WATCH: It may seem early to be thinking about camping, but you may want to plan ahead if you want to stay at a Parks Canada campground this summer. Ceilidh Millar reports.
Fort Rodd Hill’s oTENTiks are cabin-like structures that can accommodate up to six people for $120 a night.
“Each one has a different theme,” said Sophie Lauro of Parks Canada’s Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites. “The opportunity to camp in a historic site is pretty unique.”
The cabins are a relatively new and are an increasingly popular addition to the national historic site in Colwood.
Lauro says they’ve seen an 84 per cent increase in reservations compared to last year.
“In history, families of soldiers used to camp here in peacetime,” Lauro explained. “Where these [oTENTiks] are located is where a lot of the families would have camped out.”
Fort Rodd Hill isn’t the only West Coast national park campground that has had a jump in reservations this year. Since campsite bookings opened last week, officials say they’ve seen a record-high number of reservations.
“Some campgrounds are extremely popular and a lot of the time they are on people’s bucket lists,” Lauro added.
Green Point Campground overlooking Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is one of those ‘bucket list’ spots.
Reservations at the campground increased by 32 per cent with almost all July and August campsites snapped up by the first day.
For the first time, marine-access only campsites can be reserved in the Broken Group Islands.
More than 1,000 camping passes have already been reserved for peak periods over the summer.
“It’s amazing because it’s January and people are already thinking ahead” Lauro explained.
Despite the jump in reservations, Lauro says there are still plenty of spots available at many Vancouver Island national park campgrounds during the summer.
“I just wouldn’t wait too long to book,” Lauro said. “Sometimes people cancel, so don’t be afraid to check the reservation system from time to time. You never know what will open up.”
Reservations can be made online or over the phone with Parks Canada.
Ceilidh Millar
