WATCH: If you want to go camping this upcoming long weekend you better have reservations or at least know where you are going to stay. Dozens of campgrounds are booked solid, and as Kendall Hanson reports now many campers are scrambling to find a place to go.
With still two days until the long weekend, campers are already arriving at Rathtrevor Park in Parksville.
Bob and Lillian Sutherland are among them. They booked four months ago and they are among the fortunate ones to get a spot. All OF Rathtrevor’s more than 250 campsites are fully booked.
“Before we’ve been able to travel on a whim but that’s not so easy anymore,” said Lillian.
Others camping now at Rathtrevor aren’t going to be able to keep their campsite.
“Even though we came Tuesday we’re not able to stay for the full long weekend,” said Janice Booth.
On Wednesday, she and her husband were looking for other campsites they could stay at this weekend.
And Rathtrevor Park is not alone. All the reservable sites in provincial parks on Vancouver Island are booked this weekend.
“The reservable sites in the provincial parks have been fully reserved since March,” said Alli Roberts of RLC Park Services.
“There’s a few first come first serve sites at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park but they usually book up by Wednesday or Thursday.”
And adding to the scarcity of campsites Little Qualicum Falls provincial park is still closed.
“A huge amount of work is being done to trying to get that park open but a lot of damage was done during the windstorm in December and it’s still being worked on,” said Roberts.
The Booths say they’re not surprised camping has become so popular.
“I think people want to be in touch with nature as well it is affordable,” said Booth.
But it has left them among many others searching for that elusive spot for this weekend.
Kendall Hanson
