Camping at Provincial Parks to Cost More

Friday, March 19, 2010 01:19 PM

VICTORIA - Starting April 1, it will cost more for a provincial park campsite.

User fees for camping will increase between $1 and $6 for basic camping sites. Also as of April 1st, a new reservation system will allow campers to reserve specific sites.

Fee changes:

* Camping fees for basic and moderate sites will increase by either $1 or $2 per night. (Basic sites will increase from $15 to $16 per night, and moderate sites will increase from $19 to $21 per night.)

* Camping fees in some developed campgrounds will increase by an additional $2 per night (from $26 to $28) and some by an additional $4 per night (from $26 to $30) for highest-demand sites with the highest levels of service.

* Premium backcountry fees for adults will increase by $5 per night (from $5 to $10) at Garibaldi, Cathedral, Berg Lake (Mt Robson), Wells Grey, Juan de Fuca, Strathcona, Cape Scott, Mt Assiniboine, Kokanee Glacier and Bugaboo. (Youth ages 13-18 yrs old will remain at $5 per night). Backcountry fees in 33 parks, including E.C. Manning, Wells Gray and Tweedsmuir, will remain at $5 per night.

* Mooring buoy fees will increase by $2 per night (from $10 to $12).

* Sani-station fees will increase by $3 per use (from $2 to $5 per discharge).

This is the first increase in two years.

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Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 01:19 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Loki on March 19 2010 1:44 PM

Pillaging the the working class wallet continues!

Just wait, there is more to come.

Posted by: faxman on March 19 2010 2:01 PM

Sounds to me like equal opportunity wallet pillaging to me; nothing to do with class.

Posted by: faxman on March 19 2010 2:02 PM

I said "to me" twice. My kingdom -such as it is- for the ability to edit.

Posted by: MrPG on March 19 2010 2:06 PM

Darn it. I was hoping that the prices would stay the same forever.

Posted by: acopolympics on March 19 2010 2:12 PM

User fees make more sense than taxing everyone for services only some use. Now if they would only charge user fees for services that are used individually instead of blanket utility and city taxes, that would make me smile.

Posted by: PaysHisOwnWay on March 19 2010 2:24 PM

I agree......user fees are the way to go.

$10 a pop for every trip to the emergency ward/doctor would be the first one I would like to see.

Posted by: RUEZ on March 19 2010 2:30 PM

Those Olympics won't pay for themselves.

Posted by: gus on March 19 2010 2:41 PM

That is not camping anyway. That's called "living closer to your neighbour's wood smoke, yelling kids and poopin' dogs".

Hiking into the backwoods with a pup tent and the knowledge of how to forage for food in the woods, that's camping!

Posted by: He spoke on March 19 2010 2:57 PM

Wow, Gus.... its not like you, "you might be a redneck after all"

Posted by: He spoke on March 19 2010 2:58 PM

Then, they wonder where all the tourist went. I guess, they will obtain there goal of making the parks a wildlife perserve.

Posted by: Loki on March 19 2010 3:00 PM

pup tent?
Try this: http://hennessyhammock.com/

I have one, it is the best sleep ever, even better than my new mattress at home.

It is lighter and packs smaller overall than any other style of shelter and you don't get rocks and roots in the back or wet either.

Posted by: opinionated on March 19 2010 3:09 PM

Thank you but I will stick to camping at Walmart!!!

Posted by: whatintheheck on March 19 2010 4:31 PM

Nice site, Loki. Looks nice and comfy....

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 19 2010 4:59 PM

We saw this coming!
Problem is,you don't get much for your money anymore at a provincial campground.
They are generally a mess,poorly run,and simply a mere shadow of what they used to be.
And 5 bucks for an armload of wet firewood.
All Thanks to privatization,brought to you
by the Campbell clowns.
So what's get an increase next?

Posted by: Junco on March 19 2010 5:54 PM

Gus,you are right about the shortfalls that some people call camping. Spending a night on a gravel bar listening to city folk and their spawn let loose in the "woods" is not my idea of a good time. I'm lucky that I live in the woods and can enjoy the great outdoors in my back yard. I hope the increase covers well maintained out houses and a decent sized bundle of firewood as I sympathize with people wanting to get away from it all. Good luck.

Posted by: mouse on March 19 2010 8:21 PM

20 years ago families camped for $2 and you could show the next generation a little wilderness without risk. We felt at home and took ownership of our beautiful wilderness. Now most campsites charge for wood, we worked it out to about $20 for a wienner roast in southern BC. The access to crown land and lakes is slowly being taken away from the common man. What with the deterioration of provincial campsites,and blocking of bakcountry roads the government will hide what they are doing with our land. The rules on how you enter or use crown land are growing. Next thing is a permit to leave your city.

Posted by: whelen on March 19 2010 10:38 PM

mouse is on the right track.

Posted by: MrPG on March 20 2010 12:59 AM

News flash: We aren't in the 70's anymore.

Posted by: socredible on March 20 2010 8:13 AM

If EVERY dollar of ALL your incomes were completely taken by the government in taxes and fees will the government then be able to supply ALL your needs, and still have a "balanced Budget" without having to go further into debt? (Which, of course, it couldn't do, could it?)

Posted by: Outwest on March 20 2010 8:44 AM

It looks like some have lost the Value of Money , lets take a look what you get for 20 Bucks. Parking your four Wheels and going to the Washroom and a walk around the the Campground and if you want a Fire you pay again. I know all of us pull in with our 100 000 Dollar plus Motor Home and we are so Rich, so what is 20 Buck, just Change ? I know what I will do, stay home on my 5 Acres on the Lake and Charge myself 20 Bucks a Night.(includes a Fire)

Posted by: gitterdun on March 20 2010 9:00 AM

Hey, don't knock Walmart. With the new look I can camp for the night and I won't be able to tell that I haven't really gone anywhere unless I look at the gas gauge...it'll still say FULL!

Posted by: acopolympics on March 20 2010 10:02 AM

Even though a lot of people bitch about PG, I defy anyone to tell of a place in BC that has more accessible lakes within a couple hour drive and literally 1000s of lakes to hike into all within a hundred mile radius. Thats my camping, find a lake on a map, hike in and stay for a week, no people, no machinary, just us and the fish and wildlife.

Posted by: MrPG on March 20 2010 10:27 AM

Bang on... people cannot possibly be upset about paying $20 when they drive in with their expensive RV's, boats and toys. We do live in a great province, even though the naysayers will try to convince us otherwise.

Any chance to jump on the government for something, people will take it.

Posted by: metalman on March 20 2010 4:03 PM

$20.00 is cheap for a chance to listen to 6 boom boxes, 4 generators, 27 screaming children,(other people's) and of course the lighting systems for they are afraid of the beasts in the woods, not to mention the younger set driving around half the night in their cars, pickup, 4 wheelers, all with their own style of music, yep, can't wait to get home for some rest after that kind of camping.
I like them hammocks Loki, do they come one wide and two deep?
metalman.

Posted by: MrPG on March 20 2010 4:45 PM

True enough. These kinds of provincial sites do not appeal to those who like to camping with nothing more than a stick and a tarp.

Posted by: Loki on March 22 2010 8:50 AM

In fact there is a model that can hold 2 adults, wide or deep is your choice. In there description for each model is a weight or load limit; they start at 250#, the big one can carry 350# I think. Check the specs for each model because some are made for taller people.

In a pinch, 2 small adults could share their scout model as described in their testimonials.