Statement from Minister Clarke on a ‘pitch-perfect’ 2024 camping season

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke has issued the following statement:

 “The Yukon is home to some of the country’s most beautiful campgrounds and parks that provide world-class camping and recreation experiences to many Yukoners and visitors each year.  

“This past summer, the Yukon's 2024 camping season was a great success, with locals and visitors alike enjoying everything our beautiful outdoors has to offer. 

“Through our engagement with Yukoners on the Yukon Parks Strategy, we heard that many respondents were in favour of testing out a campground reservation service.

“This year, we made several enhancements to our campground network in the territory, including the launch of the new online campground reservation service pilot project that allowed campers to reserve campsites at Pine Lake, Marsh Lake, Wolf Creek and Tombstone Mountain campgrounds. The two-year pilot project aims to help campers plan and be sure that they have a campsite when they arrive at one of the participating campgrounds.

“These four campgrounds dedicated 50 per cent of campsites to be available for reservation, while the remaining sites continued to be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This accounted for just over 100 campsites being available for reservation out of a total of about 1,100 frontcountry campsites across the territory. Following the first year of the pilot project, we are also noticing that the campground reservation service is helping address issues of site saving.

“In the 2024 camping season, over 5,800 reservations were made, accounting for nearly 8,000 nights of camping. To support campers with the reservation service, Visitor Service Operators were onsite at Wolf Creek, Marsh Lake and Pine Lake campgrounds to help with checking in, monitoring campground use and providing information on campground rules.

“In 2023, 15 campsite evictions were issued due to campers saving sites or not occupying their campsites for long periods of time. This camping season, where four of the territory’s most popular campgrounds had a reservation service in place, only three evictions were issued due to site saving.

“Yukon resident seniors 65 years and older continue to receive a 50 per cent discount on all campground permits, including those purchased through the campground reservation service.

"Following the completion of the campground reservation service pilot in 2025, the Government of Yukon will review feedback and determine the next steps for the online reservation service.

“In a post-stay survey of reservation system users, 91 per cent reported a positive overall experience. This and other important feedback will be shared in November as we evaluate year one of this pilot project.

“The Department of Environment will continue to invest in the Yukon’s parks system. In 2023–24, the department invested $1.5 million to update several campgrounds and $4.8 million are planned in 2024–25.

“In addition to the launch of this pilot project, the Department of Environment has made significant progress in enhancing and diversifying park experiences across the territory.

“In 2024, we added 14 new campsites to the territory’s campground network including 10 sites at Snafu Lake campground and four new sites to Ethel Lake campground. Since 2017, the Department of Environment has added more than 120 campsites to campgrounds across the territory.

“To improve the backcountry camping experience, Yukon Parks completed a full revamp of facilities at the Grizzly Lake campground including tent pads, cook shelters, bear-proof food storage, outhouses and grey water barrels. We have also replaced and installed many new boat launches and docks across the Yukon this summer.

“In 2024, we replaced boat launches at Nunatuk, Frances Lake, Little Salmon Lake, Simpson Lake and Teslin Lake. We also installed new boat docks at Watson Lake, Tatchun Lake, Simpson Lake, Frenchman Lake and Nunatuk.

“Collaborative development of trails with First Nations continues to be a priority, and park visitors may also have noticed new and improved trails and day-use areas throughout our territorial parks.

“The Yukon Parks Strategy is guiding our approach to managing and improving Yukon territorial parks system through to 2030. Recently, we released the Yukon Parks Strategy progress report that highlights the progress we have made since launching the strategy in 2020. After four years, the Government of Yukon has completed 10 of the 24 strategic actions, 12 are in progress and two are planned for future implementation.

“As one of our many strategic priorities, we will continue working to enrich and diversify park experiences and make it easier to get a campsite in Yukon’s territorial parks and campgrounds.

"The Yukon’s Parks Strategy outlines a vision where protection and reconciliation are the foundation, which is why ongoing partnership with First Nations is a key priority.

“Currently, we are engaging with Yukon First Nations to identify opportunities to expand campgrounds near Whitehorse and beyond. We are doing that work in a way that respects and upholds the cultural and ecological significance of Yukon parks to First Nations with a goal to foster stewardship and respect among all park users.

“In 2025, we are working to redesign and enhance the Tatchun Lake campground in partnership and collaboration with Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation. This work will celebrate the cultural significance of the area while adding new campsites, an improved day-use area and trail system at Tatchun Lake Campground

“Although the 2024 serviced camping season has ended, for those gritty winter campers, all Yukon parks are available for winter use from October through April, even if the gate is closed.

“I want to thank all the Yukon Parks staff who continue to ensure that our territorial parks and campgrounds are kept safe, clean and meet the needs of users.”