Backcountry camping reservations

Reservations are required for backcountry campgrounds at these destinations:

• Joffre Lakes Park
• E.C. Manning Park
• Mount Assiniboine Park
• Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson Park
• Garibaldi Park

Joffre Lakes Park

Reservations are required for all overnight stays at Upper Joffre Lake Campground in Joffre Lakes Park. We highly recommend that you make your reservation as early as possible. The campground has 26 reservable tent pads.

E.C. Manning Park

Three backcountry campgrounds in E.C. Manning Park require reservations during peak season: Buckhorn, Kicking Horse, and Frosty Creek. To see when reservations are required, check the dates of operation on the E.C. Manning Park page.

Campground capacities

To stay at these campgrounds outside peak season, you need a camping permit. For detailed information on getting a camping permit, see the backcountry permit registration page.

Mount Assiniboine Park

Three backcountry campgrounds at Mount Assiniboine Park require reservations in peak season: Magog Lake, Og Lake, and Porcupine. To see when reservations are required, check the dates of operation on the Mount Assiniboine Park page.

Campground capacities

To stay at these campgrounds outside peak season, you need a camping permit. For detailed information on getting a camping permit, see the backcountry permit registration page.

Other camping options

You can reserve overnight stays at other backcountry accommodations in Mount Assiniboine Park via the park operator, Assiniboine Lodge. These include Naiset Huts, Hind Hut, and O’Brien Meadows Group Campground.

Camping in these areas cannot be booked through the BC Parks reservation service. To make a reservation, either visit the Assiniboine Lodge website, email info@assiniboinelodge.com, or call 1-403-678-2883.

Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson Park

The Berg Lake Trail is a world-renowned backcountry hiking route in Mount Robson Park. You must book reservations for any overnight stays at campsites along the trail.

The Berg Lake Trail was seriously damaged by extreme weather in 2021. Trail repair work is ongoing.

To get trail-condition updates and find out which campgrounds are currently open, see the Mount Robson Park page.

Checking in at the Berg Lake Trail   

• Bring two printed copies of your camping permit and a completed overnight hiker sign-off sheet [PDF]
• Before heading onto the trail, check in at the visitor centre to register your entire party and get trail-condition information
• If you have not watched the Berg Lake Trail video in advance, you must do so when you check in

• For more detailed information on checking in at a backcountry campground, see check-in, below

Garibaldi Park

You need a reservation for any overnight stay in Garibaldi Park. Garibaldi has nine year-round backcountry campgrounds. Another, Red Heather, is open only during the winter. For campground locations, download the Garibaldi Park map [PDF].

Elfin Lakes Campground includes a reservable shelter. For information, see the backcountry shelters page. Garibaldi also has a reservable Wilderness Camping Area. For information, see the wilderness camping page.

Garibaldi’s backcountry campgrounds can accommodate school groups. School groups should fill out the registration form well in advance of any trip, in addition to making a reservation.

Campground capacities

When to book

• You can book a backcountry campground reservation up to four months before your planned arrival date
• You can make your reservation starting at 7 am Pacific Time on the first day of this booking period

Example: If you want to arrive on July 25 and stay four nights, you can reserve all four nights starting at 7 am PT on March 25

• You can make a reservation up until 5 pm Pacific Time on your scheduled arrival date, if places are available

Example: If you want to arrive on July 25 and stay for four nights, you can book all four nights up until 5 pm on July 25

• To see when campgrounds are reservable at a park, use our find a park tool, to visit that park’s webpage
• For information on changing or cancelling your reservation, see changes and cancellations, below

How to book

• Anyone 16 years of age or over can make a backcountry camping reservation via camping.bcparks.ca
• Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-689-9025 toll-free from Canada and the U.S. or 1-519-858-6161 internationally
• You must pay all camping fees and transaction fees in advance to secure your reservation (see fees, below, for more information)
• You can stay up to a maximum of 14 nights per calendar year at any individual park

After booking, you receive a confirmation email. This includes a camping permit. Print out two copies of the permit and bring them on your trip. Display one copy on your campsite post or on your tent and keep the other with you.

Named occupant

• When booking your reservation, you must specify the ‘named occupant’ who will be your official reservation holder
• This can be yourself or another person, but they must be present when your party arrives and throughout your stay
• If the named occupant cannot be present throughout your stay, you must rebook with an occupant who can be present
• The named occupant may be asked to show ID during your stay to keep your reservation valid

• Camping at backcountry campgrounds is allowed only on designated tent pads or established campsites
• Tent pads are a maximum of three square-meters, holding up to two tents and four people 
• You can reserve up to three tent pads at one time, for a maximum total camping party of 12 people (at least one of whom must be 16 or over)

There are two types of fees:

• Camping fees, which pay for your tent pad and other facilities
• Transaction fees, which help us maintain the reservation service

Tax is included in camping fees, but tax is added to transaction fees. If you change or cancel your reservation, there are additional fees (see changes and cancellations, below).

When paying online or by phone, you can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Visa Debit, or Mastercard Debit. Camping fees vary between parks. For details, see the table below.

Camping fees (per night, tax included)

Transaction fees (plus tax)

For more information on camping fees and transaction fees, see the camping fees page.

Changing or cancelling your reservation

• You can change or cancel your reservation via camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally)
• Changes and cancellations must be made by the reservation service account holder who made the original booking
• To change your reservation to a different park, you must cancel your reservation and re-book
• Reservations cannot be transferred or sold to another party, and attempting to do so leads to cancellation without refund
• You can make changes to your reservation any time until noon on your scheduled arrival date
• You can cancel your reservation any time until 5 pm on your scheduled arrival date
• You cannot make changes to your reservation itinerary after you arrive at the park
• You are charged additional transaction fees for any change or cancellation (for details, see the table below)
• If you cancel and receive a refund of camping fees, your original transaction fees are not refunded (see refunds, below)

Additional transaction fees

Refunds

• If you cancel a reservation before your arrival, eligible camping fees may be refunded (subject to policies outlined on the cancellations and refunds page)
• All transaction fees, including change and cancellation fees and call centre surcharges, are non-refundable

For more information on getting a refund, see the cancellations and refunds page. For full details of our cancellation and refund policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].

The Berg Lake Trail has some important check-in rules of its own. For details, see Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson Park, above.

• You can use any available tent pad (or tent pads, if applicable) after 1 pm on your scheduled arrival date 
• You must vacate your tent pad (or tent pads) by noon on your scheduled departure date
• Making a reservation guarantees you a tent pad, but the reservation service does not assign you a specific tent pad
• You select your tent pad (or pads) when you arrive at the campground, on a first come, first served basis
• Camping in reservable backcountry campgrounds is normally allowed only on tent pads
• If all the tent pads are covered by snow, you can camp on user-established sites within the campground
• The reservation holder (‘occupant’) you named when booking your reservation must be present upon arrival and throughout the stay
• Remember to bring two printouts of the camping permit you received with your confirmation email
• Display one copy of your camping permit on your campsite post or on your tent (in a resealable plastic bag)
• Keep the other copy with you (do not assume you’ll be able to access your confirmation email on your phone)

Other resources