Due to record visitation, escalating operating costs and the growing impacts of extreme weather, B.C. Parks has announced that they will raise their camping fees this year (2026) for the first time since 2016. They will also be introducing a new camping surcharge for people living outside of B.C.
“As British Columbians, we care deeply about our parks and recreation areas, and we recognize the significant cultural, economic and recreational roles they have for communities. At the same time, they have seen challenges, from extreme weather impacts to significant increases in visitors. By renewing the parks and recreation system, we are creating a more sustainable operating model that strengthens stewardship and long-term protections of the natural spaces people cherish.”
During the past six years, the number of people visiting BC Parks sites has grown by about 30% and now averages more than 27 million visits every year. That has put a strain on aging infrastructure, trails, day-use areas and the natural environment, particularly at BC Parks’ most popular locations. At the same time, floods and wildfires have caused widespread damage to facilities and infrastructure, driving the need for significant repairs and ongoing reinvestment to keep parks open, safe and accessible.
Since 2017, the Province has responded to these pressures by investing approximately $200 million into campground expansions, accessibility improvements and upgrades to trails, parking and facilities. In addition, nearly $27 million has been spent repairing infrastructure damaged by severe weather, such as the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park and the Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Park.
To build on these investments and further support the parks and recreation system, camping fees will be updated in 59 high-demand parks and four popular backcountry parks: Garibaldi Park, Golden Ears Park, Joffre Lakes Park and Mount Assiniboine Park. A new camping surcharge will also be introduced for people living outside of B.C., to help keep costs more affordable for B.C. residents. Approximately 15% of BC Parks visitors are from outside of the province and many of them visit the most popular locations.
Beginning May 15, 2026, non-B.C. residents will pay an additional $20 flat rate for staying in frontcountry campgrounds, trips to backcountry parks, renting a cabin and using mooring buoys and docks. Residency will be assessed by the home address people provide when making a reservation or arriving at a campsite that’s first come, first served.
B.C.’s camping fees remain competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions and will continue to vary by service level, demand and season to reflect the cost of operating and maintaining different park experiences. For B.C. residents, updated camping fees in the 59 high-demand frontcountry parks include:
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an average increase of 40 cents per night during shoulder season
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an average increase of $13.29 per night during the summer
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a resulting average nightly rate of $30.81 in shoulder season and $42.91 in the summer
The fee updates for backcountry camping in Garibaldi Park, Golden Ears Park, Joffre Lakes Park and Mount Assinboine include:
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an average fee increase of $13.62 per night
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nightly fees ranging from $17 to $25 per night, depending on the park
Fees will remain unchanged for 388 parks that have frontcountry and backcountry camping so people can choose from a range of experiences at different prices. There are also no fee changes for B.C. residents to sani-stations, mooring buoys, picnic shelters and group camping.
