Campsite booking system changes for April 4 launch

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This article was published 28/03/2022 (1317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government has tweaked its online booking system for campgrounds to address years of technical glitches and complaints from frustrated users who felt like getting a spot was tougher than winning the lottery.

Parks Minister Jeff Wharton announced the changes Monday, and promised the system will be fully fixed next year.

“With COVID, the demand for parks has gone up ten-fold,” Wharton said. “We wanted to make sure there were some quick fixes in place to enhance the system.”

The key fix involves staggering bookings on five dates so the system doesn’t crash.

Users had complained last year that the site repeatedly crashed because so many people went online when it launched. In addition, thousands of people waited in line virtually and had no chance of getting a campsite.

“We wanted to help change that,” Wharton said. “COVID really shined a light on it.”

Glitches weren’t unheard of before the pandemic — in 2016, the system went down for about an hour because of heavy traffic — but they became more pronounced when thousands more people wanted to use Manitoba’s 92 parks.

“This isn’t the fix-all, be-all,” Wharton said. “That’s coming in 2023.”

The NDP said this year’s changes are inadequate.

“Yet another year has gone by in which the PCs refused to substantially fix or replace this system, meaning families will once again have to spend hours trying to book a camping space,” NDP MLA Lisa Naylor said.

“The PCs need to invest in a public reservation system that is accessible, affordable and headache-free.”

Reservations for campgrounds, yurts, cabins and group-use areas will begin on April 4 at 7 a.m.

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In addition, campsite reservations at Birds Hill, Falcon Beach, Falcon Lakeshore and West Hawk Lake will begin April 6 at 7 a.m.; campsite reservations at all western and northern region parks, including Asessippi, Bakers Narrows, Clearwater Lake, Duck Mountain, Paint Lake, Spruce Woods and Turtle Mountain, will begin April 8 at 7 a.m.; and campsite reservations at Grand Beach, Nopiming and all remaining Whiteshell campgrounds are set for April 11 at 7 a.m.

All remaining locations, including Camp Morton, Hecla, St. Malo, Stephenfield, Watchorn and Winnipeg Beach, are scheduled for April 13 at 7 a.m.

The maximum stay in a cabin or yurt has been reduced to seven nights from 14. Cabins, yurts and group-use areas will be limited to two reservations per session on opening day, down from three. The number of campsite reservations remains at three per session on opening days, the province said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca

Tips and tech advice for parks booking