Race begins for summer campsites in Alberta's national parks

Keen campers can start securing national park sites for the busy summer season.

Parks Canada began taking bookings at 8 a.m. MT Tuesday for Jasper National Park. One of Jasper's campgrounds, Whistlers, is closed this year as it undergoes extensive upgrades.

Reservations open Wednesday at the same time for Banff National Park. On Thursday, you can book camping sites for Waterton Lakes, Wood Buffalo, Rocky Mountain House and Elk Island.

You'll have to wait a little longer for backcountry locations in the national parks. Reservations open Jan. 24 for backcountry camping in Banff,Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Backcountry reservations open Jan. 23 for Jasper.

Reservations can be made onlineat reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-RESERVE (737-3783).

Alberta Parks starts accepting group camping reservations for provincial campgrounds on Feb. 4, comfort camping on Feb. 11 and regular sites on Feb. 19.There's more information on those at reserve.albertaparks.ca.

Last year's provincialcampground online bookings broke a record with nearly 171,000 reservations.

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