Why do I need a
reservation?
Parks, where reservations can
be made, are strongly recommended from May Long Weekend
to Labour Day due to the popular time of There is
security in knowing a campsite IS waiting for you upon
your arrival!
How do you best acquire a first come first serve
campsite during peak season (July/August/all long
weekends)?
Although there are no
guarantees, it is best to arrive at the park before noon
to check for availability. Check-out time at all parks
is 11am, therefore, if a guest is checking out then you
can move in to the site after they leave. If a campsite
is unoccupied, doesn’t have a ‘reserved’ tag on it, and
there is nothing in the site, you may also occupy it.
Please ensure that you physically have something ON the
site in order to claim it (ie. a tent set-up, trailer).
The exception is at Bear Creek & Okanagan Lake South
Campgrounds where you must check at the gatehouse for
campsite availability. At these parks you may need to
add your name to a Waitlist if you do not have a
reservation.
 How
do I get my name on the Waitlist?
Waitlist Policies: applies
to Bear Creek and Okanagan Lake (South Park) only:
1. Our first come first serve sites are often full
during the summer. At such times a “First Come First
Serve – Site Waitlist” for those wishing to get a
site will be started new daily. You must come to the park in
person to put your name on the list. No one can put
their name on the list via phone. Only one site per
person will be allowed. Example: If you want to obtain
two sites you need two people present, both for placing
your name on the waitlist as well as for being present
at 11:00 am. Please note that we only accept CASH.
2. Each morning at 11:00 am the waitlist will be
processed, meaning that each person in turn on the list
will have the opportunity to obtain a site becoming
available that day, until all available sites for the
day are taken. If you did not get a site, you will have
to come back the next day to put your name on that days’
waitlist.
NEW: Waitlist will no longer be carried over from day to
day.
3. If a person is not present at 11:00 am and
their name is called, their name is crossed off the list
and the park attendant will continue on to the next
name.
4. If a person is present at 11:00 am but wishes to pass
on taking an available site, they will have to come
back the following day to put there name on the waitlist
again.
Note: ALL persons waiting at 11:00 am MUST BE ON FOOT.
When arriving for the processing of the waitlist please
park in our day use parking lot. Please remain out of
the way of traffic entering and exiting the park.
Will cell
phones work in the parks?
Cell phones do work in the
South Okanagan Area Parks but coverage can be ‘spotty’
at Okanagan Lake & at Bear Creek. Cell Service is
available at Texas Creek & Christina Lake Parks but not
at Kettle River, Conkle Lake, Johnstone Creek, Boundary
Creek, or Jewel Lake.
Can I use my generator?
No generator use is permitted during quiet hours
(10pm to 7am). Generators may otherwise be used with
‘much discretion’ – meaning for very brief short periods
during the day. Please be considerate of your neighbours
as sound travels so easily outdoors. Solar power is an
alternative.
 Do
the Washroom Buildings have electrical outlets?
Most do have 1 in each of the
men’s and women’s sections of the building. (Bear and
Okanagan Lake Provincial Park)
Do the
campsites have tent pads?
Kettle River Provincial Park
does have several pads for tents. Tenting is definitely
welcome at all other parks but the tent must be
contained on the provided gravel campsite pad.
Can I stake my tent on the grass or off the campsite
pad?
No, this is not permitted as
the surrounding grasses and ecosystem are very delicate
& would be eventually destroyed. The Park Act maintains
that it wants to preserve it for the enjoyment of future
generations.
Do
you have any overflow camping available?
Overflow Camping Policy:
1. If campground is full and no sites are available for
occupancy, overnight camping will be permitted in
another designated area of the park (ie., often in the
day-use parking lot). NOTE: The maximum allowed
overflow camping units is now a MAXIMUM of 20 in our
designated day use overflow area at Bear Creek, and 10
at Okanagan Lake South if room allows. These over flow
camping spots are only available for 1 night, and units
occupying them MUST vacate by 11am.
2. Campers must be self-contained (no tents permitted)
and full fees will apply. Registered “overflow” campers
have access to park facilities. Some day-use areas have
access to firepits otherwise campfires are not permitted
in overflow area.
3. The next morning, guests may attempt to acquire a
vacated first come first serve site. Check with Park
Staff for procedure. |
