The B.C. government is set to increase camping fees at provincial parks for the second year in a row.
The province says the fee hike is needed to help maintain a provincial park system that is being used by a growing number of campers.
The increase will affect about half of provincial parks where camping fees are in place. The government say the majority of parks will only see an increase of $1 to $2 per night.
The province claims some $60 million has been invested in B.C. parks over the past five years, including campground upgrades and a new kids’ bike park at Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria. This year’s fee hikes are expected to bring in more than $400,000.
NDP environment critic Spencer Chandra Herbert says higher camping costs will hurt families.
“Camping should be one of the most affordable forms of vacations, yet I’m hearing from people across the province saying it’s getting farther and farther out of reach,” he said.
Group camping costs could hurt families the most.
While fees for vehicle access camping at individual sites appear to be staying the same at many popular parks, the group camping base fee is jumping from $100 per group site per night in 2015 to $120 this year.
The new fees go into effect March 15.
A complete of camping fees can be found here.
For a complete list of campgrounds and updated fees, please visit bcparks.ca.