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(UDPATE: May 25 @ 10:55 am): British Columbians attempting to bag campsites through the relaunched Discover Camping system this morning have reported technical difficulties preventing them from completing their reservation.
Social media users have been complaining for the last few hours about an error on the reservation system's website that stops reservations being completed.
Snaps for BC parks website consistently crashing for 40 minutes straight #bcparks pic.twitter.com/Nic3yTnzrN
— Colin Rutherford (@colinxfilm) May 25, 2020
Some other users, however, have reported success in reserving a site.
NowMedia has not been able to verify whether the website is still malfunctioning.
Tried again, after the mad rush. Success 😅 🏆 #BCparks pic.twitter.com/c6DTnn91U3
— Amanda Kran (@VodkaKranberry) May 25, 2020
The system opened this morning at 7 am.
Due to incredible demand (7000+ reservations made this morning), our Discover Camping reservation site has had some technical issues. There is lots of inventory remaining and we are working hard to ensure BC residents can book as quickly as possible.
— George Heyman (@GeorgeHeyman) May 25, 2020
(Original story: May 25 @ 7:50 am): British Columbia residents can book campsites for the summer from this morning.
The Discover Camping system is back online and accepting reservations for sites two months in advance of campers’ arrival dates.
Most provincial campgrounds and recreation sites are reopening on June 1 following closures due to COVID-19.
As part of the ongoing campsite expansion program, the province has also added 180 new campsites to BC Parks and recreation sites.
"Spending time appreciating nature is one of the best things we can do for our health and well-being," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
"We want to ensure British Columbians have access to summer vacation opportunities close to home, so we are limiting new reservations to BC residents. Our plan is to safely open as many parks as possible so that BC campers and day visitors can rediscover the wilderness beauty close to home."
But the province is warning that “it will not be business as usual in some campgrounds.”
To enable physical distancing measures, some campgrounds will have fewer sites available.
Some campgrounds, meanwhile, will be opening after June 1.
“Hot springs, backcountry communal cabins and campgrounds that require visitors to use shared cooking facilities will remain temporarily closed, along with group campsites,” the province explained.
Most existing reservations for dates after June 1 will be honoured, however, so campsites in popular campgrounds may already be booked.
Some reservations may need to be cancelled due to reduced capacity at certain campgrounds.
Those who are impacted will be advised of their cancelled bookings over the coming weeks, the province said.
A list of changes to campgrounds will be posted on the BC Parks website.
Read more here.