Environment Minister Nils Clarke has announced the opening of the new campground reservation service for some of the Yukon’s most popular road-accessible front and backcountry campgrounds.

The new reservation service will align the territory with other jurisdictions across the country and ensure that Yukoners and visitors have the certainty of an available campsite when they arrive at a participating Yukon campground.

“Campers will be able to access some of the territory’s most popular campgrounds through a convenient digital dashboard, allowing them to better plan their camping trips in advance,” the government said in a statement Monday.

Backcountry reservations will be available starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Frontcountry reservations will be available starting at 9 a.m. April 10.

Reservations can be made by visiting https://yukon.goingtocamp.com.

Campers will be required to use or create a MyYukon account to reserve a campsite. To create your MyYukon account, visit https://yukon.ca/myyukon

Reservations can also be made by calling the toll-free call centre at 1-888-352-0532 or 1-867-322-0222 (international). The call centre is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In 2024, Yukon Parks will be working to continue enhancing campings in the Yukon by improving recreational offerings and available campsites.

This year, the government intends to add 45 new campsites across Yukon Parks’ portfolio, with new sites being created at Tatchun Lake, Snafu Lake and Ethel Lake campgrounds.

New boat launches, improved docks and accessible infrastructure are planned for the Nunatuk and Teslin Lake campgrounds.

Rancheria Falls, Lapie Canyon, Snafu and Tatchun Lake campgrounds will see improved trails that will enhance the visitor experience and ensure safety for users.

This year and next, the Department of Environment plans to enhance Tatchun Lake in a way that honours and celebrates the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation through language, signage and education events.

The plan includes improvements to the day-use recreation area, adding 26 new campsites and five walk-in campsites.

The government also plans on opening 45 additional campsite at Congdon Creek and Wolf Creek Campgrounds last year, and building new playgrounds at Marsh Lake, Wolf Creek, Pine Lake and Congdon Creek campgrounds.

It will also install new boat launches at Aishihik Lake, Otter Falls, Twin Lakes, Ethel Lake and Frenchman Lake campgrounds.

In addition, new docks have been installed at Pine Lake, Squanga Lake and Twin Lakes campgrounds.

Since 2020, the Department of Environment has invested more than $5.3 million to enhance Yukon campgrounds and camping experiences across the territory.

“Through our public engagement on the Yukon Parks Strategy, Yukoners told us that they would like to make online campsite reservations at Yukon campgrounds,” said Clarke.

“This new service will give campers the option to reserve a campsite at some of the territory’s most popular campgrounds, providing the certainty that there will be a campsite for them when they arrive.

“I look forward to seeing how this pilot project enhances the camping experience in the territory.

The Yukon is home to 42 frontcountry campgrounds with more than 1,100 campsites; 103 frontcountry campsites will be available for reservation.

Backcountry campgrounds have been reservable for the past 12 years. Reservations are being modernized with the new system.

Participating frontcountry campgrounds include Pine Lake, Marsh Lake, Wolf Creek and Tombstone Mountain.

In Tombstone Territorial Park, the backcountry campgrounds are Grizzly Lake, Divide Lake and Talus Lake.

To support Yukon campers and visitors with the new reservation service, the government launched a tender for a visitor service operator contract.

Should the contract(s) be awarded, the successful proponent(s) would support campers with the check-in process at the Wolf Creek, Marsh Lake and Pine Lake campgrounds.

Participating frontcountry campgrounds will allocate 50 per cent of campsites for reservation, while the remainder will continue to operate on a first-come-first-served basis.

Backcountry campgrounds will continue to only be available by reservation.