World Class. That’s an adjective that sums up the beauty, majesty and ruggedness that is the Yukon landscape. So it’s no wonder that people from all over the world make a visit to the territory a bucket-list priority to fulfill dreams of endless hiking, biking, fishing and hunting, to name a few.
Also not surprising is that camping throughout the Yukon is high on many travellers’ agendas. According to the territorial government’s own 2020–2030 Yukon Parks Strategy plan, from 2008–2018, the number of people camping in government campgrounds increased 80 percent, to more than 89,000 campers per year. That also meant the use of those campground facilities more than doubled with the occupancy of campsites increasing 103 percent, to over 57,000 nights. Backcountry camping, in popular backpacking areas like Tombstone Territorial Park, increased by 137 percent, and the number of visits to the Tombstone Interpretive Centre increased by 176 percent, to more than 27,000.
Needless to say, camping in the Yukon has become a much-sought-after activity.
Erin Loxam, Communications Analyst (Environment), says it’s difficult to predict how busy 2022 will be, but reiterated the increase in use by pointing out that in 2021 the Yukon again saw record numbers of campground users.
“If our out-of-territory visitation numbers begin to recover, we anticipate a busy summer in our campgrounds and recreation areas. The serviced camping season starts April 29 in many campgrounds around the territory.”
According to YTG, the new fees will contribute to the maintenance and continued sustainability of the system of parks and campgrounds, to ensure users have continued access to quality and affordable camping experiences. Camping fees will continue to include firewood and, starting this season, campers can pay online for a daily campground permit, using the same website they buy their annual campground permits and fishing licenses from. The last time the territory saw an increase in camping fees was two decades ago.
“As the first increase in twenty years, a daily camping permit now costs twenty dollars. if paying cash at the campground, up from twelve dollars. A pre-paid daily camping permit costs eighteen dollars if purchased online or at a vendor.” said Loxam, adding, “The Yukon resident annual camping permit now costs one-hundred dollars, up from fifty dollars. Yukon resident seniors receive a fifty-percent discount on all camping permits.”
The main goal of the all-in-one online shop is efficiency.
“We are making camping-permit purchasing easier and more accessible. Campers will now be able to purchase daily camping permits online at yukon.ca, just as they have for an annual camping permit and other Department of Environment permits,” Luxom said, noting this is the daily permit for camping and not a site-reservation website. “We are considering options for an online site-reservation system in the future.”
Yukoners and visitors alike will not pay fees for day use, parking, vehicle access, boat-launch use and interpretive programming.
Updating park fees was included in one of the 10 strategic actions outlined in the Yukon Parks Strategy. Currently, camping fees only recover about 10 percent of the costs of services provided at Yukon campgrounds. The new fees will lead to a 20-percent recovery of costs. The 2022 serviced camping season will run from April 29 to October 2. There will be no fee for unserved camping during the off-season. In 2021, the Yukon camping season was extended to open May 1, marking the earliest that Yukon campgrounds had ever opened.
The 2022 fees include:
- Campground Permit: Daily (cash paid on-site), $20, and $10 for Yukon-resident seniors aged 65 and over
- Campground Permit: Daily (pre-paid voucher), $18, and $9 for Yukon-resident seniors aged 65 and over
- Campground Permit: Online, $18, and $9 for Yukon-resident seniors aged 65 and over
- Campground Permit: Yukon Resident Annual, $100, and $50 for Yukon-resident seniors aged 65 and over
- Park Permit Application Fees (includes but is not limited to commercial filming, special events, research, commercially guided recreation): $40
- Reservation Fee for Tombstone Backcountry Campgrounds: $10
So dig out your tent and sleeping bag. Gather the kids and the dog (and the bug spray!) and start planning a trip to one of the many campgrounds and territorial parks the Yukon has to offer.
Summer in the North is still short.
