on May 19, is the busiest weekend of the year, according to BC Parks. Long weekend reservations require a minimum three-night booking for front-country camping that includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
But what is the difference between front-country and backcountry camping?
Front-country camping is in an area within one kilometre of a park road or a highway accessible by vehicle. It also offers a range of amenities not available in more remote locations. Backcountry camping is in an area more than one kilometre away from any highway or park road. Backcountry campsites are not accessible by vehicle and have limited facilities. When folks are either front or backcountry camping, keeping food stored away from wildlife is important for campers safety and the animals.
Here are a few ways to store attractants while away from a campsite or sleeping:
Locked in a hard-sided vehicle or trailer; food storage locker (if provided); certified bear-resistant container; hang a bag of food from a high tree (if no other facilities exist).
It's also a good idea to check the BC Parks website for any facility information or active advisories that may be in place, such as a water advisory or park closure.
Across the province, $385,508 has been allocated for 104 community-led BC Parks projects to be completed by March 31. qathet Regional Cycling Association is one of the recipients of money allocated through the Community Park Enhancement Fund (PEF). Revenue from the sale of BC Parks licence plates goes into PEF and supports this program.
Projects this year include: trail maintenance, facility improvements and signage; species monitoring, habitat restoration and species counts; invasive species management accessibility projects; recreation projects; education programs, and camps.
BC Parks’ reservations can be accessed via camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1.800.689.9025.
Join the Peak’s email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
