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Park User Fees for 2009

Park User Fees:

  • Click here (70 kb pdf format) - to view the complete list of provincial park fees  for 2009.
  • Fee revenues are reinvested in the BC Parks system to maintain and repair facilities, and to improve services. Many improvements have taken place in provincial parks in recent years, including: rebuilding day-use areas and campgrounds, upgrading drinking water systems, replacing shower and toilet buildings, and improving trails and roads.
  • Camping fees range from $10.00 to $24.00 per party, per vehicle, per night. A second vehicle (non RV) may be allowed on site for an additional nightly charge of 1/2 the campsite fee (to a maximum of $12/night). Note: A towed vehicle is not considered a second vehicle. (See Camping Party Definition below)
  • Camping fees vary according to the facilities and services provided. All fees include the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
  • Per Person Rate - the per person rate for backcountry camping and backcountry cabins, applies to those 13 years of age or older; the fees do not apply to those 12 years of age or under.
  • Overnight docking fees at marine parks are $2.00/metre/night. Overnight use of mooring buoys are a flat fee of $10/night.
  • The maximum length of stay in any provincial park is 14 days per park, per calendar year. Some parks may limit maximum length of stay to seven days. Limits will be posted in the park.
  • If arriving at the park on a first-come, first-serve basis, payment can only be made in cash. No personal cheques, bank debit or credit cards are accepted. Canadian currency is preferred.
  • Fee Collection - In most parks, the park facility operator will collect the camping fee at your campsite. A few campgrounds have a gatehouse and some use a self-registration fee station. Instructions on how to self-register are printed on a sign at the fee station and on the envelope provided. Please remember to display your registration receipt on the campsite number post.

Camping Party Definition

Due to wear and tear, maintenance and conservation factors within our parks, limits must be placed on the party size, i.e., the number of people and vehicles each campsite can accommodate.

In British Columbia provincial parks, the party size for each vehicle accessible campsite is as follows:

  • One to four persons 16 years of age or older.
  • A maximum of eight persons including children (15 years of age and younger).
  • Vehicles per Camping Party:
    • One vehicle and trailer (including towed vehicle). Either one (but not both) may be an RV.
    • A second vehicle (non-RV) may be allowed on site for an additional nightly charge of 1/2 the campsite fee (to a maximum of $12/night).
    • Note: A towed vehicle is not considered a second vehicle.
  • Each member of a party may have one motorcycle i.e. four people with two motorcycles towing bike trailers, is one camping fee.
  • Campsite Maximum:
    • One camping party per site, unless otherwise authorized.

Here is a Party Size Definition Table (pdf format) that explains camping party, second vehicle on-site and campsite maximum calculations.

Vehicle Parking Fees

Day-Use Parking Fees - There is a day-use vehicle parking fee of $1.00/vehicle/hour to a maximum of $3.00/vehicle/day (including all taxes) at 27 provincial parks on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland and 13 provincial parks in the Thompson and Okanagan areas. All fees collected are reinvested into all provincial parks and protected areas throughout British Columbia and not just limited to the fee-collecting parks.

Free parking for youth groups - Youth groups (schools, youth programs run by recreation centres and non-for-profit youth organizations) are eligible for free day use parking passes. Get more information on the youth group free parking pass.

Annual Parking Pass - An annual parking pass can also be purchased, which allows unlimited vehicle parking in all these parks; the cost is $25.00 (including all taxes) for 12 months from the date of purchase. Annual parking passes are non-transferable and non-refundable. Please note: BC Parks parking passes are not valid in municipally or federally run parks, but are valid only for the BC Parks listed here.

How to Purchase the Annual BC Parks Vehicle Parking Pass

Vehicle Day-Use Parking Fees and Annual Parking Pass Information

Vehicle Parking Fees and Pass - Questions and Answers

Bus Parking Fees

Day-Use Parking Fees - Day-use parking fees are $25.00 and in effect at all parks where parking fees are in place, as well as Mount Robson Provincial Park. The bus day-use fee is valid on the date of purchase only, at any provincial park where parking fees are collected. These adjusted fees will be collected year round (unless otherwise noted) at the 41 British Columbia provincial parks. The dates listed are the minimal operating dates for the park. The operator may choose to open the park earlier or stay open later, in which case parking fees will apply.

Bus Annual Pass - A Bus Annual Pass can also be purchased, which allows unlimited bus parking in all these parks. The cost is $250.00 (including all taxes) for 12 months from the date of purchase. The Bus Annual Pass is transferable between company buses.

How to Purchase the Bus Annual Pass:

Please note: Bus rates do not apply to "school groups" that use yellow school buses; all other groups must pay.

Bus Day-Use Parking Fees and Bus Annual Pass Information

Bus Parking Fees and Annual Pass - Questions and Answers

Group Camping and Group Picnicking - Information and Reservations

Some provincial parks offer reservable camping and picnicking facilities for groups.

  • A regular group camping or picnicking party must consist of a minimum of 15 people or more.
  • A youth group camping or picnicking party must consist of a minimum of 12 people or more. A youth group means a k-12 school, recreation centre or not-for-profit youth organization located within BC, undertaking a camping or day-use trip. Get more information on the youth group free parking pass, or read the approved Parks and Protected Areas Program Youth Group Policy

To reserve a group campsite or picnic site, see the contact list for reserving the 'group style' sites only.

Campsite Fees for Persons with Disabilities on BC Income Assistance

The purpose of this program is to provide support for persons with disabilities who are also receiving income assistance from the following authorities listed below.

Persons with Disabilities on BC Income Assistance may be eligible to camp for free in road accessible BC provincial parks. To be eligible, you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

1.
 You are designated a “Person with Disabilities” (PWD) and receiving PWD benefits under the British Columbia provincial government Employment and Assistance Program (administered by the BC Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance). Note: Those persons with disabilities receiving assistance from other provincial or federal programs such as CPP Disability, WCB Disability, etc. are not eligible.
 
-
Procedures:
   
a.
 Obtain a current calendar year Release of Information form from your caseworker issued by the BC Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
   
b.
 Upon arrival at the campground, show the campground operator the ORIGINAL approved form AND a second piece of identification.
   
c.
 This Release of Information form (click here to view a sample page - in pdf format) can be obtained by contacting your local Employment and Assistance Centre.
  OR    
2.
 You have a child registered through the “At Home Program” (administered by the British Columbia provincial government Ministry of Children and Family Development).
 
-
Procedures:
   
a.
 Obtain a current Letter of Eligibility from your caseworker, stating your child is eligible for the "At Home Program" issued by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.
   
b.
 Upon arrival at the campground, show the campground operator the ORIGINAL approved Letter of Eligibility AND a second piece of identification.
  OR    
3.
 You are a person living on-reserve and receiving disability benefits from a First Nation Administering Authority.
   - Procedures:
   
a.
 Please have your Band Social Development Worker contact us for more information at parkinfo@victoria1.gov.bc.ca
   
b.
 Upon arrival at the campground, show the campground operator the ORIGINAL Release of Information Form issued by a First Nation Administering Authority for the current calendar year AND a second piece of identification.

If you meet any of the above criteria, your camping party can camp for free. There is also no charge for a second non-recreational vehicle. The previous BC Parks Disabled Access Pass is no longer valid.

Please note: This discount does not apply to group camping, group picnicking, backcountry and marine fees.

Parking Fees for Persons with Disabilities on BC Income Assistance

Persons with disabilities meeting the eligibility criteria for free camping (see campsite fees for Persons with Disabilities on BC Income Assistance above) will not have to pay a parking fee as long as they have obtained an annual parking pass.

Procedures to purchase an annual parking pass for Persons With Disabilities (PWD):

  • You must meet the same eligibility criteria for free camping as defined above.
  • Annual parking passes will no longer be available at local Tourism British Columbia Visitor Information Centres.
  • You must print off and complete the application form (in pdf format) and fax/mail along with a COPY of ONE of the following:
    • a Release of Information form issued by the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance confirming that you are receiving Persons with Disabilities Benefits (PWD benefits) under the BC Employment and Assistance Program; OR
    • a Letter of Eligibility issued by the Ministry of Children and Family Development stating that your child is eligible for the At Home Program; OR
    • a Release of Information form issued by a First Nation Administering Authority.
  • You must also include a COPY of a second piece of identification.
  • You can then fax or mail the appropriate documents (1) the application form, (2) a COPY of the appropriate Release of Information or Eligibility Letter form and (3) a COPY of a second piece of personal identification to the Ministry of Environment Permit Authorization Services Bureau as noted on the application form.
  • Please allow five (5) working days from the time your application is received in the Victoria office to be processed.
Campsite Fees for Seniors

If you reside in British Columbia and are 65 years of age or older, the fee for a senior during the shoulder season (the period from the day after Labour Day to June 14 of the following year) for the use of a frontcountry campsite, is calculated at one half of the summer season fee or the full winter camping fee, whichever is less. This discount applies to the senior and his/her spouse.

SUMMER SEASON SHOULDER SEASON
$10.00 per party per vehicle per night $5.00 per senior couple per vehicle per night
$15.00 per party per vehicle per night $7.50 per senior couple per vehicle per night
$19.00 per party per vehicle per night $9.50 per senior couple per vehicle per night
$22.00 per party per vehicle per night $11.00 per senior couple per vehicle per night
$24.00 per party per vehicle per night $12.00 per senior couple per vehicle per night

 

  • From June 15 through to Labour Day (first Monday in September), the full rate applies.
  • A second vehicle (non-RV) may be allowed on site for an additional nightly charge of 1/2 the campsite fee (to a maximum of $12/night).
  • Fee collectors may ask to see your Pharmacare card and a second piece of identification.
  • This discount does not apply to group camping, group picnicking, backcountry, marine and day-use fees.

Hours of Operation: Campground opening and closing dates are now posted on the park pages. Please go to the park page from the alphabetical or geographic listings above; then click on the vehicle/tenting symbol on the park page for details.

(Please note - dates can change due to weather or other constraints)

Check-in/Check-out Procedures:

  • Check-in time for first-come, first-served campsites is between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check-in procedures and hours vary between parks.
  • For campers with reservations, check-in time is between 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Procedures for obtaining your reserved campsite will be posted on an information board at the entrance to the park/campground, or available at the gatehouse.
  • Check-out time for all campers is 11 a.m.
  • During the operating season, park gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Reservation Service Fees and Discover Camping Information

Glossary

Backcountry Camping - Backcountry means an area in a park or recreation area that is not frontcountry. Backcountry campsites are primarily for wilderness hiking and backpacking. There are usually no facilities available.

Cabin Accommodation - Some backcountry provincial parks offer cabin accommodation, primarily during the winter months.

Frontcountry Camping - Frontcountry means an area in a park or recreation area within one kilometre of either side of the centre line of a park road or a highway. Frontcountry campsites are generally accessible by vehicle and offer designated campsites, facilities and recreational opportunities. Due to wear and tear, maintenance and conservation factors within our parks, limits must be placed on the party size, i.e., the number of people and vehicles each campsite can accommodate.

Per Person Rate - The per person rate applies to those 13 years of age or older; there are no backcountry camping or backcountry cabin fees for those 12 years of age or under.

Vessel Camping - A vessel means a boat, canoe, kayak or other craft used, or capable of being used, for navigation on water. Some marine parks offer this type of camping.

Voyageur Canoe - A voyageur canoe is designed to carry six or more persons.

Walk/Cycle-in Camping - Walk/cycle-in designated camping areas do not allow vehicle parking in the campground area. Some frontcountry campgrounds offer walk/cycle-in designated camping areas.

Winter Camping - Frontcountry parks that are open year-round may offer winter camping. All campers must be self-sufficient as limited facilities are available.

Where applicable: the Goods and Service Tax (GST) is included in all fees;

  • the fee for the overnight use of dock or mooring buoy facilities also applies to vessels that tie or anchor to another vessel using the dock or mooring buoy facilities;
  • the fee for the overnight use of backcountry cabin accommodation does not apply to children under 13 years of age;
  • the west side of the Bowron Lake Circuit means Bowron Lake, Spectacle Lakes, Skoi Lake, Babcock Lake and Unna Lake;
  • the annual fee (January 1 to December 31 of each year) for access by vessel applies to Cinnemousun Narrows, Silver Beach and Shuswap Lake Marine (Multi-Site) Parks.