Demand for B.C. campsites swells as season approaches

If you're hoping to find a campsitewithout a reservation this season, you might wantto pack someTylenol.

The hunt for alast-minute camping spot for the upcoming Victoria Day weekend is sure to cause someheadaches nearly 100,000 reservations for campsites in B.C. parks havebeen booked since January,up 13 per cent from the same time last year.

Many peoplelooking for a camping spot on a summer long weekendmight be hard-pressed to find anything before Labour Day, according toSam Waddington, a Chilliwack city councillor who sits on the local and regional park boards.

"It's an inventory issue we just do not have enough campsites for people who want to go play," Waddington told host Angela Sterritt onB.C. Almanac.

"As a local resident ofB.C. I want to be able to [go camping]last minute," he added.

Last year, the B.C. government changed its reservations rule camperscan now reserve spots up to four months in advance. Reservations for the May long weekend opened in January, whilereservations for the Labour Day long weekend opened at the start of May.

In an e-mailed statement, B.C. Parkssaid there are still sites available for the four long weekends. However, listings onB.C. Parks Discover Camping Reservation Serviceshow limited availability in parks along the coast and in the southern Interior.

According to B.C. Parks, "while sites do tend to be available for a longer period now, we encourage people to continue planning ahead and book their spaces early to avoid disappointment."

No reservation? No problem

Campers looking to avoid reservations and crowds, however, can look to the backcountry to get their seasonal dose of the great outdoors.

"If you're someone who does not need the facilities or the outhouses or the showers or whatever it is in the standard park, you're actually allowed to backcountry camp in B.C. parks," said Waddington.

Backcountry permits are available online, but some restrictions apply.

Camping on Crown landis also an optionin B.C. for up to 14 days. The province maintains more than1,200 campsites in recreational areas outside of parks for public use, many of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

With files from CBC's B.C. Almanac